Chhath Puja begins in Pune with Nahay Khay, devotees prepare for four-day fast

Pune, November 13, 2026: The four-day Chhath festival began in the city on Friday with Nahay Khay. From the first day, preparations for the puja and the aroma of traditional dishes were visible in many homes.

The festival, dedicated to Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya, is being prepared for mainly by families linked to Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh. For many families living away from their native villages and homes, Chhath is not just a religious festival. It connects them to their roots, culture and childhood memories. Cleaning, prayers and traditional food have created an atmosphere of collective faith in Pune.

Ravi Kumar, a serial entrepreneur from Viman Nagar, said, "The festival begins with Nahay Khay. This day is for purification and preparing for the rituals ahead. Devotees take a holy bath, clean their homes and cook traditional food. The food is usually prepared in a clean place, using items considered pure for the occasion. The meal generally consists of rice, chana dal and bottle gourd, cooked without onion and garlic."

The simplicity of the first day's meal reflects the spirit of Chhath, which is discipline, purity and devotion. With it, the hard austerity of those observing the fast also begins.

Kharna is observed on the second day. Devotees fast through the day and break it only after the evening prayers. The prasad usually includes jaggery kheer, roti and fruit. Advocate Ravi Bhardwaj said that after Kharna, the main 36-hour nirjala fast begins, in which devotees give up both food and water.

Shweta Shalini, an entrepreneur and politician, said, "The most important rituals will be on the third and fourth days. On the evening of the third day, devotees will gather on riverbanks, at lakes, ponds and other designated water bodies to offer Sandhya Arghya to the setting sun. The next morning they will return before sunrise to offer Usha Arghya to the rising sun, and the festival will end with this."

She also said, "Chhath is perhaps Bihar's biggest lesson to the world: rise with humility, shine with purpose, and never forget to bow in gratitude. The special feature of Chhath Puja is its emphasis on gratitude to nature and the sun, which are regarded as the source of life and energy. Many festivals have grand celebrations, but Chhath is observed through disciplined fasting, traditional offerings and prayers made before water and sunlight."

In Pune, the festival also reflects the city's mixed cultural identity. Apurva Gaurav of the Bihar Foundation, Pune chapter, said, "Families and community groups come together to gather puja items, prepare traditional dishes and organise the rituals at suitable water bodies. For devotees who cannot go to their home villages and towns, these gatherings are a chance to preserve traditions and pass them on to the new generation."

Pratima Devi, 65, said, "From making thekua and other traditional offerings to decorating fruit, sugarcane and bamboo baskets, everything in Chhath has cultural and religious significance. For thousands of devotees, these four days are days of prayer, patience and togetherness."

The four-day schedule of Chhath Puja 2026 is as follows. November 13, Nahay Khay: bathing, purification of the home and traditional food. November 14, Kharna: fast through the day, evening meal and start of the nirjala fast. November 15, Sandhya Arghya: evening offering to the setting sun. November 16, Usha Arghya: morning offering to the rising sun, with which the festival ends.