Chhath Puja 2026: The Four-Day Vidhi, Thekua-Kasar Samagri & The Ghats of Patna, Ranchi and Delhi
Chhath Puja is arguably India's most demanding and most devoted festival. It worships Surya, the sun god — but in reverse order: first the setting sun is offered arghya, then the rising sun the next morning. The vrati goes without water for more than 36 hours together.
This guide covers the ritual of all four days, the samagri for thekua, kasar, daura and soop, the real rules of the nirjala fast, and where Chhath is celebrated in Patna, Ranchi, Delhi and Mumbai — including how to observe it at home when there is no river or pond nearby.
Chhath Puja 2026: the date and the order of the four days
Chhath falls on the shashthi (sixth day) of the waxing moon in Kartik — exactly six days after Diwali. That is why the Gregorian date shifts every year. The main day, Sandhya Arghya, is 15 November 2026; the other three days fall immediately before and after it.
Because Chhath follows the tithi, the exact time depends on sunset in your city — arghya is offered at sunset itself.
- Nahay Khay — day one: the vrati bathes in the Ganga or a pond, the house is cleaned, and a sattvik meal of kaddu-bhaat and chana dal is eaten (no onion or garlic)
- Kharna — day two: roti and jaggery kheer are offered in the evening, after which the 36-hour nirjala fast begins
- Sandhya Arghya — day three (15 November 2026): the vrati stands in the water at the ghat and offers arghya to the setting sun — the main day of Chhath
- Usha Arghya — day four: arghya to the rising sun at dawn, then parana (breaking the fast with prasad) and blessings
Open the complete checklist
Chhath prasad and samagri: thekua, kasar, daura and soop
Chhath samagri has a character of its own — no flower garlands or perfume here. What matters is the purity of clay, bamboo and unprocessed grain. Prasad is arranged on the daura (a bamboo basket) and soop and offered as arghya; that is the image everyone recognises as Chhath.
Two names are heard in every home — thekua (a crisp prasad of flour, jaggery and ghee) and kasar (jaggery laddoos of rice flour), which are placed in the arghya. A daura without them is considered incomplete.
- Bamboo daura (basket), soop, dala and a lidded vessel
- Thekua, kasar (rice-flour laddoos), jaggery, sugar, rice flour, ghee
- Sugarcane (with leaves and roots), coconut, banana, suthni, ol, jimikand, ginger, lemon, singhara, guava
- Clay diyas, incense, raw milk, betel leaf and areca nut, turmeric, kumkum, red cloth
- Clay elephant and parrot idols (a Mithila tradition) and a cow-dung dali
- New clothes — a saree or dhoti-kurta for the vrati, plus a lidded vessel and thali for the puja
The real rules of the nirjala fast (what first-time vratis ask most)
The Chhath fast begins after Kharna and runs until parana after Usha Arghya — roughly 36 hours. During this time the vrati takes no water at all, which is why it is called nirjala. The fast is long and physically demanding, and that is exactly why it is regarded as a festival of shraddha (devotion).
The kitchen is kept pure and separate; in many homes the vrati, or one family member, tastes nothing while cooking ("anjor"). Uncooked food, giving up onion and garlic, and sleeping on the floor are common observances.
If a health condition (diabetes, pregnancy, illness) makes nirjala impossible, the fast and the arghya can still be performed while taking water — the tradition asks for intent, not stubbornness.
Patna and Bihar: Chhath's biggest stage
In Patna, the city pours itself onto its ghats. Along the Ganga, Collectorate Ghat, Digha Ghat, Kali Ghat, Mahendru Ghat, Kangan Ghat and Gai Ghat see crowds in the lakhs. Two days before Nahay Khay, the markets fill with people buying daura, soop and thekua.
Preparations in Patna become a collective effort — cleaning the ghats, approach roads, temporary bridges, drinking water and medical camps. Several areas close their roads in the evening because the only way to the ghat is on foot.
- Patna: Collectorate Ghat, Digha, Kali Ghat, Mahendru, Kangan Ghat, Gai Ghat — extremely crowded at Sandhya Arghya, so arrive early
- Ara and Bhojpur: the district's Ganga ghats take on a fair-like atmosphere
- Bhagalpur: Bateshwar Sthan and the Ganga ghats, one of Bihar's major Chhath centres
- Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga (Mithila): the oldest thekua-kasar traditions, along with clay elephant-parrot idols
Ranchi, Jharkhand and the neighbouring states
In Jharkhand, Chhath is called "Chhath Mahaparv" and Ranchi hosts the largest observances. Ranchi Lake, Kanke Dam, Hatia Dam, the Swarnrekha river ghats and the ponds along the Ranchi-Patna road are the main centres.
