Chhath Puja Day 3 is the most important and visually recognisable day of the four-day Chhath festival. Known as Sandhya Arghya, the day is dedicated to offering prayers and Arghya to the setting Sun. Thousands of devotees gather at rivers, ponds, lakes and specially prepared ghats, carrying baskets filled with fruits, sugarcane, thekua, coconuts and other sacred offerings.
In 2026, Chhath Puja Day 3 will be observed on Sunday, November 15, 2026. For New Delhi, the sunset time is approximately 5:28 PM, while in Patna the Sun will set at approximately 5:01 PM. Since Sandhya Arghya is performed around sunset, devotees should always check their local city timing before beginning the ritual.
The third day follows Kharna and marks the continuation of the strict Chhath fast. It is also the day on which devotees worship Surya Dev at sunset, making it one of the most unique rituals in Hindu tradition.
Chhath Puja Day 3 2026 Date
The main details for Chhath Puja Day 3 are:
Date: Sunday, November 15, 2026
Ritual: Chhath Puja and Sandhya Arghya
Tithi: Shashthi
New Delhi Sunrise: approximately 6:44 AM
New Delhi Sunset: approximately 5:28 PM
Patna Sunrise: approximately 6:07 AM
Patna Sunset: approximately 5:01 PM.
The Shashthi Tithi begins at approximately 11:23 PM on November 14 and ends at approximately 2:00 AM on November 16, 2026.
What Is Sandhya Arghya?
Sandhya Arghya is the evening offering made to Surya Dev, the setting Sun, on the third day of Chhath Puja.
The ritual is special because Hindu worship generally focuses on the rising Sun, but Chhath Puja honours both the setting and rising Sun.
On Day 3, devotees gather near a water body before sunset. The vratin enters the water and stands facing the Sun while family members carry the puja offerings.
As the Sun begins to set, Arghya is offered with water, prayers and traditional offerings.
According to the Chhath calendar, offering Arghya to the setting Sun is the main ritual of Day 3, and the fast continues throughout the night until Usha Arghya the next morning.
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Sandhya Arghya carries a profound message: life is not only about welcoming new beginnings. Wisdom also comes from accepting endings with gratitude and awareness.
Start Your Journey Today!Chhath Puja 2026 Sunset Time
The exact Chhath Puja sunset time 2026 varies by city.
For some major locations:
New Delhi: approximately 5:28 PM
Patna: approximately 5:01 PM.
These city differences are important. Devotees should not assume that one sunset time applies everywhere in India.
The ideal practice is to reach the ghat well before sunset so that the puja arrangement can be completed peacefully.
For SEO and reader usefulness, your article should always clarify that Sandhya Arghya must be performed according to local sunset time.
Why Is Arghya Offered to the Setting Sun?
One of the most beautiful aspects of Chhath Puja is that devotees honour the Sun not only when it rises but also when it sets.
Spiritually, this represents gratitude during both beginnings and endings.
The setting Sun can symbolise completion, humility and acceptance.
By offering Arghya at sunset, devotees express gratitude for the energy, health and life received throughout the day.
The next morning, Usha Arghya is offered to the rising Sun, representing hope, renewal and a new beginning.
Together, the two rituals create a complete cycle of gratitude.
Chhath Puja Day 3 Puja Vidhi
The Sandhya Arghya puja vidhi begins several hours before sunset.
The home and puja items are cleaned carefully.
Traditional offerings are arranged in bamboo baskets or soop.
Family members then travel together to the ghat.
The vratin generally wears clean traditional clothing and continues the strict fast.
At the ghat, the offerings are placed carefully near the water.
Devotees enter the river, pond or other clean water body and wait for sunset.
As the Sun begins to descend, the vratin faces Surya Dev and offers Arghya.
Water or milk may be offered according to family tradition while prayers are recited.
The offering baskets are held respectfully and prayers are made for health, prosperity and family well-being.
After the Arghya is completed, devotees return home while continuing the fast through the night.
The fast is finally broken only after Usha Arghya on Day 4.
Sandhya Arghya Samagri
The exact Chhath Puja samagri can vary by family and region, but traditional offerings often include:
bamboo basket or soop
thekua
bananas
coconuts
sugarcane
seasonal fruits
rice-based offerings
sweets
diya
flowers
water or milk for Arghya
turmeric and other household puja items according to family tradition
The offerings are generally simple, natural and sattvic.
Cleanliness is given extraordinary importance during Chhath, and families often maintain very strict standards when preparing prasad.
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Importance of Thekua in Chhath Puja
Thekua is one of the most recognisable Chhath Puja offerings.
It is traditionally prepared using wheat flour, jaggery or sugar and other simple ingredients according to household tradition.
Thekua is carried to the ghat along with fruits and other offerings and is presented to Surya Dev.
Because it is closely associated with Chhath, thekua has become both a religious prasad and a cultural symbol of the festival.
Chhath Puja Day 3 Fast
The third day includes one of the most demanding stages of the Chhath vrat.
After consuming Kharna prasad on Day 2, the vratin begins the prolonged fasting phase.
According to the Chhath calendar, a full-day fast without water is observed on Day 3, and it continues through the night. Parana takes place after the final morning Arghya on Day 4.
