Chhath Puja 2026
Chhath Puja, widely revered as Surya Shashthi, stands as one of the most ancient, rigorous, and ecologically harmonious festivals in the Hindu tradition. Celebrated on the sixth day (Shashthi) of the Shukla Paksha in the Kartika month, this four-day austere observance is dedicated to Lord Surya (the Sun God) and his sister, Goddess Chhathi Maiya (Shashthi Devi). Unlike most festivals that rely on idol worship or temple congregations, Chhath Puja is uniquely performed on the banks of rivers or water bodies, celebrating the life-sustaining energy of the sun and expressing deep gratitude for the bounties of nature.
It is a profound spiritual discipline involving a nearly 36-hour waterless (Nirjala) fast, strict purity, and heartfelt devotion, making it a true testament to human endurance and faith.
Chhath Puja 2026 Dates and Timings
(New Delhi)
In 2026, the four-day Chhath festival runs from Friday, November 13 to Monday, November 16. Because the observance is strictly tied to lunar phases and local sunrise/sunset times, the core timings are:
The Four-Day Celebration Sequence
Chhath Puja is not just a single-day event; it is an escalating four-day sequence of purification and devotion. In 2026, the arc is as follows:
Day 1
Nahay Khay
(Friday, November 13, 2026)
The festival commences with the purification of the mind, body, and household. Devotees (Parvaitins) take a holy bath, deeply clean their homes, and consume a single sattvic meal, traditionally Kaddu Bhaat (bottle gourd curry with rice and chana dal) cooked purely in rock salt (sendha namak) and ghee.
Day 2
Kharna / Lohanda
(Saturday, November 14, 2026)
On the second day, devotees observe a strict fast without water from sunrise to sunset. In the evening, a special prasad of Rasiyaav (kheer made with jaggery and rice) and roti is cooked on an earthen stove using mango wood. After offering this to the deity and breaking their fast, the arduous 36-hour Nirjala (waterless) fast officially begins.
Day 3
Sandhya Arghya
(Sunday, November 15, 2026)
The main day of the festival. Families accompany the fasting devotees to a riverbank, pond, or a specially prepared water body. Standing waist-deep in water, devotees offer Arghya (offerings) to the setting sun. This unique ritual of worshipping the setting sun signifies that light follows darkness and honors the cycle of life.
Day 4
Usha Arghya
(Monday, November 16, 2026)
Before dawn, devotees return to the water body to offer prayers and Arghya to the rising sun, symbolizing new beginnings, hope, and the ultimate life force. After the sun rises, the fast is ceremoniously broken by consuming ginger and water, followed by sharing the prasad.
How to Perform the Puja (Arghya Vidhi)
1. Prepare the Soop and Daura
The offerings are meticulously arranged in traditional bamboo baskets (Soop and Daura). These include the famous homemade Thekua (a deep fried wheat and jaggery sweet), stalks of sugarcane, coconuts, sweet limes, bananas, and a lit earthen clay lamp (diya).
2. Perform Jal Yoga (Standing in Water)
The devotee stands waist-deep in the river or pure water body, facing the sun (west for the evening, east for the morning). This act purifies the physical body and grounds the individual with the earth's natural elements.
3. Offer the Arghya
Family members pour raw milk and holy water (Gangajal) over the bamboo soop held by the fasting devotee as an offering to the Sun God. While making the offering, this powerful Sanskrit mantra is chanted to invoke Lord Surya's blessings:
ॐ एहि सूर्य सहस्रांशो तेजो राशे जगत्पते। अनुकम्पय मां भक्त्या गृहाणार्घ्यं दिवाकर॥
(Om Ehi Surya Sahasransho Tejo Rashe Jagatpate | Anukampaya Mam Bhaktya Grihanarghyam Divakara ||)
Meaning:
O Sun God, Lord of thousands of rays, Lord of the entire universe! Please have mercy on me and kindly accept this Arghya (offering) offered with utmost devotion, O maker of the day.
4. Distribute the Prasad
After the final morning Arghya, devotees perform a small puja at home, break their 36-hour fast, and distribute the Thekua and fruits to friends, family, and neighbors. Receiving Chhath prasad is considered highly auspicious.
The Spiritual and Lifelong Benefits of Chhath Rituals
Performing Chhath Puja requires immense mental fortitude, and its benefits span the physical, ecological, and spiritual realms:
Absorption of Solar Energy:
Standing in a flowing river during sunrise and sunset exposes the body to safe, therapeutic levels of solar radiation, which is scientifically known to boost Vitamin D, detoxify the body, and regulate the nervous system.
Healing and Longevity:
Worship of Lord Surya is traditionally prescribed in Vedic astrology for robust health, curing skin diseases, and securing a long, disease-free life for offspring.
Gratitude for Nature (Prakriti):
Goddess Chhathi Maiya is considered the sixth form of Prakriti (Nature). The festival uses entirely eco-friendly, biodegradable items (bamboo baskets, earthen stoves, unpolished grains), enforcing a deep respect for the environment.
Absolute Equality:
On the riverbanks, societal divides disappear. Rich and poor alike stand in the same water, praying to the same sun, emphasizing the universal equality of all human beings before nature.
Authentic Stories and Legends
The Return of Lord Rama and Devi Sita
Following their monumental victory over Ravana and their return to Ayodhya (celebrated on Diwali), Lord Rama and Goddess Sita observed a fast and offered prayers to the Sun God to cleanse the sin of killing a Brahmin (Ravana). They stayed in a state of deep austerity for several days, laying the foundation for the tradition of Chhath Puja.
The Devotion of Karna in the Mahabharata
Karna, the valiant warrior of the Mahabharata, was the spiritual son of Lord Surya. He is widely considered the pioneer of Chhath rituals. Every morning, Karna would stand waist-deep in the river, offering prayers to the Sun God. Impressed by his unbroken devotion, Surya bestowed upon him an invincible armor. The act of standing in the water to offer Arghya mirrors Karna's ancient practice.
Draupadi and the Pandavas
During their harsh exile in the forest, the Pandavas were facing severe misery. On the advice of Sage Dhaumya, Draupadi performed the rigorous Chhath vrat, praying to the Sun God to alleviate their suffering. Through the blessings of Surya, she was granted a magical copper vessel (Akshaya Patra) that provided an endless supply of food, ultimately helping the Pandavas regain their lost kingdom.
Special Folklore and Global Traditions
As the diaspora from Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh has moved across the globe, Chhath Puja has evolved into a global phenomenon while strictly retaining its pure roots.
Bihar & Eastern Uttar Pradesh:
This is the heartland of Chhath. Entire cities come to a halt. The streets leading to the Ghats (riverbanks) are meticulously swept by volunteers. Folk songs dedicated to Chhathi Maiya (often sung by legendary voices like Sharda Sinha) echo from every corner.
Nepal (Mithila Region):
In the Terai region of Nepal, particularly Janakpur (the birthplace of Goddess Sita), Chhath is celebrated with massive fervor around the sacred ponds, symbolizing the shared cultural heritage across the border.
The Global Diaspora:
From the beaches of New Jersey and California to the banks of the Thames in London and the shores of Mauritius, Indian communities recreate the ghats. Where rivers aren't accessible, communities build temporary, clean water pools in parks or backyards, ensuring the sun and water remain the sole witnesses to their devotion.