WHAT MAKES CHHATH PUJA CELEBRATIONS SO POPULAR WITH TODAY’S GEN

THE PROFILE PICK SPEAKS TO INFLUENCERS

If you thought the Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids of Bihar, Jharkhand, Purvanchal are busy only listening to Taylor Swift or watching Korean dramas, we hate to tell you are badly mistaken. Whether in Noida or Bengaluru, this amazing bunch is connecting to Chhath Puja festivities like never before. A whole lot of them have already travelled to their hometowns to be with their beloved extended families right now if they stay elsewhere, and are soaking in the Mahaparv’s vibes to the fullest right now.

If you quiz them about Chhath Puja that, by all measures, involves a rather rigorous fast that the devoted keep for Chhathi Maiya, they may quite surprise you with their detailed knowhow of the steps, rituals and special cuisine. What’s more, this is the time they prefer to listen to Bhojpuri devotional songs ignoring every other artist on their playlist. Don’t be surprised if some will happily sing a perfect stanza for you.

When we rounded up a few youngsters to ask them about Chhath Puja, here’s what they said –

1. Chhath Puja Brings Everyone Closer to their Roots and Culture – A deeply spiritual community-based festival that brings everyone together on the banks of water bodies where prayers are offered in a festive atmosphere of devotional songs and age-old rituals.  The air throbs with cultural and spiritual vibes as hundreds join to offer prayers in this gender-neutral, class-neutral festival. Did you know there is mention of a similar puja in both Ramayana and Mahabharata that was conducted by none other than Lord Rama and the mighty Pandavas? Chhath Puja is believed to be one of the few Vedic festivals that is still celebrated in our land. Prayers are offered to Surya Dev (the Sun) and Chhathi Maiya (Goddess Shasthi, the revered protector of children).   
2. Chhath Puja is a Happy Time of Annual Homecoming – This four-day festival is marked out on calendars long ago before it arrives and everyone gets busy booking tickets and making travel arrangements. Whether they are in Jaisalmer or Jorhat, Chhath Puja is the time to visit your native place and bond with your older and younger cousins, family elders, and extended family.
3. Chhath Puja makes us Aware of Respecting the Environment – At its core, Chhath Puja is an ancient festival that acknowledges the massive role of the Earth’s environment on mankind. Traditionally, the festival is entirely eco-friendly where devotees make offerings of fruits, sweets, and seasonal produce in wholly bio-degradable baskets of bamboo and ‘soop’. Before the festival commences, there is much emphasis on cleaning up water bodies and getting them ready for the Puja. Ditto for personal residences. Note how the absence of idol worship clears the deck for pollution caused after immersion from Plaster of Paris, paints and chemicals, and modern-day embellishments used for decorating idols.
4. Chhath Puja is the Time to Binge on Yummy Traditional Eats – Thekua, Pua, Rasia Kheer, Poori Chana, Kaddu Bhaat. Just five of the heavenly delights of Chhath Puja that make you look forward to the festival. Truth be told, the festival will lose its shine without these, so every family, however humble its budget, will rustle up some. The crown prince of the list is Thekua, an unmistakable crispy-crunchy cookie-shaped offering that’s first made to Chhathi Maiya and then shared as Prasad with family and friends. Made of wheat flour, jaggery, ghee, the happy news is thekua has a shelf life of 2 -6 weeks. So, you can pack a bunch to take back with you to the hostel or PG accommodation and share with friends later on!
5. Chhath Puja Takes #1 Spot When It Comes to Inclusiveness – Everyone – repeat, everyone – comes together to offer prayers for Chhath Puja at designated water bodies at auspicious timings. There is no discrimination of gender, class, creed as both men and women of many different backgrounds celebrate the festival together where there is equal participation when it comes to fasting and performing rituals for the Puja.

The Profile Pick spoke to young influencers – Aditya (@biharishow), Muskan Singh (@muskan_arts_0), and Sahil Kumar Jha (sahil_kuchhbhi) about their Chhath Puja moods and memories –

TPP – What makes Chhath Puja so popular with the young generation?

• Biharishow – I think it’s because the young generation wishes to remain connected with traditions and Chhath Puja is a festival that enables us to do this. It is a delightful celebration of age-old rituals in a current setting where we soak in every bit of the emotional sentiments like our ancestors did ahead of us. In this sense, Chhath Puja brings me so much closer to my roots.

