Chhath Puja is one of the most sacred Hindu festivals dedicated to Surya Dev, the Sun God, and Chhathi Maiya. Celebrated with extraordinary devotion, purity and discipline, the festival is especially prominent in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and several other parts of India and Nepal. Over the years, Chhath celebrations have also grown significantly among Indian communities around the world.
If you are wondering Chhath Puja 2026 kab hai, the four-day festival will be observed from Friday, November 13, 2026, to Monday, November 16, 2026. The main day of Chhath Puja 2026 and Sandhya Arghya will fall on Sunday, November 15, 2026, while Usha Arghya will be offered on the morning of Monday, November 16, 2026.
The four days of the festival are Nahay Khay, Kharna or Lohanda, Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya. Each day represents an important stage of purification, fasting, worship and gratitude towards nature and Surya Dev.
Chhath Puja 2026 Date and Time
The Chhath Puja date 2026 in India falls within the four-day period from November 13 to November 16.
The complete Chhath Puja 2026 schedule is as follows:
Day | Date | Chhath Ritual |
|---|---|---|
Day 1 | Friday, November 13, 2026 | Nahay Khay |
Day 2 | Saturday, November 14, 2026 | Kharna / Lohanda |
Day 3 | Sunday, November 15, 2026 | Chhath Puja and Sandhya Arghya |
Day 4 | Monday, November 16, 2026 | Usha Arghya and Parana |
The main Chhath Puja is observed on Shashthi Tithi. For New Delhi, Shashthi Tithi begins at approximately 11:23 PM on November 14 and continues until approximately 2:00 AM on November 16.
Devotees should remember that sunrise and sunset timings vary according to location. Therefore, the exact Chhath Puja 2026 arghya time should always be checked according to the city where the puja is being performed.
Chhath Puja 2026 Kab Hai?
Chhath Puja 2026 will begin on Friday, November 13, with Nahay Khay and conclude on Monday, November 16, with Usha Arghya and Parana. The principal Chhath Puja and Sandhya Arghya will take place on Sunday, November 15.
Chhath is traditionally observed over four days during the Shukla Paksha of the Kartik month. The central worship is devoted to Surya Dev, with devotees expressing gratitude for life, energy, health, prosperity and the blessings of nature.
Unlike many other festivals, Chhath includes worship of both the setting and rising Sun, making Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya two of its most distinctive rituals.
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Day 1: Nahay Khay – November 13, 2026
The first day of Chhath Puja 2026 is known as Nahay Khay. The name literally refers to bathing and eating.
The day marks the beginning of purification. Traditionally, the person observing the Chhath vrat, known as the vratin, takes a holy bath and cleans the home and puja area carefully. Food prepared during the festival is kept simple and sattvic.
A traditional Nahay Khay meal may include rice, dal and bottle gourd or pumpkin preparations, though customs can differ between families and regions.
The underlying idea of Nahay Khay is purification of the body, home and mind before entering the more demanding stages of the Chhath vrat.
Day 2: Kharna – November 14, 2026
The second day is called Kharna, also known as Lohanda.
On Kharna, the vratin observes a fast during the day and performs worship after sunset. A traditional prasad is prepared, commonly including preparations such as jaggery-based kheer and roti or other foods according to family tradition.
After the Kharna puja, the vratin consumes the prasad and begins the highly disciplined period of fasting associated with Chhath.
This stage of the festival places great emphasis on self-control, purity and devotion.
Family members and neighbours may also receive Kharna prasad, making the ritual both a personal spiritual practice and a community celebration.
Chhath Puja 2026 Sandhya Arghya Time – November 15
The third day is the main day of Chhath and is devoted to Sandhya Arghya, or the offering made to the setting Sun.
On Sunday, November 15, 2026, devotees gather near rivers, ponds, lakes and specially prepared water bodies with baskets and soop containing fruits, sugarcane, thekua and other traditional offerings.
As the Sun begins to set, devotees stand in water and offer Arghya to Surya Dev.
For New Delhi, sunset on November 15, 2026, is calculated at approximately 5:28 PM. In Patna, sunset on the main Chhath day is approximately 5:01 PM. This illustrates why the Chhath Puja 2026 Sandhya Arghya time should be checked city-wise rather than using a single nationwide time.
Devotees should reach the ghat well before sunset so that the puja arrangements can be completed peacefully.
Chhath Puja 2026 Usha Arghya Time – November 16
The fourth and final day of Chhath is dedicated to Usha Arghya, the offering made to the rising Sun.
On Monday, November 16, 2026, devotees assemble at the ghat before sunrise. As Surya Dev rises above the horizon, Arghya is offered with prayers for health, happiness, prosperity and the welfare of loved ones.
