Chhath Puja is one of the most beautiful festivals to photograph in Jharkhand and Bihar. Over four days, families prepare the prasad, fast, and finally gather at ponds, lakes and rivers to offer arghya to the setting and rising sun. The ghats fill with soops of fruit, sugarcane, diyas and devotional songs. For many families it is the one time of year when everyone comes home.
This guide shares practical tips for photographing and filming Chhath with care, whether you are hiring a photographer for your family or planning coverage for a community ghat.
Respect comes first
Chhath is a demanding fast and a deeply personal prayer. A good photographer stays in the background:
- Never stand in front of a vrati or block the view of the sun.
- Avoid flash during the arghya; it distracts and spoils the natural light.
- Stay out of the water unless the family has asked for close photos there.
- Ask before photographing other families at a crowded ghat.
Timing is everything
The two key moments, the evening arghya (Sandhya Arghya) and the morning arghya (Usha Arghya), last only a short time. The best light is the twenty minutes around sunset and sunrise. Arrive at the ghat at least an hour early to find a good position, set up and take family photos before the crowd builds.
The days before the arghya are worth covering too: preparing thekua, decorating the soop, the kharna evening and the walk to the ghat with baskets on heads. These moments make the story complete.
Working in low light
Sunset turns quickly into dusk, and sunrise starts in near darkness. Fast lenses, a steady hand or monopod, and careful exposure keep the warm colours of the sky and the glow of diyas without noise. For video, slow, steady shots of the water and reflections are more powerful than quick movements.
Shots to plan for
- The vrati standing in the water with folded hands, facing the sun.
- Close-ups of the soop with fruits, sugarcane and diyas.
- Family members offering milk or water during the arghya.
- Wide views of the ghat with hundreds of lamps reflected in the water.
- Children helping carry baskets and lighting diyas.
- A family portrait at the ghat, taken before or after the prayer.
Ghats around Ranchi
In Ranchi, large Chhath gatherings take place at lakes, ponds and dams across the city. Each ghat has a different layout, crowd size and direction of light, so share the exact ghat with your photographer in advance. If you are celebrating at a home terrace or a small pond, the coverage can be quieter and more intimate.
Video and sharing with family
Relatives working far from home often miss Chhath. A short highlight film, or live streaming of the arghya, lets them be part of it. Keep the devotional songs in the background audio; they carry the emotion of the festival.
Telling the four-day story
Chhath is not a single evening; it is a four-day journey, and the most complete coverage follows that story:
- Nahay Khay – the first day of purification, the bath and the simple meal of lauki-bhaat.
- Kharna – the evening offering of kheer and roti, after which the long fast begins.
- Sandhya Arghya – the evening offering to the setting sun at the ghat.
- Usha Arghya – the morning offering to the rising sun, followed by breaking the fast.
Even if you only book coverage for the two arghyas, a few photos of the kitchen, the thekua being made and the soop being decorated at home add warmth and context to the album.
Keeping the family safe and comfortable
Ghats are crowded, and the steps can be slippery near the water. Agree on a meeting point at the ghat in case the family gets separated, keep elders and children away from the edge, and let the photographer know where the vrati will stand so they can choose a safe position on the bank. A good photographer works around the family’s comfort, not the other way round.
Frequently asked questions
Do you cover both the evening and morning arghya?
Yes. Most families book both, as they have very different light and moods.
How early should we book?
Chhath dates are fixed by the calendar and photographers are booked quickly, so book two to three weeks in advance.
Book Chhath coverage in Ranchi
See our festival photography and videography service or contact us with your ghat and timings.
