FestivalPublic holiday

Chhath Parva

छठ पर्व

Chhath is a four-day festival dedicated to Surya (the Sun god), celebrated primarily in the Terai, Madhesh and by Mithila and Tharu communities. It falls six days after Tihar.

Significance

Devotees fast and offer arghya to the setting and rising sun. It is one of the few Hindu festivals that worships the sun directly.

How it is celebrated

Pre-dawn gathering at a river or pond, standing waist-deep in water to offer arghya. Thekua, kasar, fruits and sugarcane are the main offerings.

Traditional food

Thekua, kasar, bananas, sugarcane, coconut.