Chhath Puja 2026 will begin on Friday, 13 November, with the traditional Nahay Khay ritual. The four-day festival will conclude on Monday, 16 November, after devotees offer prayers to the rising Sun.
The festival will follow its usual sequence of rituals. Kharna will be observed on Saturday, 14 November, after which devotees begin the waterless fast following the evening prasad. On Sunday, 15 November, devotees will perform Sandhya Arghya by offering prayers to the setting Sun. The final ritual, Usha Arghya, will take place at sunrise on Monday, 16 November, bringing the fast to an end.
The dates are based on Drik Panchang, as cited by Hindutone.
Chhath Puja 2026: Important Dates and Rituals
- 13 November, Friday: Nahay Khay
- 14 November, Saturday: Kharna
- 15 November, Sunday: Sandhya Arghya
- 16 November, Monday: Usha Arghya and conclusion of the fast
City-Wise Sandhya and Usha Arghya Timings
The sunset and sunrise timings for Chhath Puja differ across cities. In Patna, devotees will offer Sandhya Arghya at 5:01 pm on 15 November, while Usha Arghya will take place at 6:07 am the following morning. In Ranchi, the corresponding timings are 5:04 pm and 6:03 am. Hindutone and Shubh Panchang list the same timings for both cities. Shubh Panchang also recommends reaching the ghat around 30 to 45 minutes before the ritual.
In Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi will have sunset at 5:10 pm on 15 November and sunrise at 6:16 am on 16 November. Lucknow’s timings will be 5:16 pm and 6:26 am, respectively.
In New Delhi, Sandhya Arghya is scheduled for 5:28 pm, while Usha Arghya will be performed at 6:44 am. This means devotees in the capital will offer the morning prayers around 37 minutes later than those in Patna.
Among the other cities listed, Kolkata will have the earliest timings, with sunset at 4:53 pm and sunrise at 5:50 am. Mumbai will record the latest sunset at 6 pm, followed by sunrise at 6:46 am. In Surat, the timings will be 5:58 pm and 6:50 am, while Bengaluru will see sunset at 5:50 pm and sunrise at 6:19 am.
The difference between the Sandhya Arghya timings in Kolkata and Mumbai will be 67 minutes.
Why Chhath Puja Timings Vary Across Cities
The timing of Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya is based on the actual sunset and sunrise at each location. These timings change according to a city’s geographical position, including its longitude and latitude.
Although the entire country follows one time zone, eastern cities experience sunset earlier on the clock than western cities. Local surroundings can also affect when devotees see the Sun. Hindutone notes that buildings or the riverbank may make the Sun appear to set or rise a few minutes before or after the listed time.
Bank Holidays and Safety Guidelines for Devotees
Banks in Bihar and Jharkhand will remain closed on Monday, 16 November, for Chhath Puja, according to the RBI-based holiday list compiled by Angel One. Saturday, 14 November, is also the second Saturday of the month, when banks are normally closed. As a result, banks in these two states will remain shut from Saturday through Monday.
The holiday list does not show any other state observing a bank closure for Chhath Puja on 16 November.
Before visiting the ghats, Hindutone advises devotees to stay within designated areas, keep children close and decide on a meeting point in case family members get separated. People attending the early morning ritual are also advised to dress warmly.
Those who are pregnant, elderly or taking regular medication should consult a doctor before undertaking the 36-hour fast. Devotees should also follow the timings and safety instructions issued by their local ghat committees on the day of the festival.
Disclaimer: Ritual timings and bank holiday information are based on the cited sources and may vary by location or local arrangements. Devotees should confirm the latest details with their local authorities and ghat committees.