Chhath Puja 2026: 4-Day Calendar, Arghya Time & Surya Dev Remedies

Chhath Puja 2026 Calendar and Arghya Time

Chhath Puja kab hai? In 2026, the four-day festival runs from Friday, 13 November to Monday, 16 November, with the main Sandhya Arghya on Sunday, 15 November, the Kartik Shukla Shashthi.

Chhath arghya time 2026:

Sunset and sunrise times are from Panchang set to each city, as compiled in Hindutone's city-wise arghya table (fetched 21 October 2026). *Darbhanga and Gorakhpur are calculated by the same method; allow a minute either way. Along a river bank or behind buildings, you may see the Sun set or rise a few minutes off these times, so reach the ghat 30 to 60 minutes early.

What Is Chhath Puja?

Chhath Puja is a four-day festival dedicated to Surya Dev, the Sun God, and Chhathi Maiya, worshipped as his sister and as the goddess who protects children. It's the main festival of Bihar, and it's widely celebrated in Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, the Mithila and Bhojpuri regions of Nepal, and by Bihari and Purvanchali families across India and abroad, from Mauritius and Fiji to the USA and UK, where it falls on the same dates this year.

"Chhath" comes from shashthi, the sixth day after Diwali's Amavasya. Devotees, called vratis, thank the Sun for life, health and the harvest, and pray for the wellbeing of their children and family. Tradition links the festival to Karna, the son of Surya, who offered arghya daily, and to Sita, who worshipped the Sun after returning to Ayodhya.

It's one of the strictest Hindu vrats, but also one of the most joyful, with families gathering at rivers and ponds to sing Chhath geet at sunset and sunrise. Vratis are very often the women of the house, but many men keep the vrat too, following exactly the same four days.

The Four Days of Chhath, Explained

Day 1: Nahay Khay 2026 (Friday, 13 November)

"Bathe and eat." Vratis bathe in a river or pond (or at home with Gangajal), clean the house, and eat one sattvik meal, traditionally kaddu-bhaat: lauki (bottle gourd) sabzi, chana dal and rice, without onion or garlic. Many families cook it in ghee, others in mustard oil on a clay chulha, and most use sendha namak (rock salt). Family members eat after the vrati.

Day 2: Kharna (Saturday, 14 November)

Vratis fast all day without water. After sunset, they offer and eat kheer made with jaggery (rasiya), roti and bananas, which is then shared as prasad. The 36-hour nirjala fast begins right after this meal.

Day 3: Sandhya Arghya (Sunday, 15 November)

The main day. Families carry a bamboo soop or daura filled with prasad to the ghat, and vratis stand in the water to offer arghya to the setting Sun. Women sing traditional Chhath geet on the way and at the ghat, such as "Kanch hi baans ke bahangiya" and "Ugi hai Suruj Dev" at dawn; for recorded versions, use official music channels.

Day 4: Usha Arghya (Monday, 16 November)

Before dawn, families return to the ghat. Vratis offer arghya to the rising Sun, pray to Chhathi Maiya, and then break the fast (parana) with prasad, water and ginger.

Chhath prasad: Thekua (the signature fried wheat-jaggery biscuit), kasar or rice laddoo, sugarcane, bananas, coconut, seasonal fruits like sweet lime and singhara, and diyas, all arranged in the soop.

Chhath Puja Samagri List

Keep everything ready before Kharna, so the vrati doesn't have to rush during the fast.

• Bamboo soop (winnowing basket) and daura (deep basket)

• Thekua and kasar (rice laddoo)

• Sugarcane with leaves

• Coconut, bananas, sweet lime and singhara

• Sutni (sweet potato), fresh ginger and turmeric plants

• Clay diyas, ghee and cotton wicks

• Sindoor, roli and akshat

• A copper or brass lota and milk for arghya

• New clothes for the vrati, traditionally a saree or dhoti without stitching

Thekua Recipe

Thekua is the signature Chhath prasad: a crisp, mildly sweet biscuit of wheat flour and jaggery, pressed with a pattern and fried in ghee. This makes about 20 to 25 pieces.

