Chhath Puja 2026

When Is Chhath Puja in 2026?

In 2026, Chhath Puja falls on November 13. The observance lasts 4 days. Because Chhath Puja follows a 6th day (Shukla Shashthi) of Kartik month (Hindu lunar calendar); 4-day observance beginning on Kartik Shukla Chaturthi, the exact Gregorian date shifts each year. The main ritual involves offering arghya (prayers) to the setting and rising sun at a riverbank; the exact sunrise/sunset times are timezone- and latitude-specific. The Shashthi tithi date can differ by a day between North Indian and Bihari panchangams. Since Chhath Puja's date changes from year to year, here are the dates for the next five years so you can plan ahead: Year Date 2026 November 13 2027 November 3 2028 October 22 2029 November 10 2030 October 31

What Time Does Chhath Puja Start in Your Time Zone?

Chhath Puja falls on the sixth day (shashthi) of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Kartik. In 2026, the main puja days (Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya) fall on November 7 and November 8 — meaning the offering to the setting sun is on November 7 and the offering to the rising sun is on November 8. The exact timing of these offerings depends on local sunrise and sunset, which vary by latitude and longitude. Because the central rituals depend on actual sunrise and sunset times, Chhath Puja is one of the most location-dependent Hindu festivals. The sunset offering on November 7 in Patna, Bihar occurs around 5:30 PM local time; in Kathmandu, Nepal around 5:15 PM; in Delhi around 5:35 PM. The sunrise offering on November 8 occurs around 6:00 AM in Patna and 6:30 AM in Delhi. Diaspora Bihari communities observe the festival on the same Gregorian dates as India, with sunrise and sunset times calculated for their local longitude. The table below shows the observance date for Chhath Puja in major time zones around the world: Location Observance Date Time Zone New York, USA November 13 EST/EDT (UTC-5/-4) London, UK November 13 GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1) New Delhi, India November 13 IST (UTC+5:30) Sydney, Australia November 13 AEST/AEDT (UTC+10/+11) Dubai, UAE November 13 GST (UTC+4)

The Story Behind Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja — also called Dala Chhath, Surya Shashthi, or Chhathi Maiya — is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of the sun god Surya and his wife Usha (Chhathi Maiya). Observed primarily in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and the Madhesh region of Nepal, the festival is unique in its strict rituals, its association with the sun rather than a deity like Vishnu or Shiva, and its emphasis on the worship of nature rather than images. The festival's roots are ancient, predating the modern Hindu pantheon. The Rigveda contains hymns to Surya, and the epic Mahabharata contains stories of Surya worship — including the story of Draupadi, who is said to have observed the Chhath fast for the Pandavas, and of Karna (the son of Surya), who is said to have performed the rituals. Some scholars trace the festival to pre-Vedic sun-worship traditions in the Indian subcontinent. Theologically, Chhath is unusual among Hindu festivals in that it does not involve idol worship. The sun itself — both at sunrise and at sunset — is the object of worship, and the rituals are performed at the banks of a river or other body of water. The festival is also distinctive in that the central ritual is performed by women (and increasingly by men), who observe a strict fast without water for 36 hours — among the most demanding fasts in Hindu practice. The festival's name comes from "chhath," meaning "sixth" in Hindi and other North Indian languages, referring to the sixth day of the lunar month on which the main rituals are performed.

How Chhath Puja Is Celebrated

Chhath Puja is observed over four days, with rituals of increasing intensity. On the first day (Nahay Khay), the vratins (those observing the fast) bathe in the river and eat a single meal of rice, lentils, and pumpkin. On the second day (Kharna), the vratins fast for the entire day, breaking the fast after sunset with roti (flatbread) and kheer (rice pudding) offered to the gods. From this point, the vratins undertake a 36-hour fast without food or water. On the third day (Sandhya Arghya), the main rituals are performed. In the late afternoon, the vratins and their families proceed to the riverbank with elaborate offerings (arghya) — including fruits, sweets (especially thekua, a wheat-flour cookie), sugarcane, and coconut — arranged in baskets made of bamboo. As the sun sets, the vratins stand in the water facing the sun, offering the arghya to the setting sun. The riverbanks are illuminated with thousands of lamps, and the atmosphere is one of intense devotion. On the fourth day (Usha Arghya), the same ritual is performed at sunrise — the arghya is offered to the rising sun. After the morning offering, the 36-hour fast is broken, and the vratins return home to share the prasad (blessed food) with family and friends. The most important Chhath Puja site is the banks of the Ganges in Patna, the capital of Bihar, where hundreds of thousands of devotees gather. Other major sites include the Sun Temple at Konark in Odisha, the Surya Mandir in Dev (Aurangabad), and the Suraj Kund in Gurgaon. The festival is also celebrated with great enthusiasm in the Bihari and Nepali diaspora — particularly in Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad, Guyana, and Suriname, where large communities of Bihari descent maintain the tradition. Why Does Chhath Puja Move Every Year? Chhath Puja is fixed on the shashthi of the dark fortnight of Kartik in the Hindu lunisolar calendar. The calendar's leap-month system keeps the festival anchored in late October or November. The astronomical anchor is the moon six days after the full moon of Kartik, which usually falls in early November. The festival's timing in late autumn places it just after the harvest, when the new rice is available for offerings.

Calendar Calculation

6th day (Shukla Shashthi) of Kartik month (Hindu lunar calendar); 4-day observance beginning on Kartik Shukla Chaturthi

Traveling for Chhath Puja? Where to Go

Chhath Puja is the largest festival in Bihar and draws Biharis from across India and abroad back to their home towns. The festival is the single largest travel period for the Bihari diaspora, with trains and flights to Patna and other Bihari cities booked out weeks in advance. The Ganges riverbanks in Patna draw hundreds of thousands of devotees, and the ghats (steps leading to the river) are decorated with lights and flowers. Diaspora Bihari communities in Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad, and other former plantation colonies maintain the tradition with elaborate riverside ceremonies. Top destinations for this holiday: Patna: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Varanasi: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Gaya: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Kathmandu: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Bhagalpur: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. If you're planning to travel for chhath puja, compare hotel rates and book early — accommodations in Patna fill up weeks before the festival. [Search hotels for Chhath Puja travel →]

Did You Know? Chhath Puja Facts & Trivia

Chhath Puja is unusual among Hindu festivals in that it does not involve idol worship. The sun itself — both at sunrise and at sunset — is the object of worship, and the rituals are performed at the banks of a river or other body of water. The festival is observed primarily in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and the Madhesh region of Nepal. The 36-hour fast without water on Chhath Puja is one of the most demanding fasts in Hindu practice. The fast is undertaken by vratins (those observing the fast), who also follow strict purity rules — sleeping on the floor, eating only vegetarian food prepared without onion or garlic, and avoiding negative emotions. The most important Chhath Puja site is the banks of the Ganges in Patna, the capital of Bihar, where hundreds of thousands of devotees gather. Other major sites include the Sun Temple at Konark in Odisha, the Surya Mandir in Dev (Aurangabad), and the Suraj Kund in Gurgaon. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in the Bihari and Nepali diaspora — particularly in Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad, Guyana, and Suriname, where large communities of Bihari descent maintain the tradition. The festival's rituals are adapted to local water bodies, with rivers, lakes, and ocean shores serving as the setting for the arghya offerings.