Giriraj Singh extends Chhath Puja Sandhya Arghya greetings
Synopsis
Union Textiles Minister and Begusarai MP Giriraj Singh greeted the nation on the Sandhya Arghya occasion of Chhath Puja on 15 November 2026, praying to Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya for happiness, peace, prosperity, and good health for all.
Key Takeaways
Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh posted Chhath Puja greetings on 15 November 2026 .
The message marks Sandhya Arghya — the evening offering to the Sun God on the festival's third day.
Chhath Puja is a four-day festival dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya , with its strongest roots in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh .
Singh invoked blessings of 'happiness, peace, prosperity and good health' for all citizens.
Chhath greetings from Bihar leaders are a consistent feature of the state's political and cultural calendar.
As the setting sun touches the horizon on the third day of Chhath Puja, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh extended warm greetings to the nation on the occasion of Sandhya Arghya — the evening offering to the Sun God — on Sunday, 15 November 2026.
Posting on X in Hindi, the Begusarai MP wrote: 'On the auspicious occasion of Sandhya Arghya, dedicated to the setting Sun God on the third day of the great festival Chhath Puja, heartfelt greetings to all fellow countrymen. On this great festival of folk faith, I pray to Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya that happiness, peace, prosperity and good health shower upon everyone's life. Jai Chhathi Maiya!'
The ritual at the heart of Bihar's greatest festival
Chhath Puja is a four-day Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, observed through ritual bathing, prolonged fasting, and offerings made standing in water at sunrise and sunset. The Sandhya Arghya — the evening offering on the third day — is considered the festival's emotional and spiritual centrepiece, drawing millions of devotees to riverbanks and water bodies across Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and diaspora communities worldwide.
Bihar's festival, India's political calendar
For leaders from Bihar, Chhath greetings are as much a civic ritual as a personal one. Ministers and MPs across party lines issue public messages during the festival, reflecting how deeply the observance is woven into the state's cultural and political fabric. Giriraj Singh, a senior BJP leader whose constituency of Begusarai sits at the heart of Chhath country, has long been associated with the festival's public observance. His message this year carries the familiar cadence of Bihar's political outreach — invoking both divine blessing and community solidarity in a single breath.
Point of View
Whose electoral base in Begusarai is steeped in the festival's traditions, the greeting is both devotional and strategic, reinforcing his identity as a voice of the Bihari heartland. Across the political spectrum, Chhath has become one of the rare festivals that commands uniform, enthusiastic participation from leaders of all affiliations, underlining its growing stature as a symbol of Bihar's demographic weight in national politics.
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sandhya Arghya in Chhath Puja?
Sandhya Arghya is the evening offering made to the setting Sun God on the third day of Chhath Puja. It is considered the spiritual centrepiece of the four-day festival, with devotees standing in water to offer prayers at sunset.
Why did Giriraj Singh post Chhath Puja greetings?
As a senior BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP from Begusarai, Bihar — a region where Chhath Puja is deeply observed — Giriraj Singh extended public greetings on the occasion of Sandhya Arghya on 15 November 2026, a practice common among Bihar's political leaders.
What is Chhath Puja and where is it celebrated?
Chhath Puja is a four-day Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. It is primarily observed in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, and also widely celebrated among Bihari diaspora communities across India and abroad.
Who is Giriraj Singh?
Giriraj Singh is India's Union Minister of Textiles, a senior BJP leader, and a Lok Sabha MP representing the Begusarai constituency in Bihar.
What are the four days of Chhath Puja?
Chhath Puja spans four days involving ritual bathing, fasting, and offerings. The key rituals include Nahay Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya (evening offering on day three), and Usha Arghya (morning offering on day four).
