Chhath Puja 2026 will be celebrated from Friday, 13 November to Monday, 16 November 2026, with the main Sandhya Arghya to the setting sun on Sunday, 15 November. Dedicated to Surya Dev (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, Chhath is one of the most demanding and beautiful festivals of Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Nepal, with a 36-hour waterless fast and offerings made while standing in rivers and ponds. Here are the Chhath Puja 2026 dates, the meaning of each day, samagri, rules and prasad.
Chhath Puja 2026 Dates: 4-Day Calendar
| Day | Ritual | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nahay Khay | Friday, 13 November 2026 |
| 2 | Kharna (Lohanda) | Saturday, 14 November 2026 |
| 3 | Sandhya Arghya (evening offering) | Sunday, 15 November 2026 |
| 4 | Usha Arghya (sunrise offering) & Paran | Monday, 16 November 2026 |
The main Shashthi falls on 15 November. Sunset and sunrise times for the arghya vary by city — in Patna, sunset on 15 November is a little after 5 PM and sunrise on 16 November a little after 6 AM. Check local timings on the day.
What Happens on Each Day of Chhath Puja 2026
Day 1: Nahay Khay (13 November)
Devotees (called vratis) bathe in a river or pond, clean the home thoroughly and eat one simple satvik meal — usually lauki (bottle gourd) with chana dal and rice cooked without onion or garlic.
Day 2: Kharna (14 November)
Vratis fast all day without water. In the evening they prepare rasiya kheer (rice cooked with jaggery), roti and bananas on a clay chulha, offer it to Chhathi Maiya and eat it as prasad. After Kharna, the 36-hour nirjala fast begins.
Day 3: Sandhya Arghya (15 November)
Families carry bamboo baskets (daura and soop) filled with thekua, fruits and sugarcane to the ghat. Standing waist-deep in water, vratis offer arghya to the setting sun, while folk songs of Chhath fill the air. Many families keep an all-night vigil with a lamp-lit kosi of sugarcane at home.
Day 4: Usha Arghya (16 November)
Before dawn, devotees return to the ghat to offer arghya to the rising sun, praying for their family’s health and prosperity. The fast is broken (paran) with prasad, ginger and water.
Chhath Puja Samagri List
- Bamboo soop and daura (baskets)
- Thekua (wheat-flour and jaggery biscuits)
- Sugarcane stalks, bananas, coconut, sweet lime, water chestnut (singhara)
- Rice, jaggery, ghee
- Diyas, sindoor, turmeric and ginger plants
- New clothes for the vrati – often a yellow or orange saree
- Copper or brass lota for arghya
Chhath Puja Rules and Customs
- Strict purity: prasad is cooked on a fresh chulha, often by the vrati alone.
- No onion, garlic or non-vegetarian food in the house during the festival.
- Vratis sleep on the floor, usually on a mat or blanket.
- Arghya is offered facing the sun, standing in water.
- Anyone unwell, pregnant or elderly should consult a doctor before the 36-hour fast; family members can support with lighter fasts.
The Story and Significance of Chhath
Chhath is among the few Hindu festivals that worship the setting as well as the rising sun — honouring both endings and beginnings. Tradition links it to Mata Sita, who is said to have worshipped the sun after returning to Ayodhya, and to Karna, the son of Surya in the Mahabharata, who offered daily prayers standing in water. Chhathi Maiya, considered the sister of Surya, is worshipped for the protection of children.
Scientifically minded devotees also point to the benefits of early-morning and evening sunlight and the discipline of fasting — but for most families, Chhath is about gratitude, devotion and togetherness.
Chhath Puja 2026 in the Festival Calendar
| Festival | Date |
|---|---|
| Diwali | Sunday, 8 November |
| Bhai Dooj | Wednesday, 11 November |
| Chhath Puja (main) | Sunday, 15 November |
Read our Diwali 2026 and Bhai Dooj 2026 guides, and share blessings with our Chhath Puja wishes and messages.
Chhath Puja 2026 FAQ
When is Chhath Puja in 2026?
From 13 to 16 November 2026; the main Sandhya Arghya is on Sunday, 15 November.
Why is Chhath Puja celebrated?
To thank Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya for life on Earth and to pray for the health and prosperity of the family, especially children.
What is thekua?
A crunchy, deep-fried sweet made of wheat flour, jaggery and ghee, the signature prasad of Chhath.
More on the festival: Chhath on Wikipedia.
