QUICK ANSWER: CHHATH PUJA 2026 DATE AND MUHURAT
Chhath Puja 2026 starts on Friday, 13 November with Nahay Khay and ends on Monday, 16 November with Usha Arghya. Kharna falls on 14 November. Sandhya Arghya, the main evening offering to the setting sun, falls on Sunday, 15 November. The festival honors Chhathi Maiya and Surya Dev over four days.
Chhath Puja stands apart from most Hindu festivals. Devotees worship the sun directly, at sunset and sunrise, standing in open water for hours.
This guide covers every date, ritual and shopping need for Chhath Puja 2026. Follow the four-day schedule, samagri list and vrat rules below.
Dates in this guide were checked against multiple Panchang sources. Local sunrise and sunset minutes still shift slightly by city, so confirm nearer the festival.
The festival falls on Kartik Shukla Shashthi in the Hindu calendar, and spans Chaturthi through Saptami. Devotees across Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Nepal observe these four days each year.
Some sites list one main day, 15 November. This is Sandhya Arghya, the most visible ritual. The full observance runs four days, from 13 to 16 November.
Chhath Puja 2026 Full Calendar, Day-by-Day Schedule
| Day | Ritual | Date | Day of Week | What Happens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Nahay Khay | 13 Nov 2026 | Friday | Ritual bath followed by a sattvic kaddu-bhaat meal |
| Day 2 | Kharna | 14 Nov 2026 | Saturday | Day-long fast, followed by kheer and rasiya prasad at sunset |
| Day 3 | Sandhya Arghya | 15 Nov 2026 | Sunday | Evening offering to the setting sun at the ghat |
| Day 4 | Usha Arghya, Parana | 16 Nov 2026 | Monday | Morning offering to the rising sun; the fast ends |
Sunrise and sunset times shift by a few minutes each year. Check a live Panchang close to the festival for your exact city.
Who Is Chhathi Maiya? Meaning and Story Behind Chhath Puja
Chhathi Maiya is a form of the goddess Shashthi Devi. She protects children and blesses families with health and prosperity.
Chhathi Maiya in the Puranas
Puranic texts link her to Prakriti, described as the sixth part of creation. Devotees worship her alongside Surya Dev, the sun god.
Karna and the Sun Worship Connection
Karna, son of Surya Dev in the Mahabharata, prayed to the sun every day. His devotion is often cited as an origin story for this ritual.
Why Devotees Stand in Water
Standing in a river or pond during arghya connects the offering directly to Surya Dev. Devotees see the water as a purifying link between the devotee and the sun.
Why the Festival Is Called Chhath
Chhath means sixth in Hindi. The main rituals fall on the sixth day of the lunar fortnight, Kartik Shukla Shashthi.
Where Chhath Puja Is Observed
Chhath Puja began in Bihar and spread through Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Nepal's Terai region. Migrant and diaspora families now celebrate worldwide.
Day 1, Nahay Khay Vidhi (13 November 2026)
Nahay Khay opens the vrat. Devotees bathe, often in the Ganga or another river, then cook a sattvic meal at home.
The meal includes kaddu bhaat, a pumpkin and rice dish. Use pure ingredients and finish eating before sunset.
This meal marks the last full food intake before the fasting period begins the next day.
Day 2, Kharna Vidhi and Samagri (14 November 2026)
Kharna involves a full day fast without water. The fast breaks only after sunset, with kheer rasiya as prasad.
Kheer rasiya is a sweet dish of rice, jaggery and milk. Vratis offer the dish first to Chhathi Maiya, then eat.
Once the vrati eats, the 36 hour nirjala fast begins. No food or water follows until Usha Arghya.
Day 3, Sandhya Arghya Vidhi (15 November 2026)
Sandhya Arghya is the evening offering to the setting sun. Families walk together to a river, pond or ghat.
The daura, a bamboo basket, carries fruits, sugarcane and thekua. The vrati stands in water and offers arghya as the sun sets.
This is the most photographed ritual of Chhath Puja, and often the day most people mean by main day.
Day 4, Usha Arghya and Parana (16 November 2026)
Usha Arghya repeats the ritual at sunrise. The vrati returns to the same ghat before dawn. After offering arghya to the rising sun, the vrati breaks the fast.
This closing act is called Parana. Family members share prasad after Parana. The four day observance ends here.
Complete Chhath Puja Samagri List, Shoppable Checklist
A full samagri list keeps preparation smooth. Buy what you cannot source fresh nearby, and gather the rest locally.
Bamboo Daura and Soop
The daura is a large bamboo basket. The soop is a flat bamboo tray used to hold offerings for arghya.
Brass Diyas and Puja Thali
Brass diyas and a puja thali get reused across festivals. Ornativo's brass diya and puja thali sets suit Chhath Puja and every festival for years to come.
Fruits, Sugarcane and Thekua Ingredients
You need seasonal fruit, sugarcane stalks, wheat flour, jaggery and ghee. Buy these fresh from a local market close to the festival.
What to Buy Versus Source Fresh Locally
Source fruit, sugarcane and flour fresh. Buy durable items like a sindoor pot and mangal kalash once from Ornativo's pooja essentials collection.
A mangal kalash holds water and mango leaves during the puja. Most families keep the same brass kalash for years, so a one-time purchase pays off.
