The sacred Chhath Puja, dedicated to Surya Dev (Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, will be celebrated from October 25 to October 28, 2025. This four-day festival holds immense spiritual and cultural importance across Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Nepal, symbolizing gratitude towards nature and the sustenance it provides.

Chhath Puja 2025 Schedule And Rituals

Day 1: Nahay Khay (October 25, Saturday)

The festival commences with Nahay Khay, meaning ‘bath and eat’. Devotees take a sacred bath in rivers or ponds, cleanse their homes, and consume a simple satvik meal. The preparation of fruits, diyas, and other offerings begins on this day.

Day 2: Kharna (October 26, Sunday)

On Kharna, devotees observe a day-long fast that is broken after sunset with prasad dedicated to Chhathi Maiya. The offering, made of jaggery kheer and fruits, is later shared with family and neighbors, marking the spirit of purity and devotion.

Day 3: Sandhya Arghya (October 27, Monday)

The third day, Sandhya Arghya, witnesses thousands gathering at ghats to offer arghya (water offering) to the setting Sun. As the sun sets at 5:40 PM, the evening resonates with devotional songs and the recital of the Chhath Vrat Katha, creating a divine ambiance.

Day 4: Usha Arghya (October 28, Tuesday)

The concluding day, Usha Arghya, involves prayers to the rising Sun, symbolizing hope and renewal. Devotees, after a 36-hour fast, offer arghya at sunrise and seek blessings for prosperity and well-being before concluding the ritual.

The Chhath Puja festival not only strengthens the bond between humans and nature but also showcases the enduring faith and discipline of millions who observe it each year with utmost devotion and simplicity.

Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa and former NITI Aayog CEO, criticised the Supreme Court’s recent decision allowing the use of green crackers during Diwali, saying it has prioritised “the right to burn crackers over the right to live and breathe.”

‘Delhi’s air quality lies in shambles’

As Delhi woke up to thick smog after Diwali night, Kant took to X to express concern over the worsening pollution levels. He said, “Delhi’s air quality lies in shambles: 36 out of 38 monitoring stations have hit the red zone, AQI is above 400 in key areas. The Hon. Supreme Court in its wisdom has prioritised the right to burn crackers over the right to live and breathe.”

He urged for “ruthless and sustained execution” of pollution control measures, adding that cities like Los Angeles, Beijing, and London have successfully tackled air quality crises and Delhi must do the same.

Court’s ‘balanced approach’

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court lifted the ban on bursting crackers and permitted Delhi residents to use green crackers during Diwali, citing a “balanced approach” between individual celebration and environmental concerns. The court had set time slots — 6 am to 7 am and 8 pm to 10 pm — for bursting crackers over two days, but several areas in Delhi-NCR witnessed violations past midnight.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi’s Air Quality Index stood at 357 (in the ‘very poor’ category) at 1 pm on Tuesday.

‘Unified action plan vital’

Kant outlined a detailed roadmap for sustainable pollution control, calling for a unified action plan to end crop and biomass burning, modernise thermal power plants and brick kilns, shift transport to electric vehicles by 2030, enforce strict construction dust control, and ensure waste segregation.

He emphasised, “Only decisive and relentless execution can restore the city’s blue skies and breathable air.”

As Delhi woke up to a heavy blanket of smog and toxic air the morning after Diwali, political sparring intensified between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the ruling BJP over the city’s worsening pollution crisis.

AAP leaders accused Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s BJP-led government of failing to prevent pollution despite curbs in place, while the BJP countered by blaming residents for bursting firecrackers and stubble burning in nearby states for the poor air quality.

AAP accuses BJP of “making excuses”

AAP MLA Gopal Rai said the Delhi government was “making excuses” instead of taking concrete steps to combat pollution. “The pollution level has risen drastically, yet the Delhi government is doing nothing. They are blaming other states while BJP rules in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Why didn’t they coordinate before Diwali?” he said.

AAP’s state chief Saurabh Bharadwaj mocked Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, claiming she “doesn’t even know how to pronounce AQI.” “She calls it IQ or QQ. The government has no understanding of the pollution issue and has failed miserably to control it,” he said, also accusing the BJP of lying about conducting artificial rain to tackle smog.

Congress joins criticism

Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed also hit out at the BJP-led Delhi government, saying it “failed to implement court orders” and allowed cracker bursting late into the night. “AQI has crossed 400 in most parts of Delhi. This toxic air is endangering children and the elderly. The BJP government has completely failed Delhi and its people,” she said in a post on X.

BJP blames stubble burning and citizens

Responding to the criticism, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said pollution from stubble burning in neighbouring states was largely responsible for the smog. BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya claimed, “Delhi will continue to choke unless Punjab stops burning stubble. Stop blaming Deepawali for AAP’s smoke.”

Another BJP minister, Ashish Sood, attributed part of the blame to citizens for violating the Supreme Court’s time limit on cracker bursting. “People should follow the guidelines to avoid this situation next year,” he said, adding that “AAP did no work in the last 10 years to address stubble burning in Punjab.”

Delhi’s air quality plummets

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 359 at 11 am — in the ‘very poor’ category. Of 38 monitoring stations, 35 recorded ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ air quality levels. Neighbouring Haryana also recorded similar conditions, with AQI at 358, while Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Ludhiana in Punjab recorded moderate to poor air quality.

The Supreme Court had earlier allowed the use of green crackers for only two hours on Diwali night, but many residents ignored the restrictions, leading to a sharp spike in pollutants.