This strict discipline is one of the reasons Chhath Puja is regarded as a particularly demanding and deeply devotional Hindu observance.
The fast represents self-control, purity and complete surrender.
Spiritual Significance of Sandhya Arghya
Sandhya Arghya carries a powerful spiritual message.
Most people naturally celebrate beginnings and success.
Chhath teaches devotees to also honour endings.
The setting Sun reminds us that every cycle eventually comes to a close.
Instead of resisting this, devotees bow with gratitude.
This makes Sandhya Arghya a ritual of acceptance.
It symbolises thanking life not only when things begin brightly but also when phases end.
The next morning, when devotees return for Usha Arghya, the message becomes complete: every ending creates space for a new beginning.
Why Is Surya Dev Worshipped During Chhath?
Surya Dev represents light, energy and the life force.
Plants, agriculture, weather and human life all depend upon the Sun.
Traditional Chhath worship expresses gratitude for this life-sustaining force.
Drik Panchang describes Chhath Puja as worship of Surya Dev for well-being, prosperity and progress.
The festival therefore combines religious worship with a powerful expression of gratitude towards nature.
Role of Chhathi Maiya
Alongside Surya Dev, devotees also pray to Chhathi Maiya.
Chhathi Maiya occupies a central position in Chhath traditions and folk songs.
Families seek her blessings for protection, happiness and prosperity.
Traditional Chhath songs dedicated to Chhathi Maiya are sung during preparation, at the ghat and while devotees return home.
This gives Chhath both a spiritual and deeply community-oriented character.
How to Prepare for Sandhya Arghya
Preparation should ideally begin well before sunset.
Check your local sunset time in advance.
Prepare all prasad and offerings early.
Arrange fruits, sugarcane, coconuts and thekua in baskets.
Carry diyas and other puja items securely.
Leave for the ghat early because popular ghats can become crowded.
Wear comfortable traditional clothing suitable for standing in shallow water.
Avoid rushing once the Sun begins to set.
The puja should be performed calmly and respectfully.
What Happens After Sandhya Arghya?
Sandhya Arghya does not mark the end of Chhath Puja.
After the evening offering, devotees return home while the vrat continues.
The vratin does not perform Parana that evening.
Instead, devotees wake up early the following morning and return to the ghat before sunrise.
On Day 4, Usha Arghya is offered to the rising Sun.
Only after this morning worship is completed is the prolonged Chhath fast traditionally concluded.
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Difference Between Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya
Both rituals honour Surya Dev but have different symbolic meanings.
Sandhya Arghya:
Offered to the setting Sun on Day 3.
It represents gratitude, completion and acceptance.
Usha Arghya:
Offered to the rising Sun on Day 4.
It represents hope, renewal and fresh beginnings.
Together, they represent the complete cycle of life.
Chhath Puja Day 3 in Patna
Patna is one of the major centres of Chhath Puja celebrations.
In 2026, the Day 3 Sandhya Arghya in Patna falls on Sunday, November 15, with sunset around 5:01 PM.
Large numbers of devotees traditionally gather along the ghats of the Ganga and other water bodies.
Because crowds can be significant, families generally arrive well before sunset.
Chhath Puja Day 3 in Delhi
For New Delhi, Chhath Puja Day 3 also falls on November 15, 2026, but sunset is later at approximately 5:28 PM.
This difference of nearly half an hour between Patna and Delhi demonstrates why city-specific sunset timing is essential.
Chhath Puja Day 3 2026 at a Glance
Festival: Chhath Puja Day 3
Ritual: Sandhya Arghya
Date: Sunday, November 15, 2026
Tithi: Shashthi
New Delhi Sunset: approximately 5:28 PM
Patna Sunset: approximately 5:01 PM
Main Worship: Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya
Main Ritual: Arghya to the setting Sun
Fast: Continues through the night until Usha Arghya on Day 4.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q.When is Chhath Puja Day 3 and Sandhya Arghya in 2026?
Chhath Puja Day 3 and Sandhya Arghya will be observed on Sunday, November 15, 2026. The sunset time is approximately 5:28 PM in New Delhi and 5:01 PM in Patna. Devotees offer Arghya to the setting Sun around their local sunset time and continue the fast until Usha Arghya the next morning.Q.When is Chhath Puja Day 3 in 2026?
Chhath Puja Day 3 falls on Sunday, November 15, 2026.Q.What is Sandhya Arghya?
Sandhya Arghya is the ritual offering made to the setting Sun on the third day of Chhath Puja.Q.What is the Chhath Puja sunset time in Delhi in 2026?
The sunset time in New Delhi on November 15, 2026 is approximately 5:28 PM.Q.What is the Sandhya Arghya time in Patna?
Sunset in Patna on Chhath Puja Day 3 is approximately 5:01 PM.Q.Why is the setting Sun worshipped during Chhath?
The ritual represents gratitude, humility and respect for the complete cycle of life, including both beginnings and endings.Q.What is offered during Sandhya Arghya?
Traditional offerings include thekua, fruits, bananas, coconuts, sugarcane, flowers and water or milk according to family custom.