Thekua and Kheer Rasiya Recipe, Step by Step
Most Chhath guides name thekua without giving exact measurements. This version lists precise amounts for a confident first attempt.
Thekua Ingredients
• 2 cups wheat flour
• 1 cup jaggery, grated
• Half cup ghee
• Half cup water
• A pinch of cardamom powder
• Oil for frying
Thekua Steps
1 Dissolve jaggery in warm water.
2 Mix flour, ghee and cardamom powder.
3 Add the jaggery water and knead a stiff dough.
4 Shape small discs and press a fork pattern on top.
5 Fry on low heat until deep brown and crisp.
6 Cool completely before offering.
Kheer Rasiya Ingredients
• 1 cup rice
• 1 liter milk
• 1 cup jaggery
• 4 cardamom pods
Kheer Rasiya Steps
1 Boil rice in milk until soft.
2 Add jaggery once the milk cools slightly.
3 Add cardamom and simmer five minutes.
4 Serve warm on Kharna evening.
Chhath Puja Vrat Rules, Dos, Don'ts and Fasting Safety
| Purity Rule | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Clothing | Wear clean, preferably new clothes during the vrat. |
| Food Restrictions | Avoid onion, garlic, and non-vegetarian food in the household during the four days. |
| Kitchen Cleanliness | Keep the kitchen and puja area spotless throughout the vrat. |
| Footwear | Many families avoid wearing footwear near the cooking space. |
| Cookware | Use separate, unused cookware for the Kharna and Nahay Khay meals when possible. |
| Purpose | These practices help keep food preparation aligned with the vrat's traditional purity standards. |
Safety Notes for the 36 Hour Nirjala Fast
The fast runs long and waterless. Hydrate well before Kharna and after Parana to support recovery.
Pregnant women, diabetics and elderly family members should consult a doctor before the full fast. A modified observance is common and accepted.
Watch for dizziness, low blood pressure or extreme fatigue. Break the fast early and seek medical help if symptoms turn serious.
Skip strenuous activity during the fasting window. Rest as much as possible between the Kharna meal and Parana.
How to Celebrate Chhath Puja at Home, in Apartments and Abroad
Not every family lives near a river. A large tub, bucket or inflatable pool works for the arghya ritual on a balcony or terrace.
Set up a clean space facing the direction of sunrise or sunset. Line the space with banana leaves or a clean cloth.
Diaspora families abroad follow the same four day structure too. Time the arghya to local sunrise and sunset, not Indian Standard Time.
Order samagri and brass items online in advance if local markets do not stock them. Ornativo ships its pooja essentials range across India and abroad.
Test the balcony or terrace setup a day ahead. Check for a stable surface and clear space around the water container before the ritual.
City-Wise Sandhya and Usha Arghya Timings
These approximate times help you plan the ghat visit. Confirm exact minutes against a live Panchang the week of the festival.
| City | Sandhya Arghya (Sunset) | Usha Arghya (Sunrise) |
|---|---|---|
| Patna | Approx. 5:02 PM | Approx. 6:08 AM |
| Delhi | Approx. 5:29 PM | Approx. 6:45 AM |
| Kolkata | Approx. 4:54 PM | Approx. 5:51 AM |
| Varanasi | Approx. 5:11 PM | Check live Panchang |
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Chhath Puja in 2026?
Chhath Puja 2026 runs from 13 to 16 November. Nahay Khay opens the festival and Usha Arghya closes the festival.
How many days does Chhath Puja last?
Chhath Puja lasts four days. Each day has one specific ritual, from the ritual bath to the final sunrise offering.
What is the main day of Chhath Puja 2026?
Many call 15 November the main day. This is Sandhya Arghya, the evening offering to the setting sun.
What is on the Chhath Puja samagri list?
Core samagri includes a bamboo daura and soop, brass diya, puja thali, fruits, sugarcane and thekua ingredients.
Should pregnant women observe the Chhath vrat?
Pregnant women should consult a doctor first. A modified, shorter fast is common and widely accepted.
How long is the Chhath Puja fast?
The main fast runs about 36 hours, from Kharna evening on 14 November to Parana after Usha Arghya on 16 November.
Is Chhath Puja possible in an apartment?
Yes. A tub or large container on a balcony or terrace replaces a riverbank for the arghya ritual.
What is thekua?
Thekua is a fried wheat and jaggery sweet, a core prasad offered during Chhath Puja.
Why is Chhath Puja also called Chhath Mahaparv?
Mahaparv means great festival. The term reflects the scale and devotion behind the four day observance.
What should I avoid during the Chhath vrat period?
Avoid onion, garlic and non-vegetarian food in the household. Keep the puja space and kitchen clean.
What is the difference between Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya?
Sandhya Arghya is offered to the setting sun on day three. Usha Arghya is offered to the rising sun on day four.
Where did Chhath Puja originate?
Chhath Puja began in the Bihar region and spread through Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Nepal.
What is a mangal kalash used for?
A mangal kalash is a brass pot filled with water and topped with mango leaves. The kalash sits at the puja space through the four days.
Chhath Puja 2026 blends exact ritual timing with family tradition. Plan the four dates, samagri and celebration style well before 13 November.
For more festival dates and rituals, see Ornativo's Pitru Paksha 2026 guide, the Ekadashi 2026 calendar and the Purnima and Amavasya 2026 guide.
