Chhath Puja 2026 Kab Hai? Dates, Kharna and Arghya Time by City

Chhath Puja 2026 runs for four days, from Friday 13 November to Monday 16 November. Nahay Khay is on 13 November, Kharna on 14 November, the main Sandhya Arghya to the setting sun on Sunday 15 November, and the Usha Arghya to the rising sun on Monday 16 November. The fast ends only after the morning arghya.

These dates follow Drik Panchang for India. A few sites list Nahay Khay a day later, but most panchangs and news outlets agree on 13 to 16 November, so plan your travel and leave around those days.

Chhath Puja 2026 date: all four days

Chhath falls on the sixth day (Shashthi) of the bright half of Kartik, which is why it comes about six days after Diwali. In 2026, Diwali is on 8 November.

Sandhya and Usha Arghya time 2026, city by city

There's no single "muhurat" for the arghya. It's tied to sunset and sunrise where you're standing, so the time changes from city to city. These are the sunset times on 15 November and sunrise times on 16 November, as listed in this city-wise arghya table based on Drik Panchang.

A practical tip: reach the ghat at least 45 minutes early. Crowded ghats in Patna, Delhi's Yamuna banks and Mumbai's Juhu fill up fast, and you want to be in the water and ready before the sun touches the horizon. Trees, buildings or a riverbank can make the sun disappear a few minutes before the official sunset, so don't cut it close.

Kharna 2026: date and what to cook

Kharna is on Saturday, 14 November 2026. The vrati fasts through the day without water. After sunset and the evening puja, the Kharna prasad is cooked, traditionally on a fresh clay chulha with mango wood:

• Rasiao kheer: rice cooked in milk and sweetened with jaggery, not sugar.
• Roti or puri made from wheat flour, sometimes with ghee.
• Bananas, and in some homes a few other seasonal fruits.

The vrati eats first, in quiet, and then the prasad goes to the family and neighbours. Once that meal is over, the nirjala fast begins and lasts about 36 hours, until the Usha Arghya on Monday morning.

Chhath prasad and samagri checklist

Most of the shopping happens on Nahay Khay and Kharna day, and prices at local markets jump on the last two days. Buy what you can early:

• Bamboo soop or daura (basket) for the arghya
• Thekua, the main prasad, made from wheat flour, jaggery and ghee. Our thekua recipe with jaggery has the exact dough ratio and frying temperature so they stay crisp for days.
• Seasonal fruits: sugarcane, banana bunch, coconut, sweet lime, sinhara (water chestnut), radish, sweet potato and ginger plants
• Diyas, ghee, cotton wicks, sindoor, rice and a lota (copper or brass) for offering water or milk
• New clothes for the vrati, usually a cotton saree or dhoti

If you're buying ready-made sweets or khoya for the family, check them first. Our guide on checking sweets and khoya for adulteration shows the quick home tests.

Chhath Puja 2026 kab hai? (Hindi mein)

Chhath Puja 2026 mein 13 November (Shukravar) ko Nahay Khay se shuru hogi. Kharna 14 November (Shanivar) ko hai. Sandhya Arghya yaani doobte suraj ko arghya 15 November (Ravivar) ko diya jayega, aur Usha Arghya yaani ugte suraj ko arghya 16 November (Somvar) ki subah. Usha Arghya ke baad vrati parana karke vrat kholte hain.

छठ पूजा 2026: नहाय-खाय 13 नवंबर, खरना 14 नवंबर, संध्या अर्घ्य 15 नवंबर और उषा अर्घ्य 16 नवंबर।

Going home for Chhath: special trains and travel

Indian Railways has been adding festival special trains on the Delhi, Mumbai, Punjab, Surat and Bengaluru routes to Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern UP since September. New specials are often announced only a few days before they run, so:

• On IRCTC or the NTES app, search your route for trains whose number starts with 0 (special trains usually do) and set the date to 11 or 12 November.
• Check your zonal railway's X (Twitter) account (East Central Railway for Bihar, Northern Railway for Delhi) for the latest list.
• If you're on a waiting list, check whether Vikalp (alternative train) is on in your booking. It can move you to a special train automatically.
• Coming back: return specials run for a few days after Usha Arghya, and 16 to 18 November will be the busiest days.

Staying safe at the ghat

• Stay within the barricaded area. River levels and slippery steps cause accidents every year.
• Keep children and elderly vratis close, and agree on a meeting point in case you get separated.
• If you're in Delhi-NCR, the air in mid-November is often in the "very poor" range. An N95 mask helps on the walk to the ghat, see our winter air pollution guide.
• Crackers near crowded ghats are risky. If someone gets burned, cool the burn under running water for 20 minutes, don't apply ice or toothpaste.

Frequently asked questions

When is Chhath Puja 2026?

Chhath Puja 2026 is from Friday 13 November to Monday 16 November. The main day, Sandhya Arghya, is Sunday 15 November.

When is Kharna in 2026?

Kharna is on Saturday, 14 November 2026. The kheer-roti prasad is eaten after sunset, and the 36-hour nirjala fast starts after it.

What is the Sandhya Arghya time on 15 November 2026?

It's at sunset in your city. In Patna that's about 5:01 PM, in Delhi 5:28 PM, in Kolkata 4:53 PM and in Mumbai 6:00 PM. Check the city table above.

How many days is Chhath Puja?

Four days: Nahay Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya. In 2026 they fall on 13, 14, 15 and 16 November.

Is Chhath Puja a holiday in 2026?

Bihar and Jharkhand usually declare state holidays around Chhath, and Delhi has given a holiday on the main day in recent years. Holiday notifications for 2026 come from each state government, so check your state's list or your office circular.