The four-day Chhath festival, one of the most revered celebrations in Bihar and eastern India, marks a deep expression of gratitude and devotion to the Sun God. This year’s festivities began with the sacred ritual of ‘Nahay-Khay’ on Saturday, as thousands of devotees gathered at ghats across the region to take holy dips in rivers, offer prayers, and prepare simple, pure meals consisting of pumpkin, gram dal, and rice — cooked on clay stoves without onion or garlic.
Women devotees, dressed in traditional attire, sing age-old Chhath songs, preparing prasad, and explain the spiritual meaning behind the rituals. The festival symbolizes purity, discipline, and self-restraint, as devotees refrain from consuming non-vegetarian food, alcohol, and even negative thoughts throughout the four days.
But do you known when and where the tradition of Chhath started?
While Chhath is celebrated across India today, its roots trace back to the ancient Deo Surya Mandir in Aurangabad district, Bihar — a temple believed to be the birthplace of the Chhath tradition. Dedicated to the Sun God, this temple stands as a magnificent example of early North Indian temple architecture. According to mythology, the temple was originally built by Pururava, the son of Ila, and later restored in the 14th century by King Bhairavendra. The temple’s architectural splendour was so remarkable that it was immortalized in the 18th-century Daniell Paintings, which showcased India’s cultural and artistic heritage to the world.
Local historian Kumar Dhirendra, in his book Aurangabad Ki Kahani, says that the Deo temple is nearly a thousand years old, but the tradition of Sun worship here predates the structure itself by several centuries. He cites the poet Mayura Bhatta, a contemporary of Emperor Harshavardhana, who mentioned the temple in his work Surya Shataka. Over time, the Vedic practice of Sun worship merged with local folk beliefs, giving rise to what we now know as Chhath Puja — a unique blend of spirituality, nature worship, and cultural heritage. Today, the Deo Surya Mandir remains the epicentre of Chhath celebrations, drawing devotees and tourists from across the world to witness this timeless ritual of faith and light.
Women devotees, dressed in traditional attire, sing age-old Chhath songs, preparing prasad, and explain the spiritual meaning behind the rituals. The festival symbolizes purity, discipline, and self-restraint, as devotees refrain from consuming non-vegetarian food, alcohol, and even negative thoughts throughout the four days.
But do you known when and where the tradition of Chhath started?
While Chhath is celebrated across India today, its roots trace back to the ancient Deo Surya Mandir in Aurangabad district, Bihar — a temple believed to be the birthplace of the Chhath tradition. Dedicated to the Sun God, this temple stands as a magnificent example of early North Indian temple architecture. According to mythology, the temple was originally built by Pururava, the son of Ila, and later restored in the 14th century by King Bhairavendra. The temple’s architectural splendour was so remarkable that it was immortalized in the 18th-century Daniell Paintings, which showcased India’s cultural and artistic heritage to the world.
Local historian Kumar Dhirendra, in his book Aurangabad Ki Kahani, says that the Deo temple is nearly a thousand years old, but the tradition of Sun worship here predates the structure itself by several centuries. He cites the poet Mayura Bhatta, a contemporary of Emperor Harshavardhana, who mentioned the temple in his work Surya Shataka. Over time, the Vedic practice of Sun worship merged with local folk beliefs, giving rise to what we now know as Chhath Puja — a unique blend of spirituality, nature worship, and cultural heritage. Today, the Deo Surya Mandir remains the epicentre of Chhath celebrations, drawing devotees and tourists from across the world to witness this timeless ritual of faith and light.
