Chhath Puja 2026 छठ पूजा

The story behind Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja is an ancient festival of thanksgiving to Surya (the Sun) and his sister Chhathi Maiya, seeking well-being, prosperity and progeny. Its roots reach back to the Vedas and the sun-worship of the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Significance of Chhath Puja

One of the most demanding and revered vrats, kept over four days with rigorous fasting and offerings to the rising and setting sun, honouring the source of all life.

How Chhath Puja is celebrated

• Day 1 Nahay Khay — bathing and a sattvik meal
• Day 2 Kharna — a day-long fast broken with kheer at dusk
• Day 3 Sandhya Arghya — offering to the setting sun standing in water
• Day 4 Usha Arghya — offering to the rising sun, then breaking the fast (paran)

Regional variations

The signature festival of Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh, and of the Nepali Terai, now observed by these communities across India and abroad.

Festive foods of Chhath Puja

Traditional dishes prepared for Chhath Puja include thekua, rice-jaggery kheer, seasonal fruit and sugarcane.

Quick tips

• Offerings are made standing in a river or water body at sunrise and sunset
• Keep the prasad (thekua) pure and home-made

Choosing the muhurat on Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja falls on Kartik Shukla Shashthi. To choose an auspicious time on the day, open the muhurat planner for your city and check the day's choghadiya and the Rahu Kaal to avoid. For the exact date this year, see the panchang calendar, and for weddings or a housewarming near this festival, confirm the muhurat with a qualified pandit.