Chhath Puja 2026 runs from Friday, November 13 to Monday, November 16 — four days of the most rigorous vrat in the tradition, offered to Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya for the protection and prosperity of one's children and family.
The Four Days
- Day 1 — Nahay Khay (Nov 13): the vrati bathes in a river or pond and takes one pure satvik meal; the home turns fully satvik
- Day 2 — Kharna (Nov 14): a day-long fast broken at night with gur ki kheer and roti; the 36-hour nirjala vrat begins after this meal
- Day 3 — Sandhya Arghya (Nov 15): the heart of Chhath — the evening offering to the setting sun at the ghat, with the soop and daura of fruits and thekua
- Day 4 — Usha Arghya (Nov 16): the dawn offering to the rising sun, after which the vrat is broken
Why the Setting Sun Is Worshipped First
Chhath is the rare tradition that honours the setting sun before the rising one — gratitude offered in decline before blessing is asked at dawn. It is a festival of discipline and equality: no priest is required; the vrati stands directly before Surya.
The Rules
Strict satvik purity throughout, the 36-hour fast without water, food cooked on a clean mitti or new chulha, offerings of thekua, sugarcane and seasonal fruit, and the soop held into the water as the arghya is given.
Surya in the Chart
Chhath's deity is Surya — the graha of vitality, authority and the father in Vedic astrology. Surya's traditional remedies sit naturally with the season: Manik (Ruby) as the primary stone and garnet as its gentle substitute, worn on a Sunday after chart confirmation.
FAQ
What are the Chhath 2026 dates? November 13–16, with Sandhya Arghya on Sunday, November 15.
Who can keep the Chhath vrat? Traditionally any family member — mothers most commonly, and increasingly men; the rules apply equally to all.
Can Chhath be done at home without a river? Yes — a clean water tub on the terrace serves as the ghat where rivers are far; the discipline matters more than the venue.
Dates follow published panchang data; tithi timings vary by city — confirm on a trusted panchang.
