October 27, 2025
Educational institutions in several Indian states, including Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, are closed today to observe Chhath Puja, a significant festival dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, Surya, and Chhathi Maiya. The holiday allows students, teachers, and their families to participate in the traditional rituals of this four-day festival, which emphasizes purity, discipline, and reverence for nature.
The festival, widely celebrated across North and East India, involves rigorous fasting and rituals performed at riverbanks and other water bodies. The closure of schools is part of a broader series of holidays for both Diwali and Chhath Puja, providing an extended festive break for students.
State-Wise Holiday Details:
Delhi: Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has declared Monday, October 27, a public holiday. This day marks Sandhya Arghya, the third day of the festival, where devotees offer prayers to the setting sun.
West Bengal: In recognition of the festival's growing cultural significance in the state, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a two-day school holiday for Chhath Puja, enabling families to observe the rituals together.
Bihar: Given the profound cultural and religious importance of Chhath Puja in Bihar, schools will remain closed for the festival's duration. While some institutions are scheduled to reopen on October 28, others will extend the break until October 30, 2025.
Uttar Pradesh: Following the recent Diwali holidays, schools in Uttar Pradesh are observing a closure for Chhath Puja, expected to last from October 25 to October 28, 2025. A formal circular from the state government is anticipated to confirm the exact dates, which are intended to cover the key rituals of Kharna and Arghya.
Chhath Puja 2025 Ritual Schedule:
Nahai-Khaay: Saturday, October 25 – Ritual cleansing and the beginning of the fast.
Kharna: Sunday, October 26 – Evening offerings and preparations for the main fast.
Sandhya Arghya (Evening Offering): Monday, October 27 – Offerings to the setting sun.
Usha Arghya (Morning Offering): Tuesday, October 28 – Offerings to the rising sun, concluding the fast.
The festival is a expression of gratitude to the Sun God for bestowing life, health, and prosperity. Devotees observe strict fasts and offer prayers while standing in water at sunrise and sunset, symbolizing a deep connection between humanity and nature.
Other states, including Jharkhand, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Tripura, have also scheduled various school holidays in October for regional festivals and observances. The holiday for Chhath Puja provides millions of families across India an opportunity to engage with a tradition that reinforces the core cultural values of devotion, thankfulness, and unity.
SOURCE bizzbuzz.news
