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November 13th – November 16th, 2026
Chhath is a vrat offered at the water's edge rather than in a temple, led by the vrati themselves rather than by a priest. It is the one major observance whose first arghya goes to the setting sun. It is deepest in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and the Terai, and it is kept at ghats worldwide.
Its two central moments are solar rather than clock-based: sunset on Shashthi and sunrise on Saptami, at the vrati's own ghat. Chhath is offered to Surya and to Chhathi Maiya (Shashthi Devi) together.
Ritual bathing and a single satvik meal; the parva's purity begins
Day-long fast broken after sunset with gur kheer; the nirjala fast starts here
Offering to the setting sun at the water's edge — the parva's central rite
Offering to the rising sun on Saptami; the fast is broken (parana)
Chhath Puja runs from November 13th, 2026 to November 16th, 2026 in 2026 — a 4-day observance.
Roughly 36 hours without food or water, from the Kharna meal to the Usha Arghya parana. It is kept by choice and by sankalpa.
Yes. A vrati who is pregnant, unwell, elderly or medically advised keeps a gentler form with water or fruit, and the vrat is not diminished.
Karna, son of Surya, stood waist-deep in the Ganga each dawn offering arghya to his father, and Chhath keeps that offering at the water's edge. In exile the Pandavas kept Chhath on the sage Dhaumya's advice, and Draupadi's vrat won them back their kingdom. Chhathi Maiya, the Shashthi Devi born of Brahma's mind, revived the stillborn son of King Priyavrat and became the guardian of children; the fast is offered to her and to Surya together.
Pandit Ji grounds the observance in your own city and Panchang — timings, vidhi, and what to prepare, answered for your home rather than in general.
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