Chhath Puja 2026 dates fall in the middle of November, with the main evening offering on Sunday, 15 November. The four-day festival honours the Sun god and is most widely observed in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh. So if you are planning leave or travel home, here is the schedule.
Quick answer
- Nahay Khay: Friday, 13 November 2026
- Kharna: Saturday, 14 November 2026
- Sandhya Arghya (evening offering): Sunday, 15 November 2026
- Usha Arghya (morning offering) and Paran: Monday, 16 November 2026
Chhath Puja 2026 dates, day by day
Two panchang guides, Samvat and Divine Hindu, list the same four dates. The days follow the Kartik Shukla fortnight in the Hindu calendar. Because the calendar is lunar, the dates move every year.
Nahay Khay opens the festival on 13 November. Devotees bathe, clean the home and eat a simple meal. Then Kharna follows on 14 November, when the day’s fast is traditionally broken after sunset.
The third day, 15 November, is Sandhya Arghya. Families gather at a river, pond or ghat and offer arghya to the setting sun. Finally, on 16 November, they return at dawn for Usha Arghya to the rising sun, followed by Paran, when the fast ends.
How to plan around Chhath Puja 2026
First, check local timings. Offerings are timed to sunset and sunrise, and those differ by city and even by river bank. One panchang guide quotes different sunset times for Patna, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, so use your own city’s panchang or your local ghat committee.
Next, plan travel early. Trains and flights to Bihar and Jharkhand fill up fast in this week. If you hold a train ticket you cannot use, our guide on IRCTC TDR filing and train refunds explains the claim steps.
Also expect crowds at popular ghats. Reach early, follow local advisories and keep children close to the water’s edge. Meanwhile, many offices and schools in the region announce holidays, so check your state’s list.
Why the dates can differ
Some sources may show a slightly different day, especially for readers abroad. One guide notes that Sandhya Arghya may fall on Saturday, 14 November in the USA and Canada because of time zones. So if you live overseas, confirm with your local temple.
The festival follows Diwali by about a week. If you are still sorting out the festive calendar, read our explainer on Diwali 2026 date and why puja times differ.
FAQ
When is Chhath Puja in 2026?
The main day, Sandhya Arghya, is on Sunday, 15 November 2026. The festival runs from 13 November to 16 November.
What is Kharna in Chhath Puja?
Kharna is the second day, on 14 November 2026. Devotees fast through the day and break it after sunset with a simple offering.
When is Usha Arghya in 2026?
Usha Arghya, the morning offering to the rising sun, is on Monday, 16 November 2026. The fast ends after it with Paran.
Dates here are from Samvat’s Chhath guide.