Kharna Chhath Puja 2025 Australia: Second Day Chhath Celebration Guide with city sunset times, fasting rules, exact vidhi, kheer–roti recipes, and safety checklists.

Kharna Chhath Puja 2025 Australia: Second Day Chhath Celebration Guide

Kharna is the quiet turning point of Chhath. It is Day 2, when the vrati observes a disciplined fast, breaks it at sunset with sacred prasad, and then enters the nirjala (waterless) vow until Usha Arghya. This Kharna Chhath Puja 2025 Australia: Second Day Chhath Celebration Guide gives you exact Australian time-zone windows for Sunday, 26 October 2025, a simple 3‑minute method to find your exact sunset minute, the precise Kharna vidhi, authentic kheer–roti recipes with vegan and gluten‑free options, and health, hygiene, and safety practices for Australian homes.

Whether you live in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Darwin, or Hobart, you’ll find tailored timings, checklists, and day‑of timelines. Keep your kitchen calm and satvik, your timing exact, and your heart steady. From intention (fasting) to vow (nirjala), Kharna carries the spirit of Chhathi Maiya into the rest of the festival.

Table of Contents

• Kharna 2025 Australia: date, time zones, and DST
• City sunset windows for Sunday 26 October (verify locally)
• The exact-minute method in 3 minutes
• What Kharna means: the spiritual logic of Day 2
• 10-step Kharna vidhi (featured checklist)
• Day-of timelines: classic home and workday versions
• Fasting rules and permitted adaptations
• Kheer–roti recipes: classic, vegan, gluten-free, and diabetic-smart
• Food safety for kheer and rice (Australian guidance)
• Health, hydration, and medical considerations in Australia
• Puja samagri and kitchen setup checklists
• Apartment living, smoke alarms, and diya safety
• Cultural notes across Bihar/UP and diaspora homes
• Common mistakes to avoid on Day 2
• City case studies from across Australia
• Key stats and authoritative Australian sources
• Internal and external resources

Kharna 2025 Australia: date, time zones, and DST

• Kharna (Day 2): Sunday, 26 October 2025 (Australia)

Daylight Saving Time is already in effect in parts of Australia by late October. Therefore, use your state’s correct time zone on the day:

• AEDT (UTC+11): NSW, VIC, ACT, TAS (DST active)
• ACDT (UTC+10:30): SA (DST active)
• AEST (UTC+10): QLD (no DST)
• AWST (UTC+8): WA (no DST)
• ACST (UTC+9:30): NT (no DST)

Your Kharna prasad offering is at local sunset. Verify your exact minute and post it in your family WhatsApp the night before.

City sunset windows for Sunday 26 October (verify locally)

Use these as planning references. Always confirm your exact minute for your suburb via the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) or timeanddate on the day.

• Sydney (AEDT): ~7:20 PM
• Melbourne (AEDT): ~7:55–8:00 PM
• Brisbane (AEST): ~6:00 PM
• Adelaide (ACDT): ~7:50 PM
• Perth (AWST): ~6:30–6:35 PM
• Canberra (AEDT): ~7:35 PM
• Hobart (AEDT): ~8:05 PM
• Darwin (ACST): ~6:35–6:40 PM

Planning buffers:

• Families: arrive at the puja spot 30–40 minutes early.
• Medium groups: 45–60 minutes early for calm setup.
• Large gatherings: 60–90 minutes to stage, brief, and cue silence.

Sources for final minute:

• BOM sunrise/sunset (city pages)
• timeanddate (location-based sun times)

The exact-minute method in 3 minutes

1. Open a sun-time site

• BOM (search your city/suburb) or timeanddate (choose your town or nearest park).

2. Select your location and date

• Choose Sunday, 26 October 2025, and note the sunset time.

3. Share and set alarms

• Post the minute in your group chat and write it on a small card.
• Set alarms: T–40 (start setup), T–10 (quiet sankalp), T–0 (offer and break fast).

Re-check 2–3 hours before sunset in case of visibility advisories.

If the balcony or yard edge is slick or windy, shift a few metres inward and offer facing the sun with a shallow tray/kalash. Timing and intention come first.

What Kharna means: the spiritual logic of Day 2

Kharna transforms resolve into vow. The vrati fasts through the day, keeps the home and mind satvik, then breaks the fast at sunset with prasad—kheer and ghee‑roti—offered to Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya. From that meal, the vrati traditionally enters nirjala until Usha Arghya on Day 4.

