Chhath Puja, one of India’s most spiritually vibrant festivals, is not just a series of rituals — it’s a celebration of purity, discipline, and gratitude. At the heart of this devotion lies food — the satvik bhojan that sustains both body and soul.
During Chhath, every grain, fruit, and sweet becomes an offering of love to Lord Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, the goddess who blesses devotees with health, prosperity, and harmony.
Unlike most festivals, Chhath’s cuisine follows a strictly satvik (pure vegetarian) rule — no onions, garlic, or processed ingredients — emphasizing natural, handmade offerings prepared with devotion and cleanliness.
Chhath Puja 2025 Dates
In 2025, Chhath Puja will be celebrated from October 25 to October 28.
Each day of this four-day festival carries a unique ritual significance, reflected beautifully in the food prepared and offered by devotees.
Day-by-Day Cuisine of Chhath Puja
Day 1 – Nahay Khay: The Cleansing Meal
Chhath begins with Nahay Khay, meaning “bath and eat.”
Devotees take a holy bath in a river or pond, purify their homes, and prepare a simple, pure meal — usually Lauki-Bhaat (bottle gourd cooked in ghee with rice).
This meal marks the beginning of the ritual discipline — it’s light, vegetarian, and symbolic of purity. After this day, devotees avoid even a speck of impurity in their food.
Day 2 – Kharna (Lohanda): The Fasting Feast
On this day, devotees observe a full-day fast without water. As the sun sets, the fast is broken with Rasiya (gur ki kheer) — a rice pudding made with jaggery — and roti made on an earthen stove.
This meal, known as Kharna Prasad, represents gratitude and humility. After this, devotees begin a 36-hour nirjala vrat (fast without water) until the sunrise after Usha Arghya.
Rasiya, with its earthy sweetness from jaggery, symbolizes devotion and purity — an offering that bridges the body and spirit.
Day 3 – Sandhya Arghya: The Evening Offering to the Setting Sun
The third day is the most visually stunning and spiritually charged part of Chhath Puja. As the sun sets, devotees gather along riverbanks or ponds to offer Arghya (holy offerings) to the setting sun.
The offerings are carried in bamboo baskets (soop), beautifully filled with:
- Thekua (the main prasad)
- Bananas
- Coconuts
- Sugarcane sticks
- Apples and seasonal fruits
- Singhara (water chestnut)
- Green gram, rice laddoos, and dry fruits
These items are not random — each has a symbolic meaning:
- Bananas signify fertility and auspiciousness.
- Coconuts represent purity and completeness.
- Sugarcane symbolizes the sweetness of hard-earned rewards.
After the Arghya, families sing devotional songs, light diyas, and prepare to offer gratitude again at dawn.
Day 4 – Usha Arghya: The Sunrise Offering and Fast Breaking
The final day of Chhath Puja begins before dawn, as devotees return to the ghats to offer Arghya to the rising sun. This marks the completion of the fast.
The same Thekua and fruits used in Sandhya Arghya are offered again, and after prayers, the prasad is distributed among family, neighbors, and the community.
This act of sharing symbolizes the spirit of unity, equality, and gratitude — the essence of Chhath.
Thekua: The Heart of Chhath Prasad
Thekua is the most iconic prasad of Chhath Puja — a deep-fried sweet made of whole wheat flour, jaggery, ghee, and cardamom.
It’s beautifully shaped using wooden molds and fried to a golden-brown perfection. Crispy outside yet soft within, Thekua is travel-friendly, non-perishable, and infused with devotion.
How to Make Traditional Thekua
Ingredients:
- 2 cups wheat flour
- ¾ cup grated jaggery
- 3 tbsp ghee
- 2 tbsp grated coconut
- ½ tsp cardamom powder
- Ghee or oil for frying
Method:
- Dissolve jaggery in warm water and cool slightly.
- Mix with flour, ghee, cardamom, and coconut.
- Form a stiff dough and rest for 10 minutes.
- Shape into discs and pattern using molds or forks.
- Fry in medium heat until golden brown.
- Cool before offering or storing.
Thekua is more than food — it’s faith shaped by hand. Every family adds its own touch, keeping ancestral recipes alive through generations.
Rasiya Kheer: The Sweet Offering of Kharna
Rasiya, or gur ki kheer, is the traditional sweet prepared for the Kharna Puja. Made from rice, milk, jaggery, and a hint of cardamom, it’s cooked slowly to achieve a caramel-like richness.
Unlike regular kheer, Rasiya carries a deeper brown hue from the jaggery and a soothing aroma. It’s first offered to the deity and then shared as prasad, marking the end of the day’s fast and the beginning of devotion’s deeper phase.
Fruits & Farm Offerings: Nature’s Gifts in the Soop
Chhath Puja celebrates not only the Sun but also nature’s bounty. The soop (bamboo basket) reflects agricultural abundance and the devotee’s connection to the earth.
Common fruits and items include:
- Bananas: Symbol of fertility and continuity
- Coconuts: Represent purity and wholeness
- Sugarcane: Embodies sweetness and sustenance
- Apples, oranges, and singhara: Seasonal balance and nutrition
- Ginger plants and green chana: Earth’s freshness and vitality
Each element honors the sun’s energy that nurtures life on earth.
The Satvik Code of Chhath Cuisine
The sanctity of Chhath food lies in its purity. Every dish follows strict rules:
- No onion, garlic, or processed ingredients
- Cooked on earthen stoves (chulha) using ghee or wood fire
- Always prepared in a clean, sacred space
- Offered before consumption — as food of devotion, not indulgence
Even utensils are washed with Gangajal (holy water) or cleaned thoroughly to maintain ritual purity.
Chhath Prasad Checklist for 2025
| Category | Items |
| Main Prasad | Thekua, Rasiya (Kheer), Rice Laddoos, Kasar (rice powder & jaggery) |
| Fruits | Bananas, Coconuts, Sugarcane, Apples, Oranges, Singhara |
| Essentials | Rice, Wheat Flour, Jaggery, Ghee, Milk, Fresh Vegetables |
| Puja Materials | Soop (bamboo basket), Diya, Flowers, Turmeric, Roli, Kalash |
Why Chhath Cuisine Is Spiritually Significant
Every bite of Chhath prasad tells a story of simplicity, self-discipline, and gratitude. Food during this festival is not a luxury — it’s a sacred medium of communication with the divine.
Cooking becomes prayer, and eating becomes sharing. The entire process — from cleaning ingredients to distributing prasad — reflects the harmony between humanity and nature.
As devotees stand in rivers offering Thekua and fruits to the sun, they’re offering more than food — they’re offering their faith, humility, and hope.
Conclusion
The cuisine of Chhath Puja is a beautiful reflection of its essence — purity, gratitude, and devotion. From the golden Thekua to the humble Lauki Bhaat, every preparation carries generations of tradition and spiritual energy.
In 2025, as millions prepare for Chhath across India and beyond, these foods will once again serve as a bridge — connecting people, nature, and the divine.
So, the next time you taste a Thekua or smell the aroma of rasiya, remember: it’s not just a sweet — it’s faith made edible.