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat flour (atta)

• 3/4 cup jaggery, dissolved in about 1/2 cup warm water

• 1/4 cup ghee, plus more for frying

• 2 tbsp grated dry coconut

• 1 tsp fennel seeds (saunf) and 1/2 tsp cardamom powder

Method

1. Mix the flour, coconut, fennel and cardamom, then rub in 1/4 cup ghee until the mix looks like breadcrumbs.

2. Add the jaggery water little by little and knead a firm, tight dough. Rest it for 10 minutes.

3. Shape small balls, flatten each to about 1 cm thick, and press a pattern on with a thekua mould or a fork.

4. Fry on low to medium heat in ghee, a few at a time, until deep golden brown on both sides, about 6 to 8 minutes.

5. Drain and cool completely; thekua turns crisp as it cools and keeps for a week in an airtight box.

For the frying, pure Gir Cow Bilona Ghee is a traditional choice for Chhath prasad.

How to Offer Arghya (and Stay Safe)

Offer arghya by standing in water facing the Sun, and pouring milk or water from a copper lota or the soop's edge as the Sun sets on 15 November and rises on 16 November.

1. Reach the ghat early: Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before sunset or sunrise.

2. Step into the water: Vratis stand waist-deep or ankle-deep, facing the Sun, holding the soop with prasad and a diya.

3. Offer arghya: Family members pour milk or water over the soop or from a copper lota while the vrati prays to Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya.

4. Circle and pray: Many vratis turn slowly in the water and offer the soop to the Sun five times.

5. Return and share: After Usha Arghya, break the fast and share prasad with everyone at the ghat.

Health note: The 36-hour nirjala fast and standing in cold November water are hard on the body. If you're elderly, pregnant, diabetic, or on regular medication, speak to your doctor first; many families accept a lighter fast. Keep warm clothes and a dry towel ready, and if a vrati feels dizzy, faint or very cold, help them out of the water and give them water right away.

Surya Dev Remedies and Vrishchika Sankranti 2026

Chhath is the year's biggest Surya puja, and these simple remedies are traditionally believed to strengthen the Sun's blessings for confidence, health, career and respect, all year.

• Daily Surya arghya: At sunrise, offer water from a copper lota with a red flower, roli, akshat and a pinch of jaggery, chanting "Om Ghrini Suryaya Namah" 11 times.

• Aditya Hridaya Stotra: Recite it on Sunday mornings, especially before important work or interviews.

• Sunday daan: Donate wheat, jaggery, copper or red cloth to someone in need.

• Wear a Surya remedy: A 12 Mukhi Rudraksha, linked to Surya, or a Sunstone bracelet from our astrology bracelets. A primary gemstone like Ruby (Manik) should only be worn after a gemstones consultation.

• Surya Namaskar: A few rounds in the morning sunlight is both a prayer and a healthy daily habit.

Vrishchika Sankranti 2026

Vrishchika Sankranti 2026, the Sun's entry into Scorpio, falls on Monday, 16 November, the same day as Usha Arghya. Panchang places the Sankranti moment at 7:48 PM IST (New Delhi). Because that's after sunset, many panchangs observe the Punya Kaal for snan, daan and Surya mantra japa on the morning of Tuesday, 17 November, which is why some sources list the 17th. It opens a month in which the Sun is believed to favour discipline and inner strength.

Conclusion

Chhath Puja 2026 begins with Nahay Khay on Friday, 13 November and ends with the rising Sun on Monday, 16 November. Keep your city's sunset and sunrise times handy, look after the vratis' health through the long fast, and carry the Surya arghya into every morning of the year ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Chhath Puja 2026 kab hai?
A: Chhath Puja 2026 runs from Friday, 13 November to Monday, 16 November. The main Sandhya Arghya is on Sunday, 15 November, and the Usha Arghya on Monday, 16 November.

Q: Can Chhath Puja be done at home?
A: Yes. Many families in cities offer arghya from a terrace or courtyard, standing in a tub or small artificial pond filled with clean water, facing the Sun.

Q: When is Vrishchika Sankranti 2026?
A: The Sun enters Scorpio on Monday, 16 November 2026, at 7:48 PM IST as per Panchang (New Delhi). Since this is after sunset, many panchangs keep the Punya Kaal for snan and daan on the morning of 17 November.

Q: What is the Chhath Puja samagri list?
A: A bamboo soop and daura, thekua, kasar, sugarcane, coconut, bananas, sweet lime, singhara, ginger and turmeric plants, diyas, ghee, sindoor, a copper lota and milk for arghya, plus new clothes for the vrati.

Q: How is thekua made for Chhath?
A: Thekua is made from whole wheat flour, jaggery, ghee, dry coconut and fennel, kneaded into a firm dough, pressed with a pattern and fried slowly in ghee until golden brown.

Q: Can men keep the Chhath vrat?
A: Yes. Many men are vratis and follow the same four days of bathing, fasting and arghya. The rituals are the same for men and women.