छठ पूजा 2026 कब है?
The complete guide to the four-day Mahaparv of Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya: schedule, sunset and sunrise arghya timings by city, samagri list, prasad, katha, ghat safety and FAQs.
Chhath Puja 2026 is observed from Friday, 13 November to Monday, 16 November 2026. The main day, Sandhya Arghya (offering to the setting sun), falls on Sunday, 15 November 2026, and the fast ends with Usha Arghya at sunrise on Monday, 16 November 2026. In Patna, sunset is about 5:01 PM and sunrise about 6:06 AM.
Chhath Puja 2026 Schedule: All 4 Days
Chhath runs from Kartik Shukla Chaturthi to Saptami, six days after Diwali. Each day has a fixed ritual, and the fast becomes stricter as the days go on.
| Day | Ritual | Date (2026) | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nahay Khay नहाय-खाय | Friday, 13 November | Holy bath and a cleaned house; the vrati eats one satvik meal of kaddu-bhaat (lauki, chana dal and rice) cooked with sendha namak. |
| 2 | Kharna / Lohanda खरना | Saturday, 14 November | Day-long fast. After sunset the vrati offers and eats rasiao (gur-chawal kheer) with roti and banana, then begins the 36-hour nirjala fast. |
| 3 | Sandhya Arghya संध्या अर्घ्य | Sunday, 15 November | Main day. The family carries the daura to the ghat; the vrati stands in water and offers arghya to the setting sun. Kosi bharai at night in many homes. |
| 4 | Usha Arghya & Parana उषा अर्घ्य | Monday, 16 November | Pre-dawn return to the ghat; arghya to the rising sun, prasad shared, and the vrati breaks the fast with water, ginger and prasad. |
Some websites list 14–17 November. Most panchangs, including Drik Panchang, place Sandhya Arghya on Sunday 15 November 2026 by the udaya-tithi rule. Confirm with your local pandit.
Chhath Puja 2026 Arghya Time: City-wise Sunset & Sunrise
Arghya has no single national muhurat. It is offered at your own city’s sunset (Day 3) and sunrise (Day 4). Reach the ghat 30–45 minutes early.
| City | State | Sandhya Arghya (sunset, 15 Nov) | Usha Arghya (sunrise, 16 Nov) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patna | Bihar | 5:01 PM | 6:06 AM |
| Gaya | Bihar | 5:04 PM | 6:07 AM |
| Muzaffarpur | Bihar | 4:59 PM | 6:05 AM |
| Bhagalpur | Bihar | 4:54 PM | 5:59 AM |
| Darbhanga | Bihar | 4:56 PM | 6:02 AM |
| Purnia | Bihar | 4:51 PM | 5:57 AM |
| Begusarai | Bihar | 4:57 PM | 6:02 AM |
| Chhapra | Bihar | 5:04 PM | 6:09 AM |
| Ranchi | Jharkhand | 5:05 PM | 6:03 AM |
| Jamshedpur | Jharkhand | 5:01 PM | 5:58 AM |
| Dhanbad | Jharkhand | 4:59 PM | 5:59 AM |
| Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh | 5:12 PM | 6:15 AM |
| Gorakhpur | Uttar Pradesh | 5:08 PM | 6:15 AM |
| Prayagraj | Uttar Pradesh | 5:17 PM | 6:20 AM |
| Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | 5:17 PM | 6:25 AM |
| Kolkata | West Bengal | 4:52 PM | 5:52 AM |
| Delhi | Delhi | 5:27 PM | 6:44 AM |
| Noida | Uttar Pradesh | 5:27 PM | 6:43 AM |
| Mumbai | Maharashtra | 6:00 PM | 6:46 AM |
| Bengaluru | Karnataka | 5:50 PM | 6:18 AM |
| Kathmandu (NPT) | Nepal | 5:12 PM | 6:30 AM |
Times are approximate IST (Kathmandu in NPT) for the city centre. The Meteorological Centre, Patna, issues official district-wise timings a few days before Chhath.
What Is Chhath Puja?
Chhath Puja, also called Surya Shashthi, Dala Chhath or Chhathi Maiya Puja, is a Vedic-rooted festival of thanks to Surya Dev, the Sun, and Chhathi Maiya, the mother goddess who protects children. The name comes from chhath, “sixth”, because the main offering falls on the sixth lunar day (Shashthi) of Kartik Shukla Paksha.
It is the only major Hindu festival in which the setting sun is worshipped alongside the rising sun. There is no idol and no priest is required: the vrati (the person keeping the fast, most often a woman) prays directly to the sun while standing in a river, pond or tank.
Who is Chhathi Maiya?
In folk belief she is the sister of Surya. Puranic tradition identifies her with Shashthi Devi, a form of Prakriti (Devsena) who guards newborns and is worshipped on the sixth day after a birth. Usha (dawn) and Pratyusha (dusk), the Sun’s consorts, are honoured through the two arghyas.
