Chhath Puja 2025 Begins: What To Do If You Break Your Fast By Mistake

The holy festival of Chhath Puja has begun across the country, marking a time of devotion, discipline and deep faith. Celebrated mainly in the month of Kartik, this festival comes soon after Diwali, which was observed on October 20 this year. According to the Vedic calendar, Chhath Puja in 2025 will be observed from October 25 to October 28.

Chhath Puja is dedicated to the worship of Chhathi Maiya and Lord Surya (the Sun God). It is one of the most ancient festivals in Hindu tradition and symbolises the bond between nature and human faith. Devotees, especially women, observe a strict waterless fast for the well-being, prosperity and long life of their children and family members.

Four-Day Ritual of Chhath Puja

• October 25 – Nahai-Khay: The festival begins with the ritual of bathing and preparing pure vegetarian food, which is offered to deities and then consumed.
• October 26 – Kharna: Devotees observe a day-long fast, which is broken in the evening after offering kheer, roti and fruits to Chhathi Maiya.
• October 27 – Sandhya Arghya: Offerings are made to the setting sun on riverbanks or ponds.
• October 28 – Usha Arghya: The festival concludes with prayers and offerings to the rising sun, after which the fast is formally broken.

What If the Fast Breaks by Mistake?

Many devotees worry about unintentionally breaking the fast due

to weakness, illness or by accident. Speaking on this, Ujjain-based priest Acharya Anand Bhardwaj explains that Chhathi Maiya is compassionate and does not punish sincere devotees.

If the fast is broken by mistake, here is what should be done:

1. Take a bath and wear clean clothes.
2. Light a lamp in front of Chhathi Maiya and calm your mind.
3. Offer prayers and ask for forgiveness with sincere devotion.
4. Donate essential items such as fruits, grains or food as a form of penance.
5. Continue the fast with dedication and complete the remaining rituals.
6. If possible, observe the fast again to show devotion and respect.

According to Acharya Bhardwaj, by following these steps with honesty and faith, devotees can be freed from any fault, and the blessings of Chhathi Maiya remain intact.

As the four-day celebration begins, ghats (river banks) are being cleaned, bamboo baskets and soop are being decorated, and households across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and other parts of the country ae filled with devotion and preparation for this grand festival of faith and purity.