Core ideas:

• Satvik simplicity: purity in ingredients and intention.
• Exactness: a clear minute focuses devotion.
• Continuity: Kharna’s prasad bridges fasting and waterless vow.

Include a short sankalp before the offering: “Chhathi Maiya, bless our home with health, clarity, and steady light.”

10-step Kharna vidhi (featured checklist)

1. Cleanse: Vrati bathes; kitchen and utensils are cleaned and kept separate.
2. Setup: Place deity image/kalash; light enclosed lamps/LED tealights; arrange flowers/fruits.
3. Kheer: Simmer rice in milk (or plant milk), sweeten with gur/sugar; cardamom optional.
4. Roti: Prepare 1–3 thin ghee‑brushed rotis (millet option if gluten‑free).
5. Thali: Plate kheer, roti, bananas/apples, and a pinch of sugar/gur.
6. Sankalp: At T–10, state your vow softly and focus the mind.
7. Offer: At the exact sunset minute, offer prasad; a brief aarti is optional.
8. Break: Vrati takes a small serving of kheer–roti first; distribute prasad.
9. Begin nirjala: From this point, the waterless vow starts (tradition varies by family/health).
10. Close: Extinguish lamps safely; cool/store leftovers correctly; keep a calm satvik space.

Direction tip: If possible, face west at sunset for the offering. Keep the setup simple and smoke-safe.

Day-of timelines: classic home and workday versions

Classic home flow (adjust to your city’s sunset)

• 11:30–13:00: Deep clean kitchen/utensils; soak rice; grate gur if using.
• 13:00–15:00: Prep ingredients; lay out puja items; check lamp safety.
• 15:00–16:00: Bathe; vrati changes; set up deity image/kalash.
• 16:00–Sunset–60: Start kheer; keep a gentle simmer for a creamy result.
• Sunset–30 to –20: Knead/roll/roast ghee roti; plate fruits and prasad thali.
• T–10: Quiet sankalp; light lamp(s); ready lota/kalash.
• T–0: Offer; break the fast; share prasad; begin nirjala.
• T+30: Cool and store kheer safely; tidy the space; keep the home quiet.

Workday compression plan

• Morning: Soak rice; pre-measure milk/sugar/gur; layout thali and samagri.
• Afternoon: Begin kheer early on low; knead dough; check your sunset minute.
• Final 45 minutes: Finish roti; set prasad thali; T–10 and T–0 cues; offer and eat small portions.
• Close: Clean up; store leftovers properly; start nirjala phase calmly.

Fasting rules and permitted adaptations

Traditional baseline (consult your family panchang)

• Vrati fasts through the day, typically without water, until Kharna prasad at sunset.
• Satvik conduct: avoid onion, garlic, non‑veg, and harsh speech; keep the space pure.
• Kitchen discipline: separate and clean utensils; minimal distractions.

Permitted adaptations (health-first)

• Sips of water or lime water for medical conditions, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or elders—after GP advice.
• Diabetics: smaller portions, reduced sweetener, and monitoring; a clinician may permit hydration exceptions.
• If water is taken in the day, many families resume the nirjala vow after the Kharna prasad; follow your parampara and doctor’s guidance.

Post-Kharna

• Traditionally nirjala starts after prasad and continues until Usha Arghya on Day 4.
• Some homes allow moistening lips or mouth rinses; clarity and consistency matter more than comparison.

Kheer–roti recipes: classic, vegan, gluten-free, and diabetic-smart

Classic rice kheer (serves 4–6)

• Ingredients: 1 L full‑fat milk, 60–80 g basmati rice (rinsed/soaked), 80–120 g grated gur or sugar, 4–5 cardamom pods, 1–2 tsp ghee (optional), pinch saffron (optional).
• Method:
  1. Simmer milk and rice on low, stirring often (35–45 minutes).
  2. Add gur/sugar; simmer 3–5 minutes more (add gur off the boil to avoid curdling).
  3. Cardamom at the end; rest 5–10 minutes; serve warm.

Ghee roti (4–6 rotis)

• Ingredients: 180–200 g atta (whole wheat), warm water, 1–2 tbsp ghee.
• Method: Knead soft dough; rest 15 minutes; roll thin; roast on tawa; brush lightly with ghee.

