Places To Visit In India To Witness The Chhath Puja Festivities

If there is one festival in North India when the people in Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh do not want to stay in their houses, it is the Chhath Puja. The festival is an age-old tradition that is even mentioned in the holy scriptures of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Observed on Kartik Shukla Shashti, Chhath Puja lasts for four days, and so makes for an amazing time for holidaying in North India.

What is Chhath Puja and why is it celebrated?

Chhath Puja is quite a big deal in the north and is celebrated on a grand level in the North Indian states. Chhath Puja is celebrated to worship Chhathi Maiya and Sun God, and is believed to bring prosperity, safety, happiness and good health to the devotees. The Sun god is believed to give energy to the devotees.

Prayers are offered before sunrise and during sunset during the time of Chhath Puja. After offering their prayers to the Sun, the devotees take a holy dip in the water. It is said that six days after Diwali—when Chhath Puja is celebrated—is when Ramrajya was established. 

The Puja is famous among tourists as you get to see the locals in their true spirits during such festive times. You can also see the Chhath Puja celebrations this Diwali vacation. Below is the list of places to visit in India to celebrate Chhath Puja.

Places to visit in India to celebrate Chhath Puja

This year, the Chhath Puja rituals will start from 30th October 2022. Visit the North Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh to see thousands of devotees praying to god during the sunrise. The positive energy and simplicity of the festival sets it apart.

Below are the places to visit in India to celebrate Chhath Puja:

Patna

You can plan your trip to see Chhath Puja in Bihar by arriving at Patna a day before the festivities. You can visit Konhara Ghat in Hajipur near Patna as well on one of the days of your trip to see Chhath Puja there. You can also book a stay at Ramada Plaza By Wyndham, resort in Agra by Club Mahindra. Below is how you can witness the grand Chhath Puja festivities in Patna:

• Visit one of the several dedicated ghats decorated with colourful lights for the festival.
• See devotees breathtakingly observing Chhath Puja. 

Ranchi

The most populous city in Jharkhand and the hometown of cricketer, MS Dhoni, Ranchi sees some of the biggest celebrations and is one of the best places to visit in India to celebrate Chhath Puja. You can do following things in Ranchi on your Chhath Puja trip:

• Visit the popular Ranchi Lake and see the rituals
• Also visit other ponds and Ghats like Kunkay Talab, Button Talab and Hatia Ghat where you’ll find plenty of people.

You can even see the Chhath Puja festivities at Darbhanga and Gaya in Bihar. The ghats popular in Gaya include Sidhiya Ghat, Kendui Ghat, Pita Maheswar Ghat and Dev Ghat during the Chhath Puja festivities. The nearby states of West Bengal and Odisha also celebrate Chhath Puja, one of the top festivals in India.