Two Chhaths a year
Kartik Chhath (October–November) is the main festival. Chaiti Chhath is observed in Chaitra (March–April) with the same four-day rituals on a smaller scale.
Chhath Puja Katha & History
Karna, son of Surya
In the Mahabharata, Karna, ruler of Anga (around present-day Bhagalpur and Munger), stood waist-deep in water every day to offer arghya to his father Surya. Bihar’s arghya-in-water ritual is often traced to him.
Draupadi and the Pandavas
During the Pandavas’ exile, sage Dhaumya advised Draupadi to keep a Surya vrat. Her worship is said to have helped the Pandavas regain their kingdom.
Sita at Munger
After returning to Ayodhya, Ram and Sita are said to have fasted and worshipped the Sun on Kartik Shukla Shashthi. Local tradition places Sita’s Chhath at Munger, where the Sita Charan temple stands in the Ganga.
King Priyavrat
King Priyavrat’s son was stillborn. Devi Shashthi appeared, revived the child and asked the king to spread her worship. This is the source of Chhathi Maiya as protector of children.
Chhath Puja Vidhi: Step by Step
- Purify home and kitchenBefore Nahay Khay, clean the house and the cooking area. Prasad is traditionally made on a new or cleaned clay chulha with mango wood, in brass or earthen pots.
- Nahay Khay (Day 1)Bathe in a river or with Ganga-jal, wear clean clothes and eat one satvik meal of lauki, chana dal and rice. No onion, garlic or regular salt from this day.
- Kharna (Day 2)Fast through the day without water. At sunset offer rasiao kheer, roti and banana to Chhathi Maiya, eat it in silence, then share it with the family. The nirjala fast starts now.
- Prepare the daura (Day 3 morning)Make thekua and arrange fruits, sugarcane, coconut and diya in soop (bamboo winnowers) inside the daura (bamboo basket). The men of the family usually carry it to the ghat on their heads.
- Sandhya Arghya (Day 3 evening)Stand in water facing west. As the sun sets, offer milk or water from a lota and lift each soop toward the sun while family members pour arghya over it.
- Kosi Bharai (night, optional)Families who made a mannat place 5 or 7 sugarcane stalks in a canopy over clay kosi pots with diyas, in the courtyard and again at the ghat before dawn.
- Usha Arghya (Day 4 dawn)Return before sunrise and stand in water facing east. Offer arghya to the rising sun with the same soop, then pray to Chhathi Maiya for family and children.
- ParanaTouch the elders’ feet, distribute prasad and break the fast with water, ginger and a piece of thekua or fruit. Eat light food for the rest of the day.
Chhath Puja Samagri List (Checklist)
Tick items as you buy them. Ticks are saved in your browser only.
Chhath Prasad: Thekua, Rasiao & Fruits
Thekua
The signature prasad of Chhath. Whole-wheat atta is kneaded with melted jaggery, ghee, grated coconut, cardamom and fennel, pressed onto a wooden sancha mould and deep-fried in ghee on low heat until firm and dark gold. It keeps for a week, which is why it travels to relatives far from home.
Rasiao (Kharna kheer)
Rice cooked in milk and sweetened with gur instead of sugar, made on Kharna evening and served with ghee-smeared roti and banana.
Other offerings
Kasar or chawal ke laddu, sugarcane, coconut with water, sweet lime (gagal/nimbu), banana bunches, sharifa, singhara, suthni, shakarkand, mooli, haldi and adrak plants, and fresh seasonal fruit. Everything is washed and kept away from anything already tasted.
Chhath Puja Rules: Do’s & Don’ts
Do
- Keep the home, kitchen and ghat clean through all four days.
- Cook prasad after bathing, in fresh clothes, without tasting it.
- Use rock salt (sendha namak) on Nahay Khay and ghee or mustard oil for cooking.
- Sleep on the floor and keep a satvik routine if you are the vrati.
- Offer arghya at the exact local sunset and sunrise.
Don’t
- Eat onion, garlic, meat or alcohol in the household during the festival.
- Touch the prasad with unwashed hands or let children eat from it before arghya.
- Break the nirjala fast before Usha Arghya.
- Use plastic bags, polythene or chemical colours at the ghat.
- Push or crowd the vratis standing in water.
Where Chhath Puja Is Celebrated
Chhath belongs to Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh (Purvanchal), and to the Madhesh and Terai regions of Nepal. Migration has carried it to Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Surat and Punjab, and abroad to Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, the UAE, the UK and the US.