Vegan kheer

• Use full‑fat oat/almond milk; sweeten with sugar or vegan jaggery; add 1–2 tsp coconut cream for richness.
• Simmer gently; plant milks may thicken/split differently—avoid high heat.

Gluten‑free roti

• Kuttu (buckwheat) or jowar (sorghum) with mashed boiled potato for binding; roll between parchment; roast gently.
• Brush with warm ghee or neutral oil (per family rules).

Diabetic‑smart tweaks (talk to your GP first)

• Reduce sweetener; smaller kheer portion; add a few chopped nuts/seeds for satiety if permitted.
• Monitor glucose; consider a dietitian’s plan for fasting.

Allergen notes

• Milk allergy: choose plant milk; omit ghee; avoid cross‑contamination.
• Nut allergy: skip nuts; thoroughly clean prep surfaces.

Food safety for kheer and rice (Australian guidance)

Rice and milk need careful handling.

• Safe chilling: Cool leftover kheer quickly (within 1 hour) in shallow containers; refrigerate ≤5°C; reheat only once.
• 2‑hour/4‑hour rule: If kheer has been at room temp for ≤2 hours, refrigerate; 2–4 hours, eat immediately; >4 hours, discard.
• Clean hands/utensils: Wash hands; separate raw and ready‑to‑eat items; use clean ladles for prasad.
• Stove and flame safety: Watch simmering milk; keep lamps away from curtains; have a sand/water bowl ready.

Authoritative references:

• Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) – food safety basics
• Food Safety Information Council – leftovers and the 2‑hour/4‑hour rule

Health, hydration, and medical considerations in Australia

Nirjala is rigorous. Your health comes first.

Who should consult a GP before fasting

• People with diabetes, kidney disease, heart conditions, eating disorders.
• Pregnant/breastfeeding women; elderly vratis; those on diuretics or BP meds.
• Adolescents or first‑time vratis with low BMI.

Practical safeguards

• Discuss individualized plans (including hydration exceptions) with your GP.
• Avoid strenuous activity from Kharna evening through Usha Arghya morning.
• Keep warm; rest; sit if light‑headed. If symptoms like chest pain, confusion, or severe dizziness appear, stop the fast, hydrate, and seek medical help.

Emergency numbers

• Healthdirect: health advice line and symptom checkers
• Emergencies: call 000

Puja samagri and kitchen setup checklists

Puja samagri

• Deity image/kalash, diya/wicks or LED tealights, matches/long lighter
• Flowers (marigold if available), incense (optional, watch smoke alarms)
• Fruits (bananas, apples), kheer bowl, ghee roti, pinch of sugar/gur

Kitchen & hygiene

• Clean, separate cookware; serving spoons; paper towels/cloths
• Food‑safe containers; compostable bags; cling wrap/beeswax wraps
• Labels/markers for “vrati,” “family,” “distribution” tins

Comfort & timing

• Shawl/blanket for vrati; non‑slip footwear
• Phone alarms (T–40, T–10, T–0); printed sunset minute
• Sand/water bowl for diya safety; LED lantern or lamp for gentle light

Apartment living, smoke alarms, and diya safety

• Use enclosed lamps or LED tealights to prevent smoke alarms.
• Keep incense minimal; ventilate lightly after puja.
• If using live flame, assign one adult as a “fire warden” to supervise.
• Position lamps away from curtains, paper décor, and high‑traffic zones.

Cultural notes across Bihar/UP and diaspora homes

• Sweetener traditions: Gur is classic in many Bihari homes; sugar is common in diaspora kitchens—both are accepted.
• Roti styles: Thin phulka brushed with ghee vs. light paratha—follow family custom.
• Prasad order: Many take kheer first, then a roti morsel; quantities are small and symbolic.
• Number of rotis: Often 1, 3, or 5 are prepared; vrati eats minimally to ease nirjala.

Diaspora realities

• Shared kitchens or halls may require LED lamps and low‑smoke setups.
• If a temple hosts Chhath bhajans, perform Kharna at home on time; keep lamps indoors only if permitted by the venue.

Common mistakes to avoid on Day 2

• Starting kheer too late—rushing ruins texture; simmer gently.
• Leaving kheer warm for hours—cool quickly, refrigerate safely.
• Missing the exact minute—post it the night before; set three alarms.
• Overeating at Kharna—keep it light to prepare for nirjala.
• Unattended flames—use enclosed lamps or LEDs; keep a safety bowl ready.

