Chhath Puja 2026 Date: 4-Day Schedule, Surya Arghya & Astrology

When the ghats of Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Nepal’s Terai fill with women standing waist-deep in water, holding bamboo soops piled with thekua and fruit, you know Chhath has arrived. Chhath Puja 2026 begins on Friday, 13 November with Nahay Khay and ends at sunrise on Monday, 16 November with Usha Arghya. It is one of the very few Hindu festivals dedicated directly to the visible Sun — Surya Dev — and to Chhathi Maiya, and it is also one of the most demanding vrats in our tradition.

In this guide I have put together the Chhath Puja 2026 date and 4-day schedule, the meaning of each day, a simple arghya vidhi, and something most festival articles skip: what the Sun is actually doing in the sky this year, and why that makes this Chhath astrologically special.

Chhath Puja 2026 at a glance

• Day 1 – Nahay Khay: Friday, 13 November 2026
• Day 2 – Kharna (Lohanda): Saturday, 14 November 2026
• Day 3 – Sandhya Arghya (main day, Shashthi): Sunday, 15 November 2026
• Day 4 – Usha Arghya & Parana: Monday, 16 November 2026

Sunrise and sunset timings vary by city — please check your local panchang for exact arghya time.

Chhath Puja 2026 Date and 4-Day Schedule

Chhath is observed on Kartik Shukla Shashthi, six days after Diwali (which falls on 8 November this year). Because the vrat is spread over four days, the dates matter more than a single muhurat. Here is the full Chhath Puja 2026 calendar:

Day	Ritual	Date	What happens
1	Nahay Khay	Fri, 13 Nov 2026	Holy bath, home cleaned, one sattvik meal (often kaddu-bhaat with chana dal)
2	Kharna	Sat, 14 Nov 2026	Day-long fast, broken after sunset with gur ki kheer and roti; then the nirjala fast begins
3	Sandhya Arghya	Sun, 15 Nov 2026	Arghya to the setting Sun at a river, pond or ghat
4	Usha Arghya	Mon, 16 Nov 2026	Arghya to the rising Sun, followed by Parana (breaking the fast)

If you are searching “Chhath Puja 2026 kab hai”, the short answer is: the main evening arghya is on Sunday, 15 November, and the festival concludes on the morning of Monday, 16 November.

The Meaning of Each Day

Day 1: Nahay Khay — purification

The vrati (the person observing the fast, traditionally the mother of the household, though many men also keep it) takes a bath, ideally in a river or with Ganga jal added to the water. The house is cleaned thoroughly. A single sattvik meal is cooked in a fresh or well-cleaned vessel, without onion or garlic, and eaten only after it is offered to the deity. The idea is simple: the body and the home are prepared before the real tapasya begins.

Day 2: Kharna — the sweet before the storm

On Kharna the vrati fasts through the day. After sunset, kheer made with jaggery (gur), rice and milk, along with roti or puri, is offered and eaten as prasad. Family and neighbours come to take this prasad. Once Kharna is complete, the famous 36-hour nirjala vrat begins — no food and no water until the morning arghya on Day 4.

Day 3: Sandhya Arghya — honouring the setting Sun

This is the heart of Chhath. Thekua, rice laddoo, sugarcane, bananas, coconut, sweet lime, radish and seasonal fruit are arranged in bamboo soops and daura baskets. The family walks to the ghat singing traditional Chhath geet. As the Sun sets, the vrati stands in water and offers arghya with milk and water poured over the soop. Chhath reminds us that gratitude is owed not only to rising fortunes but also to what is completing.

Day 4: Usha Arghya and Parana

Before dawn, the family returns to the ghat. The vrati enters the water again and waits for the first rays. Arghya is offered to the rising Sun, prayers are made for children, health and family, prasad is distributed, and the fast is broken with water, a little ginger or prasad. This completes the vrat.

Simple Surya Arghya Vidhi (for Chhath and for Daily Practice)

Not everyone can keep the full nirjala vrat — and that is fine. Health comes first; elderly people, pregnant women and anyone on medication should not attempt a waterless fast. You can still offer arghya with full devotion. Here is a simple method:

1. Bathe and wear clean, preferably light or yellow/orange clothes.
2. Take a copper lota (a steel or brass one also works) filled with clean water. Add a pinch of roli or red chandan, a few rice grains (akshat), and a red flower if available.
3. Face the Sun (east in the morning, west in the evening). Hold the lota with both hands at chest height or above.
4. Pour the water slowly in a thin stream, looking at the Sun through the stream — never stare directly at the Sun.
5. Chant “Om Suryaya Namah” or “Om Ghrini Suryaya Namah” 11 or 21 times. Those who know it may recite the Aditya Hridayam Stotra.
6. Do a pradakshina (turn clockwise once) and touch the wet earth to your forehead.

Please take care at crowded ghats: keep children close, avoid deep water, and follow local administration guidelines.

