As Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana Draws Attention, Discover the Sacred Chhath Puja Connection With Lord Rama and Sita

Chhath Puja is celebrated with immense devotion across Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and several other parts of India. The four-day festival is dedicated to Surya Dev, the Sun God, and Chhathi Maiya. Devotees observe rigorous fasts and offer Arghya to both the setting and rising Sun, praying for prosperity, good health and the well-being of their families.

But beyond the familiar rituals performed along riverbanks, Chhath Puja is also associated with one of the most significant events in the Ramayana.

According to a popular religious belief, Lord Rama and Goddess Sita worshipped the Sun God after returning to Ayodhya following their victory over Ravana. Their observance is believed to be connected with the tradition of Chhath Puja.


The story has gained renewed cultural relevance as audiences revisit the Ramayana through its upcoming cinematic adaptation, featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita.

However, the connection between Chhath Puja and the Ramayana is rooted in religious traditions and folklore, rather than being the festival's sole established origin.

Did Lord Rama and Goddess Sita Perform Chhath Puja After Returning to Ayodhya?

According to a widely circulated religious belief, Lord Rama and Goddess Sita observed a fast and performed Sun worship after returning to Ayodhya from Lanka.

After spending 14 years in exile and defeating Ravana, Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya with Goddess Sita and Lakshmana. Their return marked the beginning of Rama's reign as king, an event celebrated through the festival of Diwali.

In one tradition associated with Chhath Puja, Rama and Sita are believed to have performed a sacred ritual dedicated to Surya Dev during this period.

The worship of the Sun is significant because Surya Dev is regarded as the source of life, energy and prosperity. Offering prayers to the Sun is also associated with gratitude, purification and spiritual discipline.

Some accounts connect the observance with the sixth day of the lunar fortnight, known as Shashthi, which is the central day of Chhath Puja.

This belief is one of the reasons why the festival holds a special place in the religious traditions associated with Lord Rama and Goddess Sita.

Goddess Sita's Connection With Chhath Puja: The Munger Tradition

One of the most prominent regional traditions connecting Chhath Puja with Goddess Sita comes from Munger in Bihar.

According to local belief, Goddess Sita performed Chhath Puja on the banks of the Ganga in Munger. The tradition associates the sacred observance with her prayers to the Sun God.

The Sita Charan Mandir in Munger, which is associated with the footprints of Goddess Sita, holds religious significance for devotees who believe in this connection.

The story is particularly important because Chhath Puja is deeply rooted in the cultural and religious identity of Bihar.

For many devotees, the association with Goddess Sita makes the festival more than an occasion for fasting and Sun worship. It also represents devotion, purity, gratitude and the spiritual strength associated with her character.

However, the Munger tradition is best understood as a regional religious belief rather than a universally established historical account.

Why Is the Sun God Worshipped During Chhath Puja?

The connection between Chhath Puja and the Sun God extends beyond the Ramayana.

Surya Dev is revered in Hindu traditions as the source of light, energy and life. Ancient Vedic traditions also contain hymns and prayers dedicated to the Sun.

Chhath Puja reflects this reverence through its distinctive rituals.

Unlike many Hindu festivals where worship is performed primarily in temples or at home, Chhath devotees gather near rivers, ponds and other water bodies to offer prayers directly to the Sun.

The festival includes two particularly significant offerings:

Sandhya Arghya: Devotees offer prayers and water to the setting Sun on the third day of Chhath Puja.

Usha Arghya: Devotees offer prayers to the rising Sun on the fourth and final day, completing the observance.

The worship of both the rising and setting Sun reflects gratitude for the different phases of life and the natural cycle of day and night.

The rituals also demonstrate the importance of nature in Hindu religious traditions.

Is Chhath Puja Mentioned Only in the Ramayana?

No. Chhath Puja is associated with several religious traditions, including stories from the Mahabharata.

One popular belief connects the festival with Karna, the son of Surya Dev. According to the epic tradition, Karna worshipped the Sun and offered prayers while standing in water.

Another story connects Sun worship with Draupadi and the Pandavas during their exile.

These traditions suggest that the significance of Sun worship extends beyond a single episode in the Ramayana.

Chhath Puja is also associated with ancient Vedic practices and agricultural traditions. The Sun's role in sustaining life and supporting harvests is an important part of the festival's cultural significance.

Therefore, while the Ramayana offers one important explanation for the festival, it is not the only religious or cultural tradition associated with Chhath Puja.

Chhath Puja 2026: Why the Ramayana Connection Matters Today

The upcoming Ramayana film featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita has brought renewed attention to the epic and its characters.

For audiences familiar with the Ramayana, Chhath Puja offers an opportunity to explore how stories associated with Lord Rama and Goddess Sita continue to influence religious traditions.

For devotees, the festival remains an expression of gratitude towards the Sun God and a prayer for the well-being of their families.

Chhath Puja is not simply a festival associated with a single mythological event. It reflects an enduring relationship between devotion, nature and cultural identity.

The belief that Lord Rama and Goddess Sita observed Sun worship after returning to Ayodhya remains one of the many traditions that give the festival its spiritual significance.

As Chhath Puja approaches, the story offers a meaningful way to revisit the Ramayana beyond its familiar episodes of exile, the battle with Ravana and the return to Ayodhya.

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