Usha Arghya is the sunrise offering on the fourth and final day of Chhath Puja. Families return to the ghat before dawn, carrying the offerings prepared for the festival’s concluding act of worship.
Returning to the water
The gathering begins in darkness or first light. Devotees enter the water and wait for sunrise while relatives support them from the bank or stand nearby. The mood differs from the golden movement of Sandhya Arghya: it is quiet, expectant and shaped by the long fast that has preceded it.
For visitors, the pre-dawn hour requires particular care. Use designated paths, keep lights and noise low, and follow the instructions of local volunteers responsible for safety at the water.
Arghya to the rising sun
As the sun rises, arghya is offered. Bihar Tourism describes this as the final ritual of the four-day sequence. Paired with the previous evening’s offering to the setting sun, it completes Chhath’s movement from gratitude at dusk to renewal at dawn.
Baskets may again contain seasonal fruit, coconut, sugarcane and prepared prasad such as thekua. The specific arrangement follows family and regional custom.
Completing the vrat
After Usha Arghya, the fast is concluded and prasad is distributed among relatives, neighbours and others gathered for the festival. The end of the vrat is therefore both personal and communal. Food prepared under strict discipline returns to the wider community as a shared blessing.
The conclusion also reveals how much collective support surrounds the vratin: cleaning, cooking, carrying, travel and ghat arrangements have all been shared across the four days.
The festival’s full arc
Return to the complete Chhath Puja guide, check the verified 2026 dates, or listen through the four days in the Chhath Puja Vibes experience.