Chhath Puja 2026 runs from Friday, November 13 to Monday, November 16. The main day, Sandhya Arghya, falls on Sunday, November 15. That Sunday alignment matters because it means the primary evening of the festival does not require a day off from work, and the four-day sequence from Friday to Monday creates a natural long weekend with no leave needed.
Chhath is the second largest migration event in India after Diwali. The movement is specific and directional: people travel from employment cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata back to Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and parts of Madhya Pradesh. The bus corridors between Delhi and Patna, Delhi and Gorakhpur, and Delhi and Varanasi see their heaviest non-Diwali demand of the year during this window.
What Chhath Puja Actually Is
Chhath is a four-day worship of Surya, the Sun God, and Chhathi Maiya. Unlike most Hindu festivals where the deity is worshipped inside a temple or at a home altar, Chhath requires direct contact with a natural water body. The devotee stands waist-deep in a river, lake or pond and offers arghya to the sun at sunset and again at sunrise. There is no priest intermediary. The devotee observes the fast, prepares the prasad, and makes the offering directly.
Chhath Puja 2026: The Four Day Sequence, Arghya Timings and Travel Guide
The festival follows a fixed four-day structure. Each day has a specific name, ritual purpose and timing.
Day 1: Nahay Khay, Friday November 13
The first day is the purification bath. The devotee (called the vrati or parvaitin) bathes in a river or clean water body. The house and the pathway to the ghat are cleaned. A single sattvik meal is eaten, typically lauki (bottle gourd) sabzi with chana dal and rice, cooked in a new clay pot. No onion, no garlic, no table salt. Only sendha namak (rock salt) is used.
This is a preparation day. The tone is quiet rather than celebratory.
Day 2: Kharna (Lohanda), Saturday November 14
The vrati fasts through the day and breaks the fast at dusk with rasiaav (a rice and jaggery kheer) and roti. After this meal, the 36-hour nirjala (waterless) fast begins. From this point until the Usha Arghya on Monday morning, the vrati does not eat or drink water.
The Kharna prasad is distributed to family members and neighbours. Preparing the thekua, the most iconic Chhath offering made from wheat flour, jaggery and ghee, typically begins on this evening.
Day 3: Sandhya Arghya, Sunday November 15
This is the main day. The vrati, along with family members carrying bamboo soop (winnowing baskets) filled with thekua, seasonal fruits, sugarcane, bananas and coconut, walks to the ghat in the late afternoon. The vrati enters the water waist-deep and offers arghya to the setting sun.
Arghya timings for major cities on November 15, 2026:
- Patna: Sunset at approximately 5:01 PM
- Delhi: Sunset at approximately 5:28 PM
- Varanasi: Sunset at approximately 5:07 PM
- Ranchi: Sunset at approximately 4:57 PM
The timing matters practically. The procession to the ghat begins 2 to 3 hours before sunset. Families stake their ghat positions early in the afternoon. Roads leading to major ghats are closed to traffic from the afternoon.
Day 4: Usha Arghya, Monday November 16
The vrati returns to the ghat before dawn to offer arghya to the rising sun. This is the conclusion of the 36-hour nirjala fast.
Arghya timings on November 16, 2026:
Patna: Sunrise at approximately 6:06 AM
Delhi: Sunrise at approximately 6:44 AM
After the sunrise offering, the fast is broken (parana). The vrati drinks water first, then eats prasad. The 36-hour fast is complete.
Where to Celebrate: Patna
Patna is the heart of Chhath. The city has 49 ghats along the Ganga, and preparations begin weeks before the festival. Gandhi Ghat, Digha Ghat, Collectorate Ghat and the ghats near the Mahatma Gandhi Setu are the most prominent locations.
The scale in Patna is unlike anywhere else. The entire 15 km stretch of the Ganga riverfront becomes a continuous line of devotees during Sandhya Arghya. The city administration sets up temporary infrastructure including lighting, medical camps, drinking water stations and crowd management barriers at every ghat.
Accommodation in Patna during Chhath week fills early. Book at least 3 weeks in advance. Many visitors stay with family, and the hotel market serves a smaller proportion of visitors than at most other Indian festivals.
Where to Celebrate: Delhi NCR
Chhath is a public holiday in Delhi. The diaspora from Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern UP is large enough that dedicated Chhath ghats are set up across the city.
