Chhath Puja 2026: The Role of Daughters-in-Law, Mothers and Family Members in Preparing for the Mahaparv

Chhath Puja is one of Bihar's most important festivals, celebrated with immense devotion, discipline and family participation. In 2026, the four-day Mahaparv will be observed from November 13 to November 16, bringing families together to worship Surya Dev (Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya. While the vratins observe strict fasting rituals and offer prayers to the setting and rising Sun, preparations for the festival involve the collective efforts of mothers, daughters-in-law, children and other family members.

In many Bihari households, Chhath preparations begin several days before Nahay Khay. From cleaning the house and arranging bamboo baskets to preparing thekua and collecting seasonal fruits, every family member has a role to play.

Also Read: Chhath Puja 2026 Date: Check 4-Day Calendar, Nahay Khay, Kharna and Arghya Timings

1. Mothers: Passing Down Chhath Traditions Through Generations

Mothers play an important role in keeping Chhath traditions alive in Bihari households. They often guide younger family members about the rituals, food preparations and traditional practices followed during the festival.

In many families, mothers and grandmothers teach their daughters and daughters-in-law how to prepare traditional prasad such as thekua and kasar. They also explain the importance of maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen, preparing satvik food and following the customs associated with each day of the Mahaparv.

For families where Chhath has been celebrated for generations, these preparations are closely connected with childhood memories. Younger members often learn by observing their mothers perform rituals, arrange offerings and sing traditional Chhath geet.

Also Read: Chhath Puja 2026: Why Sugarcane, Turmeric Plants and Banana Leaves Are Used in Traditional Worship

2. Daughters-in-Law: Carrying Forward Family Customs

Daughters-in-law have an important place in many Bihari families' Chhath celebrations. After marriage, many women learn and participate in the Chhath traditions followed by their marital families, helping preserve customs that have been practised for generations.

In households where daughters-in-law observe the vrat, they undertake the preparations and rituals according to their family's traditions. These may include arranging puja materials, preparing prasad, cleaning the worship area and participating in prayers at the ghats.

Even when they are not observing the fast themselves, daughters-in-law often help with household arrangements, cooking and organising offerings. Their participation also creates an opportunity to learn traditional recipes, folk songs and regional customs from older women in the family.

Also Read: Chhath Puja in Mithilanchal and Bhojpur: How Maithili and Bhojpuri Traditions Make the Festival Special

3. Preparing Thekua, Kasar and Traditional Chhath Prasad

Food preparation is one of the most important parts of Chhath Puja, and it usually involves several family members working together.

Thekua, prepared using wheat flour, jaggery and ghee, is among the most recognisable offerings of the festival. Kasar, made using rice flour and jaggery, is another traditional prasad commonly prepared in Bihari households.

Mothers and older women often guide the preparation process, while daughters-in-law and other family members help knead the dough, shape the thekua and prepare the remaining offerings. The family also arranges fruits such as bananas, coconuts and seasonal produce for the puja.

These activities are not simply kitchen responsibilities; they are family traditions that bring different generations together.

Also Read: Chhath Puja Prasad 2026: How to Make Traditional Thekua and What to Keep in the Daura

4. The Role of Men and Other Family Members in Ghat Preparations

Although women are often at the centre of Chhath rituals, men and other family members also contribute significantly to the preparations.

In many Bihari households, male family members help arrange bamboo baskets, sugarcane stalks, fruits and other puja materials. They may also participate in cleaning riverbanks, ponds and neighbourhood ghats before the festival.

Children often help with smaller tasks, such as arranging flowers, carrying fruits and decorating the house. Elderly family members share traditional songs, stories and instructions about the rituals.

Neighbours and relatives also come together to organise community celebrations, arrange lighting and maintain cleanliness around the water bodies where devotees offer Arghya.

5. Traditional Chhath Songs: How Women Keep Folk Culture Alive

Chhath geet are an essential part of the festival's cultural identity, particularly in Bihar. Women sing traditional Bhojpuri, Maithili and other regional devotional songs while preparing prasad, arranging offerings and travelling to the ghats.

These songs express devotion towards Chhathi Maiya and Surya Dev while reflecting family relationships, motherhood and the hopes of devotees.

Older women often introduce younger family members to traditional compositions that have been sung in their households for decades. For many families, listening to familiar Chhath songs creates a sense of nostalgia and brings back memories of village celebrations.

Even Bihari families living outside the state continue this tradition by playing folk songs during household preparations and community gatherings.

Also Read: Chhath Puja Geet: Popular Folk/Religious Geet Sung During Nahay Khay, Kharna and Arghya

6. How Chhath Puja Strengthens Family Bonds

One of the most meaningful aspects of Chhath Puja is the way it brings families together. Relatives often travel to their hometowns, while family members living in different cities make arrangements to celebrate the festival together.

The responsibilities associated with the Mahaparv encourage cooperation and shared participation. From preparing traditional food to arranging offerings and visiting the ghats, every activity becomes an opportunity for family members to spend time together.

For younger generations, participating in these preparations also provides an opportunity to understand Bihar's cultural heritage and learn the customs followed by their parents and grandparents.

Chhath Puja ultimately represents more than fasting and religious rituals. The contributions of mothers, daughters-in-law, fathers, children and elderly family members make the Mahaparv a shared celebration of faith, family unity and tradition. Through their collective efforts, Bihari households continue to preserve the customs and cultural identity associated with one of the state's most cherished festivals.

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