Chhath Puja 2026 to run from November 13 to 16; here is what happens on each day

Chhath Puja is regarded as the biggest and most demanding festival of north India. It was once seen only in Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, but is now celebrated with great enthusiasm from Mumbai and Delhi to the United States. Many people are searching online for the dates of Chhath Puja 2026.

For the long life of their children and peace and happiness at home, women observe the fast for 36 hours without food or water. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival begins on the Chaturthi of the Shukla Paksha of the month of Kartik and concludes on the morning of Saptami with an offering of arghya to the sun.

According to the Drik Panchang, Chhath Puja 2026 will begin on Friday, November 13, and run until Monday, November 16. The most important of the four days is November 15, which is Shashthi.

The first day, November 13, is Nahay-Khay. On this day, the women observing the fast bathe in the river in the morning. On returning home they clean the kitchen and then prepare sattvik food. It is an old tradition to cook rice, bottle gourd curry and chana dal on this day. Garlic and onion are not used at all and the food is kept very simple.

The second day, November 14, is Kharna, which falls on Panchami. Nothing is eaten through the day. In the evening, a kheer of jaggery and rice is cooked on a clay stove, which is also called rasiya-roti in many places. After offering the kheer, roti and banana as bhog, the woman observing the fast eats the prasad. Her real fast begins from here, because after this she must not drink even water for 36 hours.

The third day, November 15, is the biggest day. In the evening, arghya is offered to the setting sun. All the women wear new saris and go to the ghat carrying baskets of thekua, fruit and sugarcane on their heads. Standing waist-deep in water, they bow to the sun. In Delhi, sunset on this day is at 5:28 pm. Depending on your city, the time may be 5 to 10 minutes earlier or later.

The fourth day, November 16, is the last day and the conclusion. Rising early, everyone again reaches the ghat and waits for the rising sun. As soon as the sun rises, arghya is offered to it, and after taking blessings from everyone, the fast is broken. In Delhi, sunrise will be at 6:44 am.

To recall in brief: Nahay-Khay on November 13, Kharna on November 14, the evening arghya on November 15 and the morning arghya on November 16. When the fast is complete, the puja is more than a puja; it is a festival of thanking nature and the sun.