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🪔 Hindu Festival · Kartik Maas

Chhath Puja 2026

छठ पूजा

Also known as: Chhath Parv · Dala Chhath · Surya Shashthi

Date 2026

Thursday, 12 November 2026

Tithi

Kartik Shukla Shashthi (6th day of bright fortnight, Kartik month)

Duration

4 Days

What is Chhath Puja?

Chhath Puja is one of Hinduism's most ancient festivals, dedicated to Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya (his sister). It is unique in that it involves worshipping both the setting sun (at dusk) and the rising sun (at dawn) — recognising both as life-giving forces. The festival emphasises purity, discipline, and gratitude for the Sun's energy that sustains all life.

📖 Source: Mahabharata — Karna (son of the Sun god Surya) performed Chhath Puja standing in the Ganga; also associated with Draupadi's prayers to the Sun

4 Days of Chhath Puja

1

Nahay Khay10 Nov

Devotees take a holy bath and eat one meal of chana dal, lauki and rice cooked in bronze vessel

2

Kharna (Lohanda)11 Nov

36-hour fast begins; in the evening kheer (rice pudding) with jaggery is prepared and offered to the Sun

3

Sandhya Arghya12 Nov

Main day — offerings (arghya) of fruits, sugarcane, and thekua are given to the setting sun at the river bank

4

Usha Arghya13 Nov

Final day — arghya offered to the rising sun at dawn; the 36-hour fast is broken with prasad

How to Celebrate Chhath Puja — Rituals

  • 🪔Taking a holy bath in the Ganga or a river and beginning the fast on Nahay Khay
  • 🪔Kharna: preparing kheer with jaggery and roti, offering to Chhathi Maiya, distributing prasad
  • 🪔Standing in water at the river bank and offering arghya (water, fruits, sugarcane) to the setting sun
  • 🪔Night-long vigil singing Chhath songs (geet) dedicated to Chhathi Maiya
  • 🪔Early morning Usha Arghya: returning to the river before sunrise to greet the rising sun
  • 🪔Breaking the 36-hour fast with prasad — thekua, fruits, and kheer

Regional Variations

bihar jharkhand

The heartland of Chhath Puja — entire cities come to river banks for arghya; it is the biggest festival of the region

uttar pradesh

Purvanchali communities celebrate with equal devotion at Ganga and other river ghats

delhi mumbai

Large Chhath celebrations at lakes and artificial ghats for diaspora communities

Associated Deities

🕉️ surya

Sacred Places

🕯️ varanasi

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ When is Chhath Puja 2026?
Chhath Puja 2026 is on November 12, 2026 (Sandhya Arghya / main day). The 4-day festival begins November 10 (Nahay Khay) and concludes November 13 (Usha Arghya).
❓ Why is Chhath Puja unique among Hindu festivals?
Chhath Puja is the only Hindu festival that worships the Sun God at both sunset and sunrise. Devotees stand in river water and offer arghya (oblations) — first to the setting sun, then to the rising sun — as gratitude for sustaining all life on Earth.
❓ How long is the fast during Chhath Puja?
The Chhath fast lasts 36 hours — from sunset on Kharna day to sunrise on Usha Arghya day. During this period, no food or water is consumed. It is considered one of the most rigorous fasts in Hinduism.
❓ What is thekua and why is it the main Chhath prasad?
Thekua is a traditional sweet made from whole wheat flour, jaggery, and ghee, deep-fried in mustard oil. It is offered to the Sun god during arghya and is the signature prasad of Chhath Puja. Its preparation follows strict purity rules.

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