Chhath Puja 2026: Dates of All Four Days & Arghya Time
Chhath Puja 2026 runs from Friday 13 to Monday 16 November, with the main Sandhya Arghya on Sunday 15 November, Kartik Shukla Shashthi. Here are the four days, what happens on each, and the sunset and sunrise arghya times for Patna and Delhi.
The four days of Chhath 2026
Day 1 · Nahay Khay
Friday, 13 November 2026The vrati (the person keeping the fast) bathes, ideally in a river or pond, cleans the house and cooks a single satvik meal, traditionally kaddu-bhaat (bottle gourd with rice and chana dal) made without onion or garlic. This meal, eaten once in the day, marks the start of the four-day vrat.
Day 2 · Kharna (Lohanda)
Saturday, 14 November 2026The vrati fasts through the day and, after evening puja, eats kheer made with jaggery (rasiya), roti and fruit, usually cooked on a fresh earthen chulha with mango wood. The prasad is shared with family, and from this meal the 36-hour nirjala fast begins.
Day 3 · Sandhya Arghyamain day
Sunday, 15 November 2026 · ShashthiThe main day. Families carry soop and daura (bamboo baskets) of thekua, fruit, sugarcane and coconut to the ghat, and the vrati, standing in water, offers arghya to the setting Sun. The night is spent singing Chhath geet, and many families light kosi with diyas and sugarcane at home.
Day 4 · Usha Arghya & Parana
Monday, 16 November 2026Before dawn, families return to the ghat. The vrati offers arghya to the rising Sun, prays for the family's health and children's wellbeing, and then breaks the fast with prasad, usually thekua and a sip of water or ginger, completing the vrat.
Arghya times: sunset and sunrise
Shashthi tithi runs from about 11:23 PM on 14 November to about 2:00 AM on 16 November 2026, so the evening arghya on 15 November falls fully within it. Arghya itself is not tied to a clock muhurat: it is offered at your local sunset and sunrise.
| City | Sandhya Arghya, 15 Nov (sunset) | Usha Arghya, 16 Nov (sunrise) |
|---|---|---|
| Patna | 5:00–5:01 PM | 6:07 AM |
| New Delhi | 5:27–5:28 PM | 6:44 AM |
Sunrise and sunset shift by city, by over an hour between Kolkata and western India. Check the exact times for your location in our Panchang.
Why Chhath is offered to the Sun
Chhath is one of the few Hindu festivals with no idol worship. Devotees thank Surya, the visible giver of life, and Chhathi Maiya, revered as a protector of children, by offering arghya at both the setting and rising Sun. It is observed most widely in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Nepal's Terai, and by the Purvanchali community across India and abroad. It falls on the sixth day after Diwali, which in 2026 is on 8 November.
Preparing for the vrat
- Thekua, the signature prasad of wheat flour, jaggery and ghee, is usually made on the afternoon of Sandhya Arghya in a cleaned kitchen.
- Keep soop or daura, seasonal fruit, sugarcane, coconut, a lota for arghya and diyas ready before Kharna.
- The nirjala fast after Kharna lasts about 36 hours. Anyone with a health condition should speak with family elders and a doctor; many families accept a modified fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the dates of Chhath Puja 2026?
Nahay Khay is on Friday 13 November, Kharna on Saturday 14 November, Sandhya Arghya (the main Chhath day) on Sunday 15 November, and Usha Arghya with parana on Monday 16 November 2026.
When does Shashthi tithi begin and end for Chhath 2026?
Shashthi tithi begins at about 11:23 PM on 14 November and ends at about 2:00 AM on 16 November 2026 (IST). Panchangs differ by a minute on these times.
What time is arghya on Chhath 2026?
Arghya follows local sunset on 15 November and local sunrise on 16 November. In Patna sunset is about 5:00 PM and sunrise 6:07 AM; in New Delhi sunset is about 5:27 PM and sunrise 6:44 AM. Check your own city, as times shift with location.
Can Chhath be observed at home without a river ghat?
Yes. Many families, especially in cities and abroad, build a small water tank on the terrace or in a courtyard and offer arghya standing in it. The essentials are the fast, purity of the prasad, and facing the Sun at sunset and sunrise.
Need sunrise and sunset for your city? Check the Panchang or generate your free Kundli.
Disclaimer: Dates and times are compiled from published panchangs for general information. Sunrise and sunset vary by location and local customs differ, so please confirm with your local panchang or family elders.