Famous Chhath ghats and sites
| Place | State | Why it’s known |
|---|---|---|
| Patna ghats (Collectorate, Gandhi, Kali, Digha) | Bihar | Lakhs of vratis along the Ganga; the largest urban Chhath gathering. |
| Deo Surya Mandir, Aurangabad | Bihar | West-facing ancient Sun temple; one of the biggest Chhath melas. |
| Ulaar Surya Mandir, Paliganj | Bihar | Old sun-worship site with large Chhath crowds. |
| Kashtharni and Sita Charan, Munger | Bihar | Linked to the legend of Sita’s Chhath. |
| Ranchi (Hatania Talab, Kanke Dam) | Jharkhand | Major lake-side gatherings in the state capital. |
| Varanasi ghats | Uttar Pradesh | Purvanchal families fill the Ganga ghats. |
| Yamuna ghats & artificial ponds | Delhi | Hundreds of government-arranged ghats each year. |
| Juhu Beach | Maharashtra | Largest Chhath gathering in Mumbai. |
| Janakpur and Birgunj | Nepal | Ponds and rivers of Madhesh Province. |
Ghat Safety & Eco-friendly Chhath
- Check your district administration’s list of safe ghats and avoid banks marked dangerous.
- Stay inside the barricaded area and never go beyond knee-to-waist depth.
- Keep children by the hand and put a phone number slip in their pocket.
- Keep diyas and crackers away from saris, dupattas and the crowd.
- Vratis with diabetes, BP or heart conditions, and pregnant women, should consult a doctor before a 36-hour waterless fast.
- Carry a cloth bag and take back all wrappers, flowers and plastic. Use clay diyas and bamboo, not plastic.
- Emergency numbers: 112 (all emergencies) and 108 (ambulance) in most states.
Chhath Puja Dates After 2026
Sandhya Arghya dates for the coming years, six days after Diwali. Future dates are tentative until each year’s panchang is published.
| Year | Nahay Khay | Sandhya Arghya | Usha Arghya | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Tue, 2 Nov | Thu, 4 Nov | Fri, 5 Nov | Panchang-matched |
| 2028 | Fri, 20 Oct | Mon, 23 Oct | Tue, 24 Oct | Tentative |
| 2029 | Thu, 8 Nov | Sun, 11 Nov | Mon, 12 Nov | Tentative |
| 2030 | Tue, 29 Oct | Fri, 1 Nov | Sat, 2 Nov | Tentative |
Chhath Puja 2026 Wishes in Hindi & English
छठी मइया का आशीर्वाद आपके घर में सुख, सेहत और खुशहाली लाए। छठ पूजा 2026 की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ!
डूबते सूरज को अर्घ्य, उगते सूरज को प्रणाम। आपके जीवन में हर दिन नई रोशनी हो। जय छठी मइया!
May Surya Dev light your path and Chhathi Maiya protect your family. Happy Chhath Puja 2026!
From the evening arghya to the morning glow, may this Chhath bring you strength and peace. Shubh Chhath!
ठेकुआ की मिठास, घाट की रौनक और माँ का आशीर्वाद, सब आपके साथ रहे। छठ महापर्व की बधाई!
Wishing every vrati the strength to complete the fast and every family the joy of a blessed Chhath.
Chhath Puja 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
When is Chhath Puja in 2026?
Chhath Puja 2026 runs from Friday, 13 November (Nahay Khay) to Monday, 16 November (Usha Arghya). The main day, Sandhya Arghya, is Sunday, 15 November 2026.
Chhath Puja 2026 kab hai?
Chhath Puja 2026 13 Nov (Nahay Khay) se 16 Nov (Usha Arghya) tak hai. Kharna 14 November ko aur Sandhya Arghya 15 Nov ko hai.
What is the Sandhya Arghya time in Patna in 2026?
Sandhya Arghya in Patna is at sunset, around 5:01 PM on 15 November 2026. Usha Arghya is at sunrise, around 6:06 AM on 16 November.
When is Kharna in 2026?
Kharna (Lohanda) is on Saturday, 14 November 2026. The vrati breaks the day’s fast after sunset with rasiao kheer and roti, and the 36-hour nirjala fast begins.
Why is the setting sun worshipped in Chhath?
Chhath honours the sun at both ends of its cycle. The evening arghya thanks Surya for the day and is linked to Pratyusha, the last ray; the morning arghya honours Usha, the first ray.
Can men keep the Chhath fast?
Yes. Most vratis are women, but men also keep the full fast and offer arghya with the same rules.
Can Chhath be done at home without a river?
Yes. Many families build a small tank or tub on the roof or in the courtyard and stand in it to offer arghya facing the sun.
What is thekua made of?
Whole-wheat flour, jaggery, ghee, grated coconut and cardamom, shaped on a wooden mould and fried in ghee.
Is Chhath a public holiday?
Bihar and Jharkhand give state holidays for Chhath, and Delhi has often declared one on Sandhya Arghya day. Check your state’s notified 2026 holiday list.
What is Kosi Bharai?
A ritual by families who made a vow. Five or seven sugarcane stalks are tied into a canopy over clay kosi pots holding diyas, on the night of Sandhya Arghya and at the ghat before dawn.
Dates follow Kartik Shukla Shashthi per the udaya-tithi rule. Sunrise and sunset times are approximate; confirm local timings before leaving for the ghat.
