छठ पूजा (Chhath Puja)

Chhath Puja 2026 is a four-day festival for Surya and Chhathi Maiya. For New Delhi it runs from Nahay Khay on Friday, 13 November, through Kharna on 14 November and the evening arghya (the main Chhath day) on Sunday, 15 November, to the sunrise Usha Arghya on Monday, 16 November. Each date is checked against Drik Panchang and Prokerala. In 2027 the main day is Thursday, 4 November.

छठ पूजा 2026 सूर्य देव और छठी मैया का चार दिन का पर्व है। नई दिल्ली के लिए यह शुक्रवार, 13 नवंबर को नहाय खाय से शुरू होकर, 14 नवंबर को खरना और रविवार, 15 नवंबर को संध्या अर्घ्य (मुख्य छठ) के बाद, सोमवार, 16 नवंबर को उषा अर्घ्य के साथ पूरा होता है। हर तिथि Drik Panchang और Prokerala से मिलाई गई है। 2027 में मुख्य दिन गुरुवार, 4 नवंबर है।

Chhath Puja 2026 Surya Dev aur Chhathi Maiya ka chaar din ka parv hai. New Delhi ke liye yeh Shukravar, 13 November ko Nahay Khay se shuru hokar, 14 November ko Kharna aur Ravivar, 15 November ko Sandhya Arghya (main Chhath) ke baad, Somvar, 16 November ko Usha Arghya ke saath poora hota hai. Har tithi Drik Panchang aur Prokerala se milayi gayi hai. 2027 mein main din Guruvar, 4 November hai.

When is Chhath Puja?

Kartika Shukla Shashthi, with the four days running from Chaturthi (Nahay Khay) through Panchami (Kharna) and Shashthi (evening arghya) to Saptami (morning arghya).

कार्तिक शुक्ल षष्ठी; चार दिन चतुर्थी (नहाय खाय), पंचमी (खरना) और षष्ठी (संध्या अर्घ्य) से सप्तमी (उषा अर्घ्य) तक चलते हैं।

Dates can differ by a day in other places and traditions. For your city, check a local panchang or your temple calendar.

What to read

Puja outline

  1. Nahay Khay: bathe early, clean the home thoroughly and take one simple, sattvic meal, traditionally kaddu-bhat.
    नहाय खाय: सुबह जल्दी स्नान करें, घर की अच्छी तरह सफ़ाई करें और एक समय सादा, सात्विक भोजन करें, परंपरा से कद्दू-भात।
  2. Kharna: fast through the day and break it in the evening with the Kharna prasad after worship. Many vratis then keep a waterless fast until the final arghya.
    खरना: दिन भर व्रत रखें और शाम को पूजा के बाद खरना के प्रसाद से व्रत खोलें। इसके बाद कई व्रती अंतिम अर्घ्य तक निर्जल व्रत रखते हैं।
  3. Sandhya Arghya: at sunset, stand at a river bank or water body and offer arghya to the setting sun with the prepared prasad.
    संध्या अर्घ्य: सूर्यास्त के समय नदी तट या जलाशय पर खड़े होकर तैयार प्रसाद के साथ डूबते सूर्य को अर्घ्य दें।
  4. Usha Arghya: before sunrise the next morning, return to the water and offer arghya to the rising sun.
    उषा अर्घ्य: अगली सुबह सूर्योदय से पहले फिर जल के पास जाएँ और उगते सूर्य को अर्घ्य दें।
  5. After the morning arghya, break the fast (parana) and share the prasad.
    सुबह के अर्घ्य के बाद व्रत खोलें (पारण) और प्रसाद बाँटें।
  6. The waterless fast is demanding. Anyone unwell, pregnant, elderly or on medication should take advice, and take care near deep or crowded water.
    निर्जल व्रत कठिन होता है। अस्वस्थ, गर्भवती, बुज़ुर्ग या दवा ले रहे लोग सलाह लें, और गहरे या भीड़ वाले जल के पास सावधानी रखें।

A simple household outline. Customs differ by family, region and tradition; follow your own tradition or priest where it differs.

Samagri for this puja

Practical items for the puja, linked to Valkala product guides.

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What is Chhath Puja?

Chhath Puja, also called Surya Shashthi, is dedicated to Surya, the Sun, and to Usha, worshipped as Chhathi Maiya. Prokerala describes it as a way of thanking the Sun for sustaining life, and Drik Panchang notes that it is mainly celebrated in Bihar and neighbouring regions. It is also widely kept in Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and by families from these regions across India and abroad.

The four days

Chhath falls on the sixth day (Shashthi) of the bright fortnight that begins after Diwali, and its observance runs for four days. Nahay Khay, on Kartika Shukla Chaturthi, begins with a purifying bath and a single simple meal. On Kharna, the Panchami, vratis fast during the day and break it in the evening with prasad. The main day, Shashthi, ends with the evening arghya to the setting sun, and on Saptami the morning arghya to the rising sun is followed by parana.

Why sunset and sunrise matter

The two arghyas are offered at sunset and sunrise, and those times differ from city to city. This page gives only dates. Take the sunset and sunrise times for your ghat from a panchang set to your location.

How these dates were checked

All four days for 2026 and 2027 were checked for New Delhi on 29 September 2026 and appear on the same day in Drik Panchang's Chhath calendar and Prokerala. The Government of India's 2027 restricted-holiday list also gives 4 November 2027 for Chhath. No clock times are shown.

Frequently asked questions

When is Chhath Puja in 2026?

The main day, with the evening arghya, is Sunday, 15 November 2026 for New Delhi. The four days are Nahay Khay on 13 November, Kharna on 14 November, Sandhya Arghya on 15 November and Usha Arghya on 16 November.

When is Chhath Puja in 2027?

Nahay Khay is on 2 November, Kharna on 3 November, the evening arghya on Thursday, 4 November and the morning Usha Arghya on 5 November 2027, according to Drik Panchang and Prokerala for New Delhi.

What is Nahay Khay?

The first day of Chhath. Vratis take a purifying bath, clean the home and eat one simple, sattvic meal.

What is Kharna?

The second day. Vratis fast through the day and break it in the evening with the Kharna prasad after worship; many then begin a waterless fast that lasts until the morning arghya.

What can I read during Chhath?

Aditya Hridaya Stotra and the Gayatri Mantra are complete Surya readings on Valkala. Families also sing traditional Chhath songs.