The Yamuna ghats near ITO and Kalindi Kunj are the primary Chhath locations in Delhi. Temporary ghats are also constructed at designated waterbodies and parks across Noida, Gurgaon and other NCR areas. The Delhi government typically announces the official ghat locations 1 to 2 weeks before the festival.
Metro services on lines connecting to the ghat areas run extended hours on the Sandhya Arghya evening and the Usha Arghya morning.
Where to Celebrate: Varanasi
The Ganga ghats in Varanasi, particularly Assi Ghat and Dashashwamedh Ghat, see Chhath celebrations alongside the city’s regular evening aarti. The scale is smaller than Patna but the setting, with the lit ghats and the ancient city architecture, adds a visual dimension.
Varanasi during Chhath week also positions conveniently for Dev Deepawali on November 24, just eight days later.
Travel Planning for Chhath 2026
The migration corridors are specific and predictable.
Delhi to Patna is the primary route. The bus journey takes roughly 14 to 18 hours depending on the service. Book at least 2 to 3 weeks before November 13 for outbound travel.
Delhi to Gorakhpur serves the eastern UP and Nepal border diaspora. This is a Freemeal route on zingbus.
Delhi to Varanasi covers both the Chhath audience and the broader festival travel market.
Delhi to Lucknow connects travellers heading further into central and eastern UP.
The return surge peaks on Tuesday November 17 and Wednesday November 18. Book the return leg at the same time as the outbound.
Check current bus schedules on the Jaipur bus booking page for western routes, or the Delhi to Agra bus route for eastern UP corridor connections.
Prices are approximate and may vary based on season, demand, and availability.
The Prasad: What Goes Into the Soop
The offerings carried to the ghat are specific and non-negotiable.
Thekua is the signature Chhath prasad. Made from wheat flour, jaggery and ghee, shaped by hand and deep-fried.
Seasonal fruits include sugarcane, bananas, coconut, sweet lime, pomegranate and water chestnut (singhara).
Dala (bamboo basket) and soop (bamboo winnowing tray) are the containers. These are purchased new each year.
The prasad is prepared at home by the vrati using new utensils and a separate cooking area. Outside food is not used. The preparation itself is part of the ritual discipline.
Common Questions About Chhath Puja 2026
When is chhath puja 2026?
Chhath Puja 2026 runs from Friday, November 13 to Monday, November 16, with the main Sandhya Arghya on Sunday, November 15.
What time is the Sandhya Arghya in Patna?
Sunset in Patna on November 15, 2026 is at approximately 5:01 PM. The procession to the ghat begins 2 to 3 hours earlier.
What time is the Sandhya Arghya in Delhi?
Sunset in Delhi on November 15, 2026 is at approximately 5:28 PM. Delhi’s arghya timing runs about 27 minutes later than Patna.
Is Chhath Puja a public holiday in Delhi?
Chhath Puja is a gazetted public holiday in Delhi, and temporary ghats are set up across the city for the diaspora celebration.
Where are the Chhath ghats in Delhi?
The Yamuna ghats near ITO and Kalindi Kunj are the primary locations. Additional temporary ghats are announced by the Delhi government before the festival.
How long is the nirjala fast during Chhath?
The nirjala (waterless) fast begins after the Kharna meal at dusk on November 14 and ends after the Usha Arghya at sunrise on November 16, roughly 36 hours.
What is thekua in Chhath Puja?
Thekua is the signature Chhath prasad made from wheat flour, jaggery and ghee, shaped by hand and deep-fried. It is the most iconic offering.
Which bus routes are busiest during Chhath?
Delhi to Patna, Delhi to Gorakhpur and Delhi to Varanasi are the primary Chhath migration corridors with the highest demand spikes.
Can I celebrate Chhath in Varanasi?
The Ganga ghats at Assi Ghat and Dashashwamedh Ghat host Chhath celebrations, and the city connects to Dev Deepawali eight days later.
How early should I book travel for Chhath?
Book bus tickets at least 2 to 3 weeks before November 13 for outbound travel, and book the return leg simultaneously.
You Might Also Like
- Explore Upcoming Festivals in India 2026: Full Guide: The complete 2026 festival calendar with dates and travel context for every major celebration.
- Food on Bus by zingbus: Menu, Prices, Routes and How to Order: The onboard meal service available on select routes including the Delhi to Gorakhpur Freemeal corridor.