Note how this beautiful festival is a worship of Mother Nature where we are paying respect to ecology and environment. Also, the intense fast that devotees keep is a test of our self-discipline and dedication for the Higher Power.

Finally, how can anyone miss out the massive influence of social media around Chhath Puja? Think of the reels, videos, images, real-time news that flood our feed. These have undoubtedly increased the popularity of the festival, not just among youngsters but all ages of people everywhere.

• TPP – What are your childhood memories of Chhath Puja?

• Biharishow – I have priceless memories of Chhath Puja in my childhood. It was a beautiful and special time. We took great care to clean out the house spotlessly. Everyone pitched in to clean the pathway leading to our house. As the womenfolk of the house started preparing the special eats, the most delightful aroma of thekua and other festive delights emerged from the kitchen and gradually filled the entire house. As darkness fell, we grouped together to troop down to the ghat and offer prayers. Later, me and my gang of friends got busy bursting fireworks. Chhath Puja was magical from start to finish and left behind many sweet memories when it got over.
• TPP – How are you celebrating Chhath Puja 2025?

• Biharishow – I am celebrating with my family this year. I have pitched in to help my mother with all the preparations including making the Prasad. I am going for Arghya at our ghat.

• TPP – What makes Chhath Puja so popular with the young generation?
• Muskan Singh – I believe Chhath Puja is a wonderful festival that represents purity, discipline, and deep respect for nature, and these are values that are refreshing in today’s fast-paced and stressed-out world. The younger generation connects with the authenticity of Chhath Mahaparv at its fundamental level. It’s not about extravagance, but about emotion, simplicity, and devotion, and a connection with Mother Nature through immense self-discipline. In an age of digital chaos, Chhath Puja offers spiritual calm and is a reminder of our roots. No wonder more and more youngsters are celebrating Chhath Puja with earnestness!
• TPP – What are your childhood memories of Chhath Puja?
• Muskan Singh – As a child, Chhath meant lots of excitement and togetherness. I remember waking up early to watch my family elders prepare Prasad, decorating bamboo baskets to hold the offerings, and then going to the riverbank in a festive atmosphere of devotional songs, diyas, and plenty of faith. It was magical to just watch them. It was the kind of beauty and emotion that finds a permanent place in your heart and you carry for life. In those simple yet deeply devotional moments, I learnt the power of faith, worship, family ties and so much more.
• TPP – How are you celebrating Chhath Puja 2025?
• Muskan Singh – I am celebrating with gratitude in my heart — spending time with family, attending the ghat aarti, and contributing creatively to the spirit of Chhath through my work. For me, it’s not just a festival; it’s a reminder to stay grounded, thankful, and connected to where I come from.

• TPP – What makes Chhath Puja so popular with the young generation?
• Sahil Kumar Jha – Chhath Puja beautifully connects tradition with devotion and nature and today’s young generation sees it not just as a ritual, but a truly delightful and relevant celebration of purity, gratitude, and cultural identity. Look, we’re living modern lives and increasingly hectic lives no matter where we stay. How beautiful it is to find peace in the simple, earthy rituals that Chhath Puja brings to us — our eternal connection with the Sun and its energy, the life-giving power of water, and the humbleness of praying with offerings of the Earth itself – seasonal fruits and vegetables. Add to this the self-discipline of taking on a rigorous fast that becomes easy when you’re full of gratitude for all that you have received. Our prayers to Surya Dev and Chhath Maiya beautifully sum up the very essence of life and this is why more and more youngsters are drawn towards Chhath Mahaparv celebrations.
• TPP – What are your childhood memories of Chhath Puja?
• Sahil Kumar Jha – My childhood memories of Chhath Puja are filled with warmth — the heavenly smell of thekua floating in our house, Bhojpuri devotional songs echoing from every home, and the magical glow of diyas on the ghats as darkness fell. I remember watching my mother and elders perform Arghya with total devotion, while as children we eagerly stood around to help or indulged in some playful activity with each other. Chhath Puja was more than a festival — it was a feeling of togetherness, purity, and belonging, a magical combination of spiritual significance, traditional emotions, and human bonding.
• TPP – How are you celebrating Chhath Puja 2025?

• Sahil Kumar Jha – This Chhath Puja, I am revisiting my roots — spending time with the family, attending the Arghya rituals, and offering my creative contribution through my work dedicated to Chhath Maiya. It’s definitely the time to pause, give thanks, and honor the traditions that continue to guide and ground us.

With inputs by Neha Karmakar