Chhath Puja 2026 is occurring from 13 November 2026 and ending on 16 November 2026. In Patna, the sun sets at about 5:00 PM on 15 November and rises at about 6:07 AM the next day, for those following the Chhath Puja traditions. In this blog, let’s take a closer look at the Chhath Puja timings, details, information on key rituals, and more.
Chhath Puja 2026 In Patna: Dates, Rituals, And Significance
Chhath Puja 2026 Dates At A Glance
Chhath Puja 2026 dates will fall just five days after Diwali. The festival falls in the bright half of the month of Kartik. Chhath Puja 2026 will be celebrated from 13 November to 16 November 2026. The rituals taking place across the days are the Nahay Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya, and Usha Argya and Parana. Here is a breakdown of the Chhath Puja 2026 dates:
Day 1: Friday, 13 November: Nahay Khay
Day 2: Saturday, 14 November, Kharna
Day 3: Sunday, 15 November, Sandhya Arghya
Day 4: Monday,, 16 November, Usha Arghya and Parana
Sandhya Arghya is offered on Shashti, the sixth day, which is where the name Chhath comes from.
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Day 1: Nahay Khay
Nahay Khay means bathe and eat. The house is cleaned thoroughly the day before. The meal is eaten once, around midday. In most Bihar homes, the meal is often simple – rice, chana dal, and bottle gourd, or pumpkin, cooked in ghee with rock salt and no onion or garlic. It is usually cooked on a clay or fresh brick stove with mango wood. The person conducting the vrat usually eats first followed by other family members.
Day 2: Kharna
Kharna, also called Lohanda, is the day the long fast begins. The person observing the vrat fasts through the day, without any food or water. After sunset, he or she worships the Sun God and Chhathi Maiyya at home and consumes the Kharna prasad. This is the last food and drink for about 36 hours.
The prasad is rasiao-kheer, which is rice cooked in milk with jaggery rather than sugar. It is served with roti or puri and a banana. It is cooked on a clay stove with mango wood in new or freshly washed utensils.
In Patna, sunset is to occur by 5:00 PM so those observing the vrat can consume the prasad meal anytime after that.
Day 3: Sandhya Arghya
This is the third and main day of Sandhya Arghya. Those fasting stay without food and water all day. Families spend the day making thekua and preparing the soop. In the afternoon the whole family walks to the river, pond or home arrangement carrying the baskets on their heads. The person observing the fast stands waist-deep in water and offers Arghya to the setting sun, with milk or water poured from a vessel into the soop.
The sun sets earlier in the east than in the west, so the time changes sharply across the country.
On this day the thekua, seasonal fruit, coconut, sugarcane stalks and lit diyas go into the soop. The person observing the fast stays at the ghat until the sun fully sets, and then families return home for a night vigil dedicated to Chhathi Maiyya. Some families light 12 or more diyas under the sugarcane at home.
Also Read: Chhath Puja In Patna: How The City Comes Together Along The Ganga
Day 4: Usha Arghya & Parana
The festival ends with the offering to the rising sun. Families wake in the early hours and reach the ghat in darkness, so that the person observing the vrat is already standing in the water before sunrise. The Arghya is offered as the sun appears, at about 6:07 AM in Patna and 6:44 AM in Delhi.
After the offering, the fast is broken. Most families begin with prasad and some water, along with jaggery, ginger, and then consume a light meal.
Note that the vrat usually lasts for 36 hours and is a tough one. Anyone with diabetes, blood pressure, kidney problems, pregnancy or advanced age should consult a doctor before the vrat or avoid doing it altogether.
Why Is Chhath Puja Celebrated?
Chhath Puja is celebrated to offer gratitude to the Sun god and Chhati Maiya. Unlike other festivals, this puja does not involve any idols or priests. The Sun god is known as the one purifying souls and nurturing life on this planet. This four-day-long festival is about early morning rituals, songