Posted by Soultheory Editorial Team
on October 26, 2026
Chhath Puja 2026 falls on Sunday, 15 November 2026, the Shashthi of Kartik Shukla Paksha, when devotees stand in a river or pond at sunset and offer arghya to Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya. It is the most demanding vrat of the Hindu year - four days, a 36-hour fast without water for many vratis, and two offerings to the sun - and it is traditionally believed to bring health, long life and wellbeing to the whole family. This guide gives you the full 4-day schedule, the puja samagri, the arghya vidhi and what to wear at the ghat.
Both Drik Panchang and Prokerala list the same day for the main Sandhya Arghya, and Shashthi tithi runs from 11:23 PM on 14 November to about 2:00 AM on 16 November (Drik Panchang, New Delhi). Sunset in Delhi on Chhath day is around 5:28 PM; eastern cities such as Patna see the sun set earlier, so check your local panchang for your ghat time.
Chhath Puja 2026 date and 4-day schedule
The festival runs from Friday 13 November to Monday 16 November. Each day has its own rule, and the fast tightens day by day.
| Day | Date | Ritual | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Friday, 13 November | Nahay Khay | Holy bath, one sattvic meal of kaddu bhaat |
| Day 2 | Saturday, 14 November | Kharna (Lohanda) | Day-long fast, gur kheer and roti after sunset |
| Day 3 | Sunday, 15 November | Sandhya Arghya | Evening offering to the setting sun at the ghat |
| Day 4 | Monday, 16 November | Usha Arghya | Dawn offering to the rising sun, then parana |
Day 1 - Nahay Khay
The vrati bathes in a river, pond or at home with Ganga jal, cleans the house and kitchen, and eats a single meal of kaddu bhaat - bottle gourd, chana dal and rice cooked in ghee with rock salt. The food is fully sattvic, with no onion or garlic, and is usually cooked on a fresh chulha or a cleaned stove.
Day 2 - Kharna
The vrati fasts through the day without food or water. After sunset, rasiya (jaggery kheer) and roti are cooked, offered to Chhathi Maiya and then eaten as prasad. From this meal the 36-hour nirjala fast begins.
Day 3 - Sandhya Arghya
In the afternoon the family carries the daura and soop to the ghat. As the sun sets, the vrati stands in the water and offers arghya with milk and water while the soop holds thekua, fruits and a lit diya. Folk songs to Chhathi Maiya are sung through the evening.
Day 4 - Usha Arghya
Before dawn the family returns to the ghat. The vrati offers arghya to the rising sun, prays for the family, and breaks the fast with prasad, ginger and water. This is the parana that closes the vrat.
Why Chhath is offered to the setting and the rising sun
Chhath is one of the few Hindu festivals where the setting sun is worshipped as well as the rising sun. Surya is praised in the Rig Veda as the source of light and life, and per Vedic tradition the sun is the visible form of the divine. The Chhath festival is observed mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and the Madhesh region of Nepal, and today on ghats across Delhi, Mumbai and abroad.
Chhathi Maiya is traditionally associated with Shashthi Devi, a protector of children, and many families keep the vrat for the health of their children. Offering to the setting sun is traditionally believed to honour Pratyusha and Usha, the wives of Surya, and to thank the sun for the day that has passed.
Chhath Puja samagri list
Keep these ready before Kharna so nothing is bought during the fast:
- Bamboo soop (winnowing basket) and daura (large basket)
- Thekua made from wheat flour, jaggery and ghee
- Sugarcane stalks, usually five
- Seasonal fruits - banana, sweet lime, coconut, water chestnut
- Fresh turmeric and ginger plants with leaves
- Earthen or brass diyas with ghee
- Copper or brass lota for arghya
- Raw milk and Ganga jal
- Rice, sindoor, red thread and flowers
- New clothes for the vrati
What to wear on Chhath Puja
Chhath is about simplicity and cleanliness, so the dress code is traditional and practical.
- Women traditionally wear a new cotton or silk saree in yellow, orange, red or peach, often with a bright border.
- Orange sindoor from the tip of the nose to the parting is a traditional mark for married vratis.
- Men usually wear a dhoti and kurta, or a plain kurta-pyjama in light colours.
- Avoid black and very dark shades on the arghya days.
- Choose fabrics you can stand in water with - pure cotton dries faster and is easier at the ghat.
- Keep jewellery light, since you will stand in water at sunset and before sunrise.
Recommended Soultheory bracelets for Chhath Puja
Chhath is a festival of Surya, so these pieces carry a sun connection in tradition. None of them is a ritual requirement - the vrat itself is the offering.
Natural 12 Mukhi Nepali Rudraksha
The 12 mukhi bead is traditionally associated with Surya Dev, which makes it a natural fit for a sun festival. Read more in our 12 mukhi rudraksha guide or see the 12 Mukhi Nepali Rudraksha.
Pure Copper Rudraksha Bracelet
Copper is the traditional metal of Surya and of the arghya lota itself. This copper rudraksha bracelet is a simple daily piece that also handles a splash of water at the ghat better than cord.
Tiger Eye Natural Stone Bracelet
Tiger eye's golden bands are traditionally linked with the sun's warmth and with steady confidence. The Tiger Eye Natural Stone Bracelet suits the yellow and orange festive palette.
Red Carnelian Buddha Bracelet
Carnelian's sunset-red colour echoes the Sandhya Arghya, and it is traditionally associated with vitality. See the Red Carnelian Buddha Bracelet.
Browse the full Soultheory rudraksha collection for more sacred beads.
Chhath vrat rules to keep in mind
The vrat is strict, and families pass the rules down by word of mouth. The common ones are:
- Cook all prasad in a cleaned kitchen, without onion, garlic or ordinary salt.
- Do not taste the prasad before it is offered.
- Keep the soop and daura off the floor.
- Sleep on the floor or a simple mat during the vrat.
- Anyone with a health condition should speak to a doctor before a long fast without water - the vrat can be kept in a lighter form, and family members can help with the arghya.
FAQ: Chhath Puja 2026
When is Chhath Puja in 2026? The main Chhath day with Sandhya Arghya is on Sunday, 15 November, the Kartik Shukla Shashthi. Nahay Khay is on 13 November, Kharna on 14 November and Usha Arghya on 16 November.
What is the difference between Kharna and Nahay Khay? Nahay Khay is the first day, with a holy bath and one sattvic meal. Kharna is the second day, a full-day fast that ends with gur kheer and roti after sunset, after which the 36-hour fast begins.
What colour should I wear for Chhath Puja? Yellow, orange, red and peach are the traditional choices, usually in cotton or silk. Black is avoided on the arghya days.
Can men keep the Chhath vrat? Yes. Chhath is traditionally kept by women, but men also keep the full vrat, and the whole family takes part in carrying the daura and offering arghya.
Which rudraksha is associated with Surya? The 12 mukhi rudraksha is traditionally associated with Surya Dev, according to the Shiva Purana and later texts on rudraksha. It is worn as a devotional bead, not as a ritual requirement for Chhath.
Important note: Information shared here reflects traditional Vedic beliefs and cultural practices. Individual experiences vary. This content is for educational and cultural purposes only - it is not medical, financial, or psychological advice. Consult qualified professionals for health, financial, or other personal decisions.
