Chhath Puja 2026: Dates, Four Days & Significance
The festival of the Sun god
Chhath Puja is a four-day festival dedicated to Surya, the Sun god, and to Chhathi Maiya, regarded as a form of the divine mother. It is observed most widely in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh, and by communities from those regions across India and the world.
The main day falls on the Shashti — the sixth day — of the bright fortnight of Kartik. The festival is known for its rigorous discipline, purity and the offering of arghya to the rising and setting sun.
Chhath Puja 2026 Date
Chhath Puja 2026 is on Sunday, 15 November 2026. It is observed on Kartik Shukla Shashti — the Shashti tithi of the Shukla paksha in the lunar month of Kartik.
Hindu festival dates follow the lunar calendar and can vary by a day between regions and traditions. Always confirm the date and timings with your local panchang.
The Significance of Chhath Puja
Chhath is a thanksgiving to the Sun, the source of all life and energy. Devotees express gratitude for sustenance and pray for the well-being, prosperity and long life of their families.
It is one of the few festivals that honours the setting sun as well as the rising sun — a recognition that decline and renewal are both part of the natural order, and that gratitude is due to both.
The festival is performed with extraordinary devotion. The vratis — those who keep the vow, most often women — observe a long nirjala fast, take ritual baths in rivers and ponds, and stand in water to offer arghya. Its discipline and purity make Chhath one of the most demanding and deeply respected observances in the Hindu calendar.
The Four Days of Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja unfolds over four days of growing discipline and devotion:
- Nahay Khay. Day one. The vrati bathes, cleans the home, and eats a single pure, sattvic meal.
- Kharna. Day two. A day-long fast, broken in the evening with kheer and roti, after which the strict fast begins.
- Sandhya Arghya. Day three. The family gathers at a river or pond to offer arghya to the setting sun.
- Usha Arghya. Day four. Before dawn, arghya is offered to the rising sun and the fast is finally broken.
Chhath Puja Puja Vidhi
- Day one (Nahay Khay): the vrati bathes, cleans the home and eats a single sattvic meal.
- Day two (Kharna): a day-long fast is kept and broken in the evening with kheer and roti, after which the strict fast begins.
- Day three (Sandhya Arghya): the family goes to a river or pond, where the vrati offers arghya to the setting sun.
- Day four (Usha Arghya): before dawn the family returns to the water, and arghya is offered to the rising sun.
- The fast is broken after the morning arghya, and prasad — including thekua, a traditional sweet — is distributed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Chhath Puja in 2026?
Chhath Puja in 2026 falls on Sunday, 15 November 2026, on Kartik Shashti.
Why is Chhath Puja celebrated?
Chhath Puja is a thanksgiving to Surya, the Sun god, and Chhathi Maiya. Devotees offer arghya to the sun and pray for the health, prosperity and long life of their families.
How many days does Chhath Puja last?
Chhath Puja is a four-day festival: Nahay Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya (offering to the setting sun) and Usha Arghya (offering to the rising sun).
Why is the setting sun worshipped during Chhath?
Chhath honours both the setting and the rising sun, recognising that decline and renewal are both part of the natural cycle, and that gratitude is owed to the sun at every stage.