Chhath Puja 2026 will be observed from Friday, November 13 to Monday, November 16, 2026. One of India’s most distinctive festivals, Chhath is especially associated with Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand and is also observed by communities across the country. The four-day celebration combines fasting, cleanliness, prayer, traditional offerings and worship of the setting and rising Sun.
The official Incredible India calendar confirms the 2026 dates as November 13–16, while Bihar Tourism describes Chhath as a major festival of Bihar centred on the Sun and nature. citeturn0search0turn0search1
Chhath Puja 2026 Date and Day
| Festival | Chhath Puja 2026 |
|---|---|
| Start Date | Friday, November 13, 2026 |
| End Date | Monday, November 16, 2026 |
| Main Observances | Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya |
| Major Regions | Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and communities across India |
| Also Known As | Chhath Mahaparv, Surya Shashti |
What Is Chhath Puja?
Chhath Puja is a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun and associated with gratitude for life, energy and nature. Unlike many festivals that centre primarily on temple rituals or idol worship, Chhath is strongly connected with water bodies, riverbanks, cleanliness and direct offerings to the Sun.
The observance is particularly known for worshipping both the setting Sun and the rising Sun. Devotees prepare offerings, observe disciplined fasting and gather at decorated ghats to perform Arghya. Bihar Tourism describes the festival as a four-day period of abstinence and ritual purity. citeturn0search1
Why Chhath Puja Is Important
Chhath has religious, cultural and environmental significance. Devotees express gratitude for the Sun’s role in sustaining life and seek well-being, prosperity and longevity for their families. The festival also places strong emphasis on cleanliness of homes and surroundings and the careful preparation of offerings.
In Bihar, Chhath is deeply connected with community life. Families often work together to prepare prasad, clean homes, organise travel and decorate ghats. The festival can therefore be experienced not only as a religious observance but also as a major community and cultural occasion.
Four Days of Chhath Puja 2026
Day 1: Nahay Khay – November 13
The first day is known as Nahay Khay. Devotees traditionally begin the observance by bathing and preparing a clean environment for the festival. Food is prepared with particular attention to purity and traditional practices. The day establishes the disciplined atmosphere that continues throughout the four-day celebration.
Day 2: Kharna – November 14
The second day is Kharna, also known as Lohanda in some traditions. Devotees observe a fast during the day and traditionally break it after evening worship. Offerings may include preparations such as rice pudding, fruits and other traditional foods. Prasad is shared with family members and others.
Day 3: Sandhya Arghya – November 15
The third day is one of the most visually recognisable parts of Chhath. Devotees prepare baskets of offerings and gather at rivers, ponds and other water bodies in the evening. Arghya is offered to the setting Sun.
Ghats are often decorated with lamps and other traditional arrangements. Devotional songs and community participation create a distinctive cultural atmosphere. The evening observance is known as Sandhya Arghya.
Day 4: Usha Arghya – November 16
The final day begins before sunrise. Devotees return to the water bodies and offer Arghya to the rising Sun. After the final prayers, the fast is concluded and prasad is distributed among family, friends and neighbours.
The combination of sunset and sunrise worship is one of the defining features of Chhath Puja. Incredible India specifically highlights the festival’s observance of both the setting and rising Sun. citeturn0search0
Traditional Chhath Puja Offerings
Chhath offerings vary according to family and regional traditions. Commonly associated items include fruits, sugarcane, rice-based preparations, thekua and other homemade prasad. Offerings are generally arranged in bamboo baskets or traditional containers and carried to the ghat.
Thekua is particularly associated with Chhath and is prepared as a traditional sweet or snack. Families may prepare large quantities for distribution after the rituals.
Chhath Puja in Bihar
Bihar is widely regarded as one of the principal centres of Chhath celebrations. Riverbanks, ponds and specially prepared ghats become important community spaces during the festival. Cities and towns may arrange lighting, sanitation, crowd management and facilities for devotees.
The festival also has an important connection with Bihar’s cultural identity. Bihar Tourism describes Chhath as a major festival of the state and emphasises its relationship with the Sun, nature, cleanliness and ritual discipline. citeturn0search1turn0search3
Chhath Puja in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand
Chhath is also widely observed in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. Communities in cities outside the traditional heartland also organise public ghats and cultural programmes, reflecting the movement of families and communities across India.
For people living away from their home states, Chhath can become an important occasion for community gatherings and maintaining cultural traditions.
Chhath Puja and Environmental Awareness
Because many rituals take place beside rivers, ponds and other water bodies, cleanliness is an important part of the festival. Bihar Government information highlights the connection between Chhath, cleanliness, rivers and nature. citeturn0search3
During the festival period, local authorities and community groups often focus on cleaning ghats, managing waste and making public areas safer for devotees. Visitors can contribute by avoiding littering, using designated waste facilities and respecting local arrangements.
Chhath Puja Travel and Public Safety
Large crowds are expected at popular ghats during Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya. Anyone travelling for the festival should check local administration notices for traffic restrictions, railway and bus arrangements, ghat access and crowd-management instructions.
Families visiting crowded areas should keep children close, follow barricades and use officially designated bathing or prayer areas. People should also avoid entering unsafe water areas or travelling beyond local safety instructions.
Chhath Puja 2026 Wishes and Messages
Traditional wish: “May Chhathi Maiya and Surya Dev bless your family with health, happiness, peace and prosperity. Wishing you a blessed Chhath Puja 2026.”
Short message: “Wishing you and your family a peaceful, prosperous and blessed Chhath Puja.”
Social media message: “May the divine light of the rising Sun bring hope, positivity and happiness into every home. Happy Chhath Puja 2026!”
Chhath Puja 2026 for Students and General Awareness
Chhath Puja is an important topic for students preparing for general-awareness sections of competitive examinations because it connects Indian geography, culture, festivals and regional traditions. Candidates can remember the four-day sequence: Nahay Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya.
It is also useful to remember that the festival is strongly associated with Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh and is dedicated to the Sun. These basic facts can help in questions related to Indian culture and festivals.
Chhath Puja 2026: Quick Facts
- Dates: November 13–16, 2026
- Duration: Four days
- Main deity: Surya Dev, the Sun
- Important observances: Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya
- Major region: Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh
- Traditional food: Thekua and other regional prasad
- Important locations: Riverbanks, ponds and decorated ghats
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Chhath Puja 2026?
Chhath Puja 2026 will be observed from Friday, November 13 to Monday, November 16, 2026. citeturn0search0
When is Sandhya Arghya in Chhath Puja 2026?
Sandhya Arghya, the evening offering to the setting Sun, will be observed on November 15, 2026.
When is Usha Arghya in Chhath Puja 2026?
Usha Arghya, the morning offering to the rising Sun, will be observed on November 16, 2026.
Which states mainly celebrate Chhath Puja?
Chhath is especially associated with Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, while communities across India also observe the festival.
What are the four days of Chhath Puja?
The four stages are Nahay Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya.
Why is the setting Sun worshipped during Chhath?
Chhath is distinctive because devotees offer prayers to both the setting and rising Sun as part of the festival’s traditional observance. citeturn0search0turn0search1
Conclusion
Chhath Puja 2026 will bring families and communities together from November 13 to 16. Its combination of fasting, traditional offerings, cleanliness, community participation and worship of the setting and rising Sun makes it one of India’s distinctive cultural festivals. As preparations begin, readers should follow local administration announcements for safe access to ghats and public celebrations.
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