Chhath Puja 2026 opens with Nahay Khay on Friday, November 13. The four-day observance ends on Monday, November 16. The main evening offering, Sandhya Arghya, falls on November 15. Devotees offer Usha Arghya to the rising sun the following morning before ending their fast.
Dedicated to Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya, the festival is widely observed across Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Its four days involve different fasting practices, offerings and prayers, with sunrise and sunset determining the two principal ceremonies.
Key Highlights
- Nahay Khay: Friday, November 13.
- Kharna: Saturday, November 14.
- Sandhya Arghya: Sunday, November 15.
- Usha Arghya: Monday, November 16.
- Patna’s sunset on November 15 is 5:01 PM; sunrise on November 16 is 6:07 AM.
Chhath Puja 2026 Dates: What Happens on Each Day?
The Ministry of Tourism’s Chhath Puja calendar confirms the four-day celebration from November 13 to 16.
| Date | Observance | Main Ritual |
| November 13, Friday | Nahay Khay | Ritual bath, cleaning, and a simple meal |
| November 14, Saturday | Kharna or Lohanda | Daytime fasting followed by evening prasad |
| November 15, Sunday | Sandhya Arghya | Offerings to the setting sun |
| November 16, Monday | Usha Arghya | Morning offerings and breaking the fast |
November 15 is the principal Chhath Puja date because Kartik Shukla Shashthi falls on that day.
The Bihar government’s 2026 holiday calendar lists November 15 and 16 as gazetted holidays. Kharna on November 14 is a restricted holiday, subject to the applicable employment rules.
Chhath Puja Sunrise and Sunset Timings for November 15–16
In Patna, Sandhya Arghya takes place around 5:01 PM on November 15, when the sun sets. The next morning’s Usha Arghya is timed to Patna’s 6:07 AM sunrise on November 16.
The 2026 Chhath Panchang for Patna gives the Shashthi tithi period as 11:23 PM on November 14 to 2:00 AM on November 16.
For devotees in New Delhi, the November 15 evening offering falls around the 5:28 PM sunset. The following morning’s sunrise falls around 6:44 AM on November 16, although the festival dates remain unchanged.
Neither city’s timings should be applied to other locations without checking the local sunrise and sunset. At the ghats, preparations begin ahead of the actual offering, so the published solar time should not be treated as the time to arrive.
Chhath Puja Fasting Rules: How Does the Nirjala Vrat Work?
After taking prasad on Kharna evening, devotees observing the strict nirjala vrat stop eating and drinking. The fast continues overnight and through the following day, ending after Usha Arghya on the final morning.
The rituals proceed in this order:
- Nahay Khay: A ritual bath opens the observance. A simple meal, prepared fresh at home, follows. Particular care is taken with the cleanliness of the cooking area.
- Kharna: Fasting continues through the daytime. After sunset, the devotee eats prasad, traditionally including kheer, before beginning the longer waterless fast.
- Sandhya Arghya: The third evening is for offering arghya to the setting sun. Devotees observing the nirjala vrat remain without food or water afterward, including through the night.
- Usha Arghya: The rising sun receives the final arghya on November 16. Devotees then break their fast through parana and distribute prasad.
The period is commonly described as a 36-hour fast, although its actual duration depends on the timing of Kharna and Usha Arghya.
Not every family member undertakes the strict fast. Anyone with a medical condition, particularly diabetes or kidney disease, should seek medical guidance before attempting prolonged waterless fasting.
What Goes Into Chhath Prasad and How Are the Rituals Observed?
Thekua, a traditional wheat-based sweet, is among the best-known Chhath offerings. Families also prepare seasonal fruits and arrange sugarcane, coconuts, and other items in bamboo baskets or soop.
The Bihar Tourism description of Chhath Puja explains the Kosi tradition, observed by some families on the third night. Earthen lamps and prasad are placed beneath a canopy made from sugarcane stalks.
For families visiting public ghats, three preparations are useful:
- Arrange prasad and baskets before leaving home.
- Crowded ghats may have separate entrance and exit routes. Stay within the marked areas, follow local safety directions, and keep children away from deep water.
- Long queues near the offering time may leave insufficient time to arrange the prasad before the prayers begin. Allow extra time before sunset or sunrise.
Entry arrangements at one ghat may differ from those at another, even though the festival is observed on the same dates. Families planning to attend the November 15 or 16 ceremonies can confirm ghat access, safety arrangements, and city-specific timings through local announcements before travelling.
FAQs
When does Chhath Puja start in 2026?
Nahay Khay opens Chhath Puja on Friday, November 13. Kharna is on November 14, Sandhya Arghya on November 15, and Usha Arghya on November 16.
Which day is the main Chhath Puja in 2026?
Sunday, November 15, is the main day for Chhath Puja. Devotees offer Sandhya Arghya at sunset that evening. On Monday, November 16, Usha Arghya completes the four-day observance.
What is the Chhath Puja sunrise time in Patna?
For Patna, the published sunrise on November 16, 2026, is 6:07 AM IST. Worshippers generally reach the ghat earlier, as Usha Arghya is offered when the sun rises.
Is the Chhath fast compulsory for all family members?
No. The nirjala vrat is observed by devotees undertaking the waterless fast. Relatives can join the prayers and prepare prasad without having to abstain from food or water.
Is Chhath Puja a public holiday in Bihar in 2026?
The 2026 Bihar government calendar lists November 15 and 16 under gazetted holidays. Kharna, on November 14, is listed separately as a restricted holiday.
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