Chhath Puja 2026: Dates, 4-Day Schedule, and Sunrise Sunset Timings
July 14, 2026
Chhath Puja 2026 runs from Friday, November 13 through Monday, November 16, with the main Sandhya Arghya on Sunday, November 15. The most searched details are the exact sunrise and sunset times for arghya, because the rituals are timed to the setting and rising sun.
Chhath, also called Surya Shashti, Dala Chhath, or Chhathi, is a rigorous four-day vrata dedicated to Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya. It is especially important in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and adjoining Nepal, and among diaspora communities worldwide. Use city-specific sun times below; do not copy one city's sunset for another.
For daily local confirmation, open Today's Panchang. For the earlier Diwali week context, see the Diwali 2026 guide.
Chhath Puja 2026 Four-Day Schedule
Dates below follow Drik Panchang's Chhath calendar. Civil dates are the same across India; sun times are not.
| Day | 2026 Date | Observance | Tithi context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Friday, November 13 | Nahay Khay | Chaturthi |
| Day 2 | Saturday, November 14 | Kharna / Lohanda | Panchami |
| Day 3 | Sunday, November 15 | Sandhya Arghya (main Chhath day) | Shashthi |
| Day 4 | Monday, November 16 | Usha Arghya and Parana | Saptami |
Shashthi Tithi (New Delhi reference)
| Marker | Timing | | --- | --- | | Shashthi begins | 11:23 PM on November 14, 2026 | | Shashthi ends | 2:00 AM on November 16, 2026 | | Main Chhath date | Sunday, November 15, 2026 |
Tithi clock times can shift slightly by longitude in detailed calculations; the civil festival dates above are the commonly followed Chhath sequence.
Sunrise and Sunset Timings (The Critical Query)
Arghya is offered at local sunset on November 15 (Sandhya Arghya) and local sunrise on November 16 (Usha Arghya). Arrive at the ghat or water body early; crowds and safety matter as much as the clock.
Sandhya Arghya day — Sunday, November 15, 2026
| City | Sunrise | Sunset (Sandhya Arghya focus) | | --- | --- | --- | | Patna | 6:07 AM | 5:01 PM | | New Delhi | 6:44 AM | 5:28 PM | | Mumbai | 6:46 AM | 6:00 PM | | Kolkata | 5:49 AM | 4:53 PM |
Usha Arghya day — Monday, November 16, 2026
| City | Sunrise (Usha Arghya focus) | Sunset | | --- | --- | --- | | Patna | 6:07 AM | 5:01 PM | | New Delhi | 6:44 AM | 5:27 PM | | Mumbai | 6:46 AM | 6:00 PM | | Kolkata | 5:50 AM | 4:53 PM |
Supporting sun times for Days 1–2 (planning the vrata)
| City | Nov 13 sunrise / sunset | Nov 14 sunrise / sunset | | --- | --- | --- | | Patna | 6:05 AM / 5:02 PM | 6:06 AM / 5:01 PM | | New Delhi | 6:42 AM / 5:28 PM | 6:43 AM / 5:28 PM | | Mumbai | 6:45 AM / 6:01 PM | 6:45 AM / 6:00 PM | | Kolkata | 5:48 AM / 4:54 PM | 5:48 AM / 4:53 PM |
All times above are Drik Panchang local times for the named city. If you observe Chhath in another city or country, use that location's sunrise and sunset, not Patna or Delhi by default.
Useful HinduLab tools:
Day-by-Day Rituals and Vidhi
Day 1 — Nahay Khay (November 13)
- Vrati and family prepare the home and kitchen with special cleanliness.
- A holy bath is taken, ideally in a river or clean water body; many use Ganga water where available.
- The day is traditionally a single satvik meal day after the bath and purification steps.
- Shopping for soop (bamboo winnow), thekua ingredients, fruits, and diyas often finishes around this day.
Day 2 — Kharna / Lohanda (November 14)
- Many vratis observe a nirjala-style daytime fast from sunrise until after sunset.
- After sunset, kheer/rasiao, roti or other family-traditional prasad is offered and then taken as the last cooked meal before the long fast.
- From this prasad onward, the main 36-hour-class fast begins for many observers (exact severity varies by health and tradition).
Day 3 — Sandhya Arghya (November 15)
- This is the peak public day of Chhath.
- Vratis stand in water facing the setting sun and offer arghya with water, milk, fruits, thekua, sugarcane, and other seasonal offerings arranged in soop baskets.
- Evening ghats fill with lamps, folk songs (Chhath geet), and community support.
- The fast continues through the night for those following the full vrata.
Day 4 — Usha Arghya and Parana (November 16)
- Before dawn, families return to the water for Usha Arghya to the rising sun.
- After morning arghya and blessings, the long fast is broken (parana) with prasad.
- Prasad is shared with family, neighbors, and visitors.
Health note: The Chhath fast can be demanding. Pregnant people, elders, children, and anyone with medical conditions should follow medical advice and family elders. Sincerity and safety matter more than forcing an unsustainable nirjala practice.
Significance for Bihar, Jharkhand, UP, and the Diaspora
Chhath is one of the most emotionally and socially central festivals of the middle-Ganga cultural belt:
- Bihar: Statewide public observance at rivers, ponds, and specially prepared ghats; strong village-to-city continuity.
- Jharkhand: Shared language, ritual form, and ghat culture with Bihar in many regions.
- Eastern Uttar Pradesh: Dense observance in Purvanchal districts and migrant communities.
- Nepal Terai and border regions: Closely related Chhath traditions.
- Indian metros and diaspora: Large gatherings in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, and overseas cities where Bihari/Jharkhandi/Purvanchali communities recreate ghat-like spaces at lakes, rivers, and designated public sites.
The festival emphasizes purity, gratitude to the sun as life-source, family continuity, and vows for the well-being of children and household. Unlike many festivals centered on temple idols alone, Chhath turns the open waterfront into the main shrine.
What Families Typically Prepare
Common prasad and samagri include:
- Thekua and other satvik sweets prepared at home
- Seasonal fruits, sugarcane, sweet potato, turmeric root
- Bamboo soop and daura baskets
- Diyas, incense, and clean cotton clothes
- Milk and pure water for arghya
Recipes and exact offering sets vary by family and village tradition. Cleanliness of kitchen utensils and water contact is treated with high seriousness.
Regional and Practical Variations
- Ghat vs home tank/pond: Not every family can reach a major river; clean standing water bodies are widely used.
- Men and women as vratis: Women are the most visible vratis, but men also observe in many families.
- Music and community: Chhath geet, neighborhood coordination, and volunteer support are integral in many localities.
- Diaspora timing: Abroad, use local sunrise/sunset where the arghya is performed. Do not blindly apply Indian Standard Time city clocks if you are outside India.
How Chhath Relates to Diwali Week 2026
In 2026, main Diwali falls on November 8, with Dhanteras on November 6 and Bhai Dooj around November 11. Chhath begins two days later on November 13. Families who observe both seasons often treat Diwali as the household festival of lights and Chhath as a more austere waterfront vrata immediately afterward.
Related HinduLab reading:
Planning Checklist
- Mark all four dates: Nov 13–16, 2026
- Look up your city's Nov 15 sunset and Nov 16 sunrise early
- Prepare prasad ingredients and soop in advance
- Plan ghat travel, clothing, and lighting for evening and pre-dawn crowds
- Decide the vrata intensity appropriate for health
- Recheck sun times on Today's Panchang in the week of the festival