Chhath Puja honours Surya Dev, the Sun God, and Chhathi Maiya, protector of children and family wellbeing. Observed with intense devotion in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh — and now wherever their diaspora has settled — it's four days of fasting, purification, and standing in open water to offer prayers directly to the sun.
Chhath Puja 2026: The Four Days
- Nahay Khay — Friday, 13 November: A ritual bath, a clean home, and a single vegetarian meal cooked in ghee, offered to the sun before eating.
- Kharna — Saturday, 14 November: A full day without food or water, broken after sunset with gur kheer and roti — the meal that begins the 36-hour nirjala fast.
- Sandhya Arghya — Sunday, 15 November: The most important day. Devotees gather at riverbanks or rooftops at sunset to offer water to the setting sun.
- Usha Arghya — Monday, 16 November: The final offering, to the rising sun, after which the 36-hour fast is broken.
Chhath falls six days after Diwali, closing out the festival season in eastern India. A smaller spring version, Chaiti Chhath, is observed separately in March.
Brass Floral Meenakari Pooja Thali (10 Inch)
German Silver Pooja Thali Set with Ghungroo (12 Inch)
What Makes Chhath Different
Unlike almost every other Hindu festival, Chhath has no idols, no priests, and no temple ceremony. Devotees perform every step themselves — preparing the prasad, carrying the offerings, standing in the water, making the arghya — with nature itself as the temple. This directness is part of why environmentalists consider it one of the most eco-friendly festivals in India: no idol immersion, only biodegradable offerings of bamboo, clay, and fruit.
Brass Horizontal Swastika Symbol Diya (Set of 2)
Brass Lakshmi Ganesh Diya Set (4.5 Inch)
Essentials for the Puja
- Soop: A bamboo basket used to carry offerings.
- Thekua: A sweet made from wheat flour and jaggery, central to the prasad.
- Sugarcane, coconut, and seasonal fruit: Symbols of abundance.
- Earthen or brass diya and kalash: For the arghya rituals at dawn and dusk.
Diya Holder Peacock Urli Bowl (Set of 3)
Diya Holder Flower Urli with Stand (Set of 3)
Celebrating at Home
- Clean the home and set up a sacred space facing east.
- Arrange the puja thali with diya, kalash, fruit, and sweets.
- Offer arghya to the setting and rising sun from a terrace or balcony if a riverbank isn't accessible.
- Light diyas during both Sandhya and Usha Arghya.
Conclusion
Chhath Puja 2026 runs from 13 to 16 November — four days built on discipline rather than ceremony. No idol stands between the devotee and the divine here; just the sun, the water, and a fast held with total sincerity. That directness is exactly what makes it one of India's most moving festivals to witness.