Chhath Puja 2026 Astrology: Why This Year’s Sun Is Special

In Vedic astrology the Sun (Surya) is the atmakaraka in principle — the significator of the soul, father, vitality, eyesight, government, authority and self-confidence. Chhath is therefore the most natural time in the year to strengthen the Sun in your chart.

This year the sky adds a beautiful layer. Throughout Diwali and the first three days of Chhath, the Sun is in Libra (Tula), its sign of debilitation. A debilitated Sun is like a king who has temporarily lost his throne: confidence dips, ego clashes with others, and people may feel unrecognised or tired. That is exactly why worship of the Sun in Kartik month is so strongly emphasised by our rishis — we support the Sun when he is weakest.

Then comes a lovely turning point. On Monday, 16 November 2026 — the very day of Usha Arghya — the Sun leaves Libra and enters Scorpio (Vrishchik) in the evening (around 7:40 PM IST). This is Vrishchik Sankranti. So the morning arghya is offered to a Sun that is completing its weakest phase of the year, and by nightfall the Sun moves into the friendly sign of Mars, where its strength returns. Symbolically, Chhath 2026 marks the Sun’s own “recovery”. I find this a very hopeful message for anyone who has been going through a low phase in career or self-esteem. You can read more in our guide to Vrishchik Sankranti 2026 and the Sun’s transit into Scorpio.

Two other sky notes:

• Mercury turns direct on 13 November, the day of Nahay Khay. Communication and travel plans tend to smoothen after this — helpful for families travelling home for Chhath.
• Mars enters Leo on 12 November, joining Jupiter and Ketu there. Leo is the Sun’s own sign, so the Sun’s “house” is very active this month — another reason why honouring Surya feels timely.

Who Should Especially Worship the Sun This Chhath?

In my consultations I often see that people with a weak or afflicted Sun struggle with recognition at work, strained relations with the father or seniors, low stamina, or a habit of doubting themselves. Chhath is a wonderful opportunity for:

• People whose Sun is debilitated (in Libra) in the birth chart, or placed in the 6th, 8th or 12th house.
• Those running a Sun Mahadasha or antardasha — you can check yours with our free Vimshottari Dasha calculator.
• Leo (Simha) rashi and Leo ascendant natives, since the Sun rules your sign.
• People with Mulank 1 (born on the 1st, 10th, 19th or 28th), as number 1 is ruled by the Sun. Read more in Mulank 1 numerology or find your number with the Mulank & Bhagyank calculator.

Simple Sun Remedies for Chhath Week

These are gentle, low-cost practices. They do not replace effort or medical care, but they build discipline and a positive connection with the Sun’s energy:

• Daily arghya at sunrise from 13 to 16 November, and ideally continue it as a habit afterwards.
• Daan of wheat, jaggery (gur), red or orange cloth, or copper items — especially on Sunday 15 November, which is both a Sunday (Ravivar) and the main Chhath day.
• Respect your father and elders. In Jyotish the Sun is the father; touching his feet and spending time with him is one of the strongest Sun remedies.
• Wake up before sunrise during the week. It sounds simple, but aligning your body clock with the Sun is the oldest Surya upay.

Please avoid buying expensive gemstones like ruby just because of a festival. A Sun gemstone should only be worn after a proper chart analysis — if you want a personalised view, you can book a consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Chhath Puja in 2026?

Chhath Puja 2026 runs from Friday 13 November (Nahay Khay) to Monday 16 November (Usha Arghya). The main day with Sandhya Arghya is Sunday, 15 November 2026.

What is the time of Sandhya Arghya on 15 November 2026?

Sandhya Arghya is offered at sunset, so the exact time depends on your city. Check your local panchang or the sunset time for your location and reach the ghat well before that.

Can I do Chhath Puja without keeping a nirjala fast?

Yes. If health does not permit a waterless fast, you can keep a phalahar fast or simply offer arghya with devotion. Sincerity matters more than severity.

Why is the setting Sun worshipped in Chhath?

Chhath honours the Sun in both phases — setting and rising — to express gratitude for the full cycle of life. The evening arghya is also linked with Pratyusha and Usha, the consorts of Surya, who represent the last and first rays of light.

Is Chhath 2026 astrologically significant?

Yes. The Sun is debilitated in Libra during most of Chhath and enters Scorpio on the evening of 16 November, the day of Usha Arghya. This makes it an ideal time for Sun-strengthening prayers.

Conclusion

Chhath Puja is pure, earthy devotion — no idol, no elaborate pandal, just water, the Sun, the fruits of the season and a vrati’s unshakable faith. In 2026, with the Sun completing its debilitated phase on the very morning of Usha Arghya, the festival carries an extra message: low phases end, and light returns. Offer your arghya with gratitude, take care of your health, and if you would like to understand how the Sun is working in your own chart, explore our horoscopes or reach out for a personal reading. Chhathi Maiya sabki manokamna poori karein.