Chhath Puja 2026 runs from Friday, 13 November to Monday, 16 November 2026, with the main evening offering to the setting sun on Sunday, 15 November. Chhath is a four-day festival dedicated to the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya, observed mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and the Terai region of Nepal, and by families from these regions living across India and abroad. This guide explains the dates, the four days of rituals, what the festival means, and how to take part respectfully.
Dates follow common panchang calculations, and sunrise and sunset times differ by city, so please confirm with a local panchang or your local Chhath committee before planning. The meanings below describe traditional beliefs.
Chhath Puja 2026 Dates
| Day | Date | Ritual |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Friday, 13 November 2026 | Nahay Khay |
| Day 2 | Saturday, 14 November 2026 | Kharna |
| Day 3 | Sunday, 15 November 2026 | Sandhya Arghya (evening offering) |
| Day 4 | Monday, 16 November 2026 | Usha Arghya (sunrise offering) and Parana |
Chhath falls on the sixth day (Shashthi) after Diwali, in the bright half of the month of Kartika. The word Chhath comes from the Hindi word for six.
What Is Chhath Puja?
Chhath is among the oldest Sun-worship festivals in the Indian tradition. Devotees thank Surya for sustaining life and pray for the wellbeing of their family and children. It is also associated with Chhathi Maiya, a goddess believed in folk tradition to protect children. Unlike many festivals, Chhath has no idols or priests. The rituals are performed directly by the devotee, called a vrati, usually at a riverbank, pond or water body.
The Four Days Explained
Day 1: Nahay Khay
The vrati bathes, often in a river, and cleans the home. A simple, pure meal is cooked, traditionally with bottle gourd (lauki), chana dal and rice, and eaten once after the bath.
Day 2: Kharna
The vrati fasts through the day without even water. In the evening, after offering prayers, a prasad of kheer made with jaggery, along with roti and fruit, is shared. This marks the start of the long fast.
Day 3: Sandhya Arghya
Families prepare prasad, including thekua (a sweet fried wheat cookie), fruits and sugarcane, in bamboo baskets called soop. At sunset they gather at the water, and the vrati stands in the water to offer arghya to the setting sun. Folk songs are sung, and the evening is lit with lamps.
Day 4: Usha Arghya and Parana
Before dawn, the family returns to the water. The vrati offers arghya to the rising sun, and then breaks the fast with prasad. The fast of roughly 36 hours without food or water is widely regarded as one of the most demanding in the Hindu tradition.
Traditional Offerings (Prasad)
- Thekua: a sweet made with whole wheat flour, jaggery and ghee.
- Seasonal fruits: banana, coconut, oranges and pomelo.
- Sugarcane and sweet potato in many households.
- Rice laddoo (chawle ke laddu) and other homemade sweets.
Prasad is traditionally prepared with strict cleanliness and without onion or garlic.
Why Is Chhath Celebrated?
Several traditions are associated with Chhath. Some traditions say that Sita and Draupadi worshipped the Sun in this way. Others connect it to the story of Karna, a devotee of Surya. Folk tradition also holds that worship of Chhathi Maiya brings blessings for children and family health. These are accounts handed down through families and regions rather than a single settled history.
Etiquette If You Are Visiting a Chhath Ghat
- Dress modestly and keep your voice low. This is a deeply devotional occasion.
- Do not touch the prasad baskets or the vrati unless invited.
- Ask before taking photos, especially close-ups of devotees.
- Do not litter. Many ghats are cleaned by volunteers before the festival.
- If you are offered prasad, accept it with your right hand and eat it respectfully.
Chhath Outside India
Bihari and Purvanchali communities hold Chhath on riverbanks, lakes and beaches in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Mauritius and the Gulf. Where open water is limited, groups often arrange temporary water tanks. Local community associations usually announce the venue and timing.
Chhath Puja Wishes
- May Chhathi Maiya bless you and your family with health and happiness. Happy Chhath Puja!
- Wishing you a blessed Chhath filled with devotion, light and joy.
- May the rising sun bring new hope into your life. Chhath Puja ki hardik shubhkamnayein.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Chhath Puja in 2026?
Chhath Puja is observed from Friday, 13 November to Monday, 16 November 2026, with the main evening arghya on Sunday, 15 November, according to common panchang calculations.
Why is Chhath celebrated after Diwali?
The festival is held on the sixth day (Shashthi) of the bright half of Kartika, which falls after Diwali.
Can anyone take part in Chhath Puja?
Traditionally, anyone who is willing to follow the rituals can be a vrati, and the fast is observed by both women and men. Visitors are generally welcome at the ghat if they are respectful.
Why do devotees stand in water?
In tradition, offering arghya while standing in water is believed to be a direct way of honouring the Sun and nature.
More Festival Guides
Diwali 2026 (English) | Chhath Puja (Hindi) | Diwali (Hindi) | Dhanteras (Hindi) | Sharad Purnima (Hindi)