Chhath is also observed in Bengal's border districts (Purulia, Bankura), eastern Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Ballia, Deoria, Ghazipur), and the districts along the Bihar-Jharkhand border — often in every home.
- Ranchi: Ranchi Lake, Kanke Dam, Hatia Dam, Swarnrekha ghats — the city's largest arghya sites
- Dhanbad and Jamshedpur: temporary ghats are built at the city's ponds and dams
- Varanasi: arghya on the Ganga at Assi and Dashashwamedh ghats
- Deoria, Gorakhpur, Ballia: Chhath on the Ghaghra and Rapti river ghats
Away from home: where Chhath happens in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru
The millions of families from Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern UP who live elsewhere do not give up Chhath — if there is no ghat they find a riverbank or a seashore, and in many cities the administration or community committees build temporary ghats.
If you are observing Chhath away from home for the first time, contact your area's Chhath Puja committee first — many cities organise shared daura, soop and prasad, and they will also tell you the right time for the ghat.
- Delhi-NCR: Kalindi Kunj, ITO, Wazirabad and Kali Ghat along the Yamuna; temporary ghats are built each year — arriving early is better
- Mumbai: Juhu Beach, Versova, Aksa Beach and Girgaon Chowpatty — arghya on the sand, heavy crowds at sunset
- Bengaluru: shared Chhath on the banks of Ulsoor Lake, Bellandur Lake and Hesaraghatta Lake
- Ahmedabad and Surat: ghats on the Sabarmati and Tapi, a large celebration for Gujarat's Bihar-UP community
- Kolkata: on the Hooghly ghats — in Bengal, Chhath is observed by Bengali families alongside Bihari families
No river or pond nearby: how to do Chhath at home
Traditionally arghya is offered standing in water, so at home a clean square tub or large tank is filled on the roof or in the courtyard, or water is placed in a large kalash or copper vessel. Pay attention to the purity of the water and the cleanliness of the vessel.
Place the daura and soop facing the sun's direction — west for sunset, east for sunrise. Stand facing west for Sandhya Arghya and east for Usha Arghya; this is the single most important rule.
If health makes nirjala impossible, or you are fasting for the first time, ask the elders in your family or your purohit about the correct vidhi and parana.
Chhath samagri and budget
The complete Chhath samagri — daura, soop, flour-jaggery-ghee for thekua, rice flour for kasar, sugarcane, coconut, seasonal fruit and clay diyas — is listed with quantities and estimated prices in our Chhath Puja samagri list.
If you also observe other sun-related pujas, see the Navagraha Shanti samagri list and the Makar Sankranti samagri list. Estimate the whole festival's cost with the budget calculator, and check your city's sunset with the Muhurat Finder.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Chhath Puja 2026?
Chhath falls on the shashthi of the waxing moon in Kartik. Sandhya Arghya (the main day) is 15 November 2026; Nahay Khay is two days earlier and Usha Arghya the next morning. Because it follows the tithi, the date shifts every year.
How many days does the Chhath fast last?
Chhath is a four-day festival — Nahay Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya. The nirjala fast runs from the evening of Kharna until parana after Usha Arghya, roughly 36 hours.
What is Chhath prasad made of?
The main prasad is thekua (flour, jaggery and ghee) and kasar (laddoos of rice flour and jaggery). Sugarcane, coconut, banana, suthni, ol, jimikand, ginger and seasonal fruit are arranged alongside on the daura and soop.
What is not offered in Chhath Puja?
Chhath does not use flower garlands, perfume, chemically coloured items or shop-bought sweets. The samagri must be pure clay, bamboo and unprocessed grain, and the kitchen is kept separate and clean.
Can Chhath be done at home if there is no river nearby?
Yes. A clean tub or large tank on the roof or in the courtyard, or water in a large copper vessel, is used for the arghya. Facing west for Sandhya Arghya and east for Usha Arghya is the most important rule.
What is the difference between Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya?
Sandhya Arghya is offered to the setting sun in the evening of the main day, and Usha Arghya to the rising sun the next morning. That is Chhath's defining feature — both the setting and the rising sun are worshipped.
Where can I do Chhath in Delhi or Mumbai?
In Delhi, temporary ghats are built along the Yamuna at Kalindi Kunj, ITO, Wazirabad and Kali Ghat. In Mumbai, Chhath is observed at Juhu, Versova, Aksa Beach and Girgaon Chowpatty. Arrive early to avoid the crowds.