City case studies from across Australia

Sydney (Parramatta, Homebush)
A family soaked rice at noon, started kheer at 4:45 PM AEDT, and had rotis ready by 7:00 PM. With T–10 quiet at 7:10 and sunset at ~7:20, the vrati broke the fast precisely. Kheer cooled in shallow tins within 45 minutes—no waste.

Melbourne (Glen Waverley, Tarneit)
Two households split tasks: one cooked kheer, the other roti and fruits. They posted the BOM sunset minute and ran a T–10/T–0 cue. With LED lamps for safety, the offering matched ~7:58 PM AEDT.

Brisbane (Sunnybank, Chermside)
Because sunset is earlier (~6:00 PM AEST), they began kheer at 4:00 PM and finished rotis by 5:30. The vrati ate a small portion, and the family stored leftovers promptly—following the 2‑hour/4‑hour rule.

Adelaide (Prospect, Modbury)
With ACDT sunset near ~7:50 PM, they simmered kheer longer for creaminess, brushed rotis with warm ghee, and kept doors ajar for minimal incense smoke. Nirjala started immediately after prasad.

Perth (Canning Vale, Scarborough)
A pair of friends coordinated on video call. They verified ~6:32 PM AWST and used LED tealights to avoid smoke. Cleanup was complete by ~7:00 PM, and tins were labelled “vrati/family/distribution.”

Canberra (Gungahlin, Woden)
The family placed a bench for the vrati, had hand warmers ready, and used a compact thali. They posted the minute in their group chat and aligned the offering exactly at ~7:35 PM AEDT.

Darwin (Nightcliff, Palmerston)
With ACST sunset near ~6:37 PM, they kept the setup land‑based indoors due to storms. A shallow kalash tray faced west. The vrati transitioned smoothly into nirjala.

Hobart (Glenorchy, Sandy Bay)
Sunset near ~8:05 PM AEDT meant a later mealtime, so they took a short rest mid‑afternoon. Kheer thickened beautifully; LED lanterns created a calm, smoke‑free space.

Key stats and authoritative Australian sources

• Hinduism is Australia’s fastest‑growing religion, at 2.7% of the population (2021 Census).
  Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) — https://www.abs.gov.au/
• Food safety for households: leftovers, fridge temp, and the 2‑hour/4‑hour rule.
  Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) — https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/
  Food Safety Information Council — https://www.foodsafety.asn.au/
• Sun times and weather for exact Kharna minute.
  Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) — http://www.bom.gov.au/
  timeanddate — https://www.timeanddate.com/
• Health advice and when to seek help.
  Healthdirect — https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/
  Emergencies — Call 000

These references keep your Kharna precise, safe, and satvik.

Internal and external resources

• Chhath Puja Darwin 2025: Northern Territory Bihar Community Events Guide
• Bihar Jharkhand Community Australia Chhath Puja 2025 Events Guide
• Chhath Puja Gold Coast 2025: Queensland Festival Celebrations Guide
• Arghya Timing Chhath Puja 2025 Australia: Sandhya & Usha Schedule Guide
• Chhath Puja Sydney 2025 – Bihar Community Celebrations & Events Guide

Authoritative external links

• ABS — https://www.abs.gov.au/
• FSANZ — https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/
• Food Safety Information Council — https://www.foodsafety.asn.au/
• BOM — http://www.bom.gov.au/
• timeanddate — https://www.timeanddate.com/
• Healthdirect — https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/

FAQ section

Conclusion with CTA

Kharna chhath Puja 2025 Australia: Second Day Chhath Celebration Guide is your step‑by‑step path to a serene, punctual, and safe Day 2. Verify your sunset minute, simmer kheer without rush, brush rotis with warmth, and keep the break symbolic. From that moment, carry the nirjala vow with clarity, kindness, and community support until Usha Arghya.

Next steps:

• Check your city’s sunset minute for Sunday, 26 Oct and post it to your family group.
• Print the 10‑step Kharna vidhi and kitchen safety checklist.
• Set T–40, T–10, and T–0 alarms now; lay out your samagri tonight.
• Share this guide with your local Chhath group so every home keeps Day 2 pure and on time.

May Chhathi Maiya bless every Australian home with purity, strength, and steady light.