For New Delhi, sunrise on November 16 is approximately 6:44 AM. Exact sunrise timings differ significantly by location; therefore, devotees should use the local sunrise time for their city when planning the Usha Arghya.
After Usha Arghya, the vrat is concluded through Parana, bringing the four-day Chhath observance to an end.
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Chhath Puja 2026 Puja Muhurat
People searching for the Chhath Puja 2026 muhurat should understand that Chhath differs slightly from festivals that have one fixed short puja muhurat.
The two most important natural timings are connected directly to the Sun:
Sandhya Arghya: Offered around sunset on November 15, 2026.
Usha Arghya: Offered around sunrise on November 16, 2026.
Because sunrise and sunset vary from city to city, devotees should confirm their local solar timings before performing Arghya.
For example, on November 15 the New Delhi sunset is approximately 5:28 PM, while Kolkata's sunset is approximately 4:53 PM and Patna's is approximately 5:01 PM.
This city-wise variation is particularly important for anyone searching for the exact Chhath Puja 2026 puja time.
Why Is Chhath Puja Celebrated?
Chhath Puja is fundamentally an expression of gratitude towards Surya Dev, who represents light, energy and the life-sustaining force of nature.
Devotees worship Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya while praying for health, happiness, prosperity and family well-being. The festival also reflects values such as discipline, cleanliness, simplicity, restraint and respect for the natural world.
One of the most remarkable features of Chhath is that devotees worship both the setting and rising Sun.
The evening Arghya can symbolise gratitude at the close of a cycle, while the morning Arghya welcomes a new beginning with hope and devotion.
Importance of Chhathi Maiya
Chhathi Maiya holds a central place in Chhath traditions and is worshipped alongside Surya Dev.
Devotees seek her blessings for the happiness, protection and prosperity of their families. Traditional Chhath songs frequently invoke Chhathi Maiya and form an integral part of celebrations at homes and ghats.
The festival therefore combines intense personal devotion with a powerful sense of family and community.
What Is Offered During Chhath Puja?
Offerings during Chhath are generally natural, simple and traditionally prepared.
Common offerings include thekua, seasonal fruits, bananas, coconuts, sugarcane, rice preparations, sweets and other traditional prasad. These are often carried to the ghat in bamboo baskets or soop.
Families may follow slightly different customs depending on their region and ancestral traditions.
Cleanliness is considered especially important throughout the preparation of Chhath prasad. Many families maintain separate utensils and carefully cleaned cooking areas during the festival.
Significance of the 36-Hour Chhath Fast
One of the defining elements of Chhath Puja is the demanding vrat traditionally observed by many devotees.
After the Kharna ritual, the principal fasting period continues through Sandhya Arghya and the night until Usha Arghya the following morning. Traditional Chhath observance is commonly described as involving an approximately 36-hour nirjala fast, followed by Parana after the morning offering.
The vrat represents extraordinary discipline, faith and dedication.
However, fasting practices can differ across families, and individuals should also take their health and personal circumstances into consideration.
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Chhath Puja 2026 at a Glance
For anyone looking for the Chhath Puja 2026 full schedule, remember these four important dates:
November 13: Nahay Khay
November 14: Kharna
November 15: Sandhya Arghya and main Chhath Puja
November 16: Usha Arghya and Parana
The four-day festival progresses from purification to fasting, worship of the setting Sun and finally worship of the rising Sun.
Chhath Puja ultimately reminds devotees to express gratitude for what sustains life, practise discipline and approach both endings and new beginnings with faith.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q.When is Chhath Puja 2026?
Chhath Puja 2026 will be celebrated from November 13 to November 16, 2026. Nahay Khay is on November 13, Kharna on November 14, Sandhya Arghya and the main Chhath Puja on November 15, and Usha Arghya and Parana on November 16. Arghya timings vary according to local sunset and sunrise times.Q. What is the Chhath Puja 2026 date in India?
Chhath Puja 2026 will be observed from November 13 to November 16, 2026, with the main Chhath Puja and Sandhya Arghya on November 15.Q. Chhath Puja 2026 kab hai?
Chhath Puja starts with Nahay Khay on Friday, November 13, 2026, and concludes after Usha Arghya on Monday, November 16, 2026.Q.When is Nahay Khay in 2026?
Nahay Khay, the first day of Chhath Puja 2026, will be observed on November 13, 2026.Q.When is Kharna in Chhath Puja 2026?
Kharna will be observed on Saturday, November 14, 2026.Q. When is Sandhya Arghya in 2026?
Sandhya Arghya will be offered to the setting Sun on Sunday, November 15, 2026.Q.When is Usha Arghya in 2026?
Usha Arghya will be offered to the rising Sun on Monday, November 16, 2026, after which the vrat is concluded.
