Written by the Vandanam editorial team, with inputs from our panel of verified Vedic pandits. Last updated September 2026. Sunrise and sunset times are for New Delhi — confirm the exact arghya time for your ghat or locality.
Chhath Puja 2026 runs from Friday 13 November to Monday 16 November. It is a four-day worship of Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, observed with strict fasting, a holy dip and two arghyas — one to the setting sun and one to the rising sun. Delhi NCR has one of the largest Chhath observances outside Bihar, with ghats along the Yamuna and hundreds of artificial ponds across Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad.
Chhath Puja 2026 dates (four days)
| Day | Date | Ritual |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 — Nahay Khay | Fri, 13 November | Holy bath; a single sattvik meal of lauki (bottle gourd), chana dal and rice |
| Day 2 — Kharna | Sat, 14 November | Day-long fast; broken in the evening with gur-kheer and roti, after which the 36-hour nirjala fast begins |
| Day 3 — Sandhya Arghya | Sun, 15 November | Arghya to the setting sun at the ghat (Delhi sunset ~6:00 PM) |
| Day 4 — Usha Arghya & Parana | Mon, 16 November | Arghya to the rising sun (Delhi sunrise ~6:46 AM), then the fast is broken |
What makes Chhath different
Chhath is one of the most austere Hindu vrats. The vrati (usually the woman of the house, though men also observe it) keeps a 36-hour nirjala fast — no food and no water — from the evening of Kharna until after the Usha Arghya. Purity rules are strict: the prasad is cooked on a fresh chulha or clean stove, often with new utensils, and onion, garlic and salt are avoided in the Kharna meal. Traditionally the vratis perform Chhath themselves, guided by family elders and folk songs, rather than through a priest.
Chhath Puja samagri list
- Soop (bamboo winnowing basket) and daura / dauri (bamboo basket) — one per family member if possible
- Thekua (wheat flour, gur and ghee), the signature prasad
- Sugarcane stalks with leaves — usually 5
- Seasonal fruit: bananas (a full bunch), sweet lime (mausambi), citron (bada nimbu), coconut with water, singhara (water chestnut), sharifa, apple
- Vegetables with roots: suthni, sweet potato, ginger and turmeric plants, radish
- Rice (arwa), gur, ghee, wheat flour, chawal ke laddoo
- Diyas, cotton wicks, ghee, incense, sindoor, roli, kumkum
- New clothes for the vrati (cotton sari / dhoti), a lota or copper kalash for the arghya
- Raw milk and Ganga jal for the arghya
How the arghya is offered
- The vrati stands waist-deep in water (river, pond or a clean home tank) facing the sun.
- The soop is filled with thekua, fruit and sugarcane and held up with a diya.
- Water or raw milk is offered to the sun from a lota while the family pours it over the soop.
- Chhath geet (folk songs) are sung; the vrati circles in the water.
- After Usha Arghya on the fourth morning, the vrati breaks the fast with prasad, ginger and water.
Chhath in Delhi NCR — practical notes
- Ghats and ponds: the Delhi government and RWAs set up hundreds of Chhath ghats and artificial ponds each year. Check with your RWA or local MLA office in the first week of November for the nearest official site.
- At home: many families in high-rises now perform the arghya in a clean tub or temporary tank on the terrace or in the society’s common area.
- Traffic: roads near major ghats are crowded on 15 November evening and 16 November morning — leave early for the sunrise arghya.
- Supplies: soop, daura and sugarcane sell out quickly in the last three days — buy by 11 or 12 November.
Frequently asked questions
When is Chhath Puja in 2026?
Chhath Puja 2026 is from 13 to 16 November: Nahay Khay on the 13th, Kharna on the 14th, Sandhya Arghya on the 15th and Usha Arghya on the 16th.
What time is the Chhath arghya in Delhi?
The evening arghya on 15 November is at sunset, around 6:00 PM in Delhi, and the morning arghya on 16 November is at sunrise, around 6:46 AM. Confirm the exact time for your locality.
Is a pandit needed for Chhath Puja?
Traditionally no — the vratis perform Chhath themselves. Some families invite a pandit for a sankalp, a Surya puja or a katha, particularly if they are observing the vrat for the first time.
Can Chhath be done at home instead of a ghat?
Yes. Many Delhi NCR families offer arghya in a clean tank or tub at home or on a terrace, facing the sun, following the same vidhi.
Can men observe the Chhath vrat?
Yes. Chhath is observed by both women and men; the rules of the fast are the same.
Need help with Chhath or other pujas?
If your family would like a pandit for a Chhath sankalp, Surya puja or katha, or for any other puja this festive season, message Vandanam on WhatsApp at +91 87964 76233. See also our Diwali 2026 Lakshmi Puja muhurat guide and all puja guides.