There are festivals that celebrate with noise, and then there is Chhath Puja, which celebrates with silence. No firecrackers, no idols—just the river, the sun, and the surrender of the self. If Diwali dazzles with light, Chhath moves in shadows: women standing waist-deep in water, men bearing baskets of fruits and sugarcane, and a faith that asks for nothing but gratitude. It is a festival without priests, without hierarchy, where the setting and rising sun receive equal reverence. In a world obsessed with spectacle, Chhath whispers its truth—that sometimes the deepest devotion lies not in asking, but in simply saying, thank you.
