Chhath Puja 2026: Four-Day Calendar, Sandhya Arghya November 17, Usha Arghya November 18
Chhath Puja 2026 is a four-day festival falling in November, six days after Diwali. The most important moments are Sandhya Arghya (evening offering to the setting Sun) on November 17 and Usha Arghya (morning offering to the rising Sun) on November 18, 2026.
| Day | Date 2026 | Ritual |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1: Nahay Khay | November 15 (Sun) | Ritualistic bath (usually in Ganga or river/pond); single sattvic meal of chana dal, kaddu sabzi and chawal; vrat begins |
| Day 2: Kharna (Lohanda) | November 16 (Mon) | 36-hour nirjala (waterless) fast starts; kheer and roti offered to Chhath Maiya; blessed prasad shared with family after puja |
| Day 3: Sandhya Arghya | November 17 (Tue) | Main puja: devotees stand in water at a ghat or river and offer Arghya (water offering with fruits and thekua) to the setting Sun; night vigil |
| Day 4: Usha Arghya | November 18 (Wed) | Before sunrise: devotees return to ghat; Arghya offered to rising Sun; fast broken with prasad (thekua, gur, fruits, paan) |
Chhath Puja significance in Vedic astrology
Chhath Puja is one of the oldest Vedic festivals, directly devoted to Surya (the Sun god) and his sister Chhath Maiya (Shashthi Devi). Unlike most Hindu festivals that follow the Moon, Chhath Puja is centred on the Sun: devotees offer water to the setting and rising Sun at precise tithi moments. This aligns with the Vedic tradition of Surya upasana (Sun worship), one of the five principal forms of deity worship in the Panchaupasana.
In Jyotish, the Sun (Surya) represents vitality, authority, the father and health. Propitiating the Sun is considered beneficial for all matters related to these domains. Chhath Puja falls on Kartik Shashti, 6 days after Kartik Amavasya (Diwali): the Moon is waxing (Shukla Paksha) and the Sun is in Scorpio (Vrischika) at this time in 2026, transitioning toward Sagittarius. The dual offering to the setting and rising Sun on consecutive days is unique in Hindu ritual.
Chaiti Chhath Puja 2026
There are two Chhath Pujas each year: the main Kartik Chhath (November 2026) and Chaiti Chhath (in the month of Chaitra, in spring). Chaiti Chhath 2026 falls in late March/early April, shortly after Holi and Chaitra Navratri. Exact dates for Chaiti Chhath 2026: Nahay Khay approximately March 31; Kharna April 1; Sandhya Arghya April 2; Usha Arghya April 3, 2026. These are approximate; verify with your local panchang.
Frequently asked questions
Chhath Puja 2026 date kya hai?
Chhath Puja 2026 chaar din tak manai jaegi. Nahay Khay: November 15, 2026 (Ravivar). Kharna: November 16, 2026 (Somvar). Sandhya Arghya (shaam ko suryast ke waqt arghya): November 17, 2026 (Mangalvar). Usha Arghya (suryodaya ke waqt arghya): November 18, 2026 (Budhvar). Yeh Kartik Shukla Shashthi ke din manai jaati hai, Diwali ke 6 din baad.
When is Chhath Puja 2026?
Chhath Puja 2026 is a four-day festival in November. The main days are Sandhya Arghya (evening Sun offering) on November 17, 2026 and Usha Arghya (morning Sun offering) on November 18, 2026. The fast starts with Kharna on November 16 (a 36-hour nirjala fast) and the festival begins with Nahay Khay on November 15. Chhath Puja falls on Kartik Shashthi, six days after Diwali.
What is Sandhya Arghya and when is it in 2026?
Sandhya Arghya is the evening offering to the setting Sun on the main day of Chhath Puja. Devotees stand in river water or at a ghat, holding up baskets of fruits, sugarcane, thekua and other prasad, offering water to the setting Sun as it disappears below the horizon. In 2026, Sandhya Arghya is on November 17, 2026. The exact sunset time varies by location; in most of North India it will be around 5:30-6:00 PM.
Chaiti Chhath Puja 2026 kab hai?
Chaiti Chhath Puja 2026, jo Chaitra mein hoti hai, March-April mein hai. Approximate dates: Nahay Khay March 31, Kharna April 1, Sandhya Arghya April 2, Usha Arghya April 3, 2026. Exact dates apni local panchang se verify karein, kyunki tithi timings alag ho sakti hain.
Chhath Puja ka Vedic astrology mein kya mahatva hai?
Chhath Puja seedha Surya devata (Sun god) ki upasana hai, jo Vedic Panchaupasana mein se ek hai. Jyotish mein Surya ko vitality, pita, aur authority ka karak graha mana jaata hai. Chhath Puja ke nirjala vrat aur suryodaya/suryast ko arghya dene se Surya ko prasanna kiya jaata hai, jo health, career aur pita ke matters mein shubh faladaayak hota hai.
Want to know the exact Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya times for your city on November 17-18, 2026? A Vyom Vaani astrologer can calculate these from your local panchang on WhatsApp.
What is Kharna and what is eaten during it?
Kharna falls on November 16, 2026, the second day of Chhath Puja. It begins with a morning bath, a day-long fast, and in the evening, a ritual meal of kheer (rice and jaggery cooked in milk) and chapati, prepared without salt or onion and offered first to the Sun deity and then consumed. After Kharna, the main 36-hour fast without water begins and continues through the Sandhya Arghya (evening offering) and Usha Arghya (morning offering). The Kharna meal is the last food and water until the fast breaks at sunrise on November 18.
Where is the best place to stand for Arghya (offering) during Chhath?
The offering is traditionally made at a river, lake, pond, or any clean water body where the devotee can stand in waist-deep water. In cities, designated Chhath ghats are set up by local authorities. The Sandhya Arghya on November 17, 2026 is offered at sunset with the devotee facing west while standing in water, and the Usha Arghya on November 18 is offered at sunrise facing east. The water element represents purification and the Sun's reflection in water is considered especially sacred.
Can men perform Chhath Puja or is it only for women?
Both men and women perform Chhath Puja. While the fasting and main rituals are more commonly observed by women praying for their family's health and prosperity, men also keep the fast and stand in water for Arghya, especially in communities where the tradition is deeply embedded. The deity being worshipped is Chhathi Maiya and the Sun, both of whom are revered by all family members. There is no gender restriction on who may observe the vrat.
What is Chaiti Chhath and when does it fall in 2026?
Chaiti Chhath is observed in the month of Chaitra (spring), approximately six months before the main Kartik Chhath. In 2026, Chaiti Chhath falls around March 31 to April 3. While smaller in scale than the Kartik festival, Chaiti Chhath follows the same four-day ritual structure: Nahay Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya, and Usha Arghya. It is especially popular in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern UP, and in areas where migrant communities have brought the tradition.