Chhath Puja 2026 – Worship of the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya

Full Date

14 November 2026 Evening (Nahay Khay day begins) – 16 November 2026 Morning (Usha Argh day ends)

Muhurat Timings in India

• Sandhya Arghya at Riverbank

  On the evening of 15 November 2026, thousands of devotees will gather at river-banks in Bihar, Jharkhand & Uttar Pradesh to offer arghya to the setting Sun, lighting diyas and floating offerings into the water.

  15 November 2026 Sunset approx 17:28 (Varies by region) – 15 November 2026 19:30 PM approx

Introduction

Chhath Puja is a deeply revered festival, especially in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God (Surya) and his sister Chhathi Maiya. The festival spans four days, involves fasting without water, offerings made standing in water at riverbanks during sunset and sunrise, and expresses gratitude to the Sun for life, well-being and prosperity. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Other Names

Surya Shashthi, Chhath Parva, Dala Chhath

Pooja Vidhi

• Choose a clean riverbank, pond or safe water-body and stand knee-deep or waist-deep for arghya offerings.
• Prepare all-vegetarian, onion/garlic-free food for the prasada; most iconic is thekua (jaggery-flour cookie).
• Offer freshly harvested fruits, sugar-cane, dry coconuts, raw-rice and diyas in trays or bamboo baskets to the Sun.
• Observe silence, devotion and cleanliness; wear clean traditional clothes; avoid alcohol or non-vegetarian food during fast.
• After Usha Argh and breaking of fast, distribute prasada among family and neighbours and engage in charitable acts.

Rituals

• Day 1 (Nahay Khay): Bathing in a river or clean water body, cooking vegetarian single-meal at home.
• Day 2 (Kharna): Fasting from sunrise to sunset, after which prasada is prepared and distributed.
• Day 3 (Sandhya Arghya): Standing at riverbank at sunset, offering arghya (water offering) to the setting Sun.
• Day 4 (Usha Arghya): Early morning fast continues; devotees offer prayers to the rising Sun and break the fast. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Regional Highlights

• In Bihar (especially the Mithila region) and Jharkhand the festival is a major social event: ghats are cleaned, community offerings and mass gatherings on riverbanks happen.
• In Nepal’s Madhesh region and Terai/Plano areas, Chhath is widely celebrated as Chhath Parva after Tihar and entails similar rituals. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
• In large cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata the festival has grown among migrant communities and river/pond ghats are specially organised for Chhath Puja. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

History

The festival of Chhath finds mention in ancient texts and legends: in the Ramayana, Sita performed Chhath after returning from exile, and in the Mahabharata, Karna worshipped the Sun before the battlefield. Over time it developed into a major sun-worship festival in the Gangetic plains of eastern India and Nepal. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Additional Information

• Chhath Puja is noted for being one of the most environmentally-friendly Hindu festivals because devotees use natural offerings, avoid plastics and conduct the rituals at open water-bodies. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
• The festival is being considered for inclusion in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list owing to its unique rituals and cultural importance. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
• Although some calendars list the starting day as 13 or 14 November 2026, the main ritual day (Sandhya Arghya) is widely observed on 15 November 2026. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}