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Chhath Puja 2026 will begin on Friday, November 13, with the Nahay Khay ritual and conclude on Monday, November 16, after devotees offer Arghya to the rising Sun, known as Usha Arghya.

 

Dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, the four-day festival is observed with prayers for family happiness and prosperity, as well as the good health and bright future of children. Cleanliness, satvik food, traditional offerings and disciplined worship remain central to the celebrations.

Chhath Puja 2026 calendar

November 13, Friday — Nahay Khay: The festival opens with Nahay Khay. Devotees bathe, clean their homes and prepare a satvik meal, traditionally comprising rice, chana dal and pumpkin curry. Purity and cleanliness hold particular importance on this day.

 

November 14, Saturday — Kharna: Devotees observe a fast during the day and break it in the evening after performing the puja. The Kharna prasad generally includes jaggery kheer and roti. After this ritual, devotees begin the strict fast that continues until the morning offering to the rising Sun on the final day.

 

November 15, Sunday — Sandhya Arghya: On the third day, prayers are offered to the setting Sun. Devotees gather at rivers, ponds and designated Chhath ghats, carrying fruits, thekua and other offerings in bamboo baskets and soops for worship of the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya.

 

November 16, Monday — Usha Arghya and Paran: The celebrations conclude at sunrise with Usha Arghya to the rising Sun. Devotees pray for the happiness and prosperity of their families. After the morning rituals, they perform Paran by breaking the fast, bringing the four-day observance to an end.

Significance of the 36-hour fast

One of the most demanding rituals of Chhath Puja is the fast observed after Kharna. Vrat devotees abstain from both food and water for around 36 hours, maintaining the fast until the morning prayers and Arghya to the rising Sun are completed.

 

During this period, devotees worship the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, follow the prescribed rituals and observe the festival with discipline and devotion.