Chhath Puja 2026: Full 4-Day Calendar, Arghya Timings & Vidhi
Chhath Puja 2026 runs from Friday, 13 November to Monday, 16 November, with the main evening Arghya falling on Sunday, 15 November. It's one of the most physically demanding festivals in the Hindu calendar — a 36-hour nirjala fast built around worship of the Sun god, Surya, and his sister Chhathi Maiya. Families planning the full vidhi at home or at a ghat and wanting a pandit's guidance can Book a Pandit on Prayfullit.
Chhath Puja 2026 Muhurt Timing
| Day | Date 2026 | Ritual |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Friday, 13 November | Nahay Khay |
| Day 2 | Saturday, 14 November | Kharna |
| Day 3 | Sunday, 15 November | Sandhya Arghya (evening offering) |
| Day 4 | Monday, 16 November | Usha Arghya (sunrise offering) |
What Chhath Actually Involves
Unlike most festivals built around a single evening's puja, Chhath is a four-day physical commitment. The fasting woman (Vratin) — though men and children observe it too in many families — goes without food and water for roughly 36 hours straight, between the Kharna meal on day 2 and the Usha Arghya on day 4.
Day-by-Day Vidhi
Day 1 — Nahay Khay: The Vratin bathes, typically in the Ganga or another river where possible, and eats a single simple meal — usually rice, chana dal and bottle-gourd (lauki) sabzi cooked without onion or garlic.
Day 2 — Kharna: A full-day fast, broken only in the evening with kheer made from jaggery and rice, along with rotis. This is the last meal before the 36-hour fast begins. The prasad is shared, but the Vratin eats first.
Day 3 — Sandhya Arghya: The whole family heads to a riverbank, pond or any accessible body of water in the late afternoon. A bamboo basket (soop) is loaded with fruits, thekua (a wheat-and-jaggery sweet), sugarcane and coconut. As the sun sets, the family stands in the water and offers Arghya to the setting sun.
Day 4 — Usha Arghya: The same ritual repeats before sunrise the next morning, this time offering Arghya to the rising sun. Once this is done, the Vratin breaks the 36-hour fast — this is the actual moment Chhath concludes.
Why the Sun and Chhathi Maiya
Chhath worships Surya directly, which is relatively unusual — most Hindu festivals centre on Vishnu, Shiva or a form of the Devi. The festival also honours Chhathi Maiya (Usha, the goddess of dawn), believed to be Surya's sister and the protector of children. Mothers traditionally observe Chhath for their children's wellbeing, which is part of why it carries such intensity in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern UP households.
What Goes in the Chhath Prasad Basket
- Thekua (fried wheat-jaggery sweet, the signature Chhath prasad)
- Fresh sugarcane stalks
- Coconut, bananas, oranges and seasonal fruit
- A diya and incense
- Turmeric root with leaves attached, considered auspicious
Conclusion
Chhath Puja 2026, running 13–16 November, is as much about physical discipline as devotion. Book a Pandit on Prayfullit for guidance on the vidhi, or check our Chhath prasad essentials if you're putting together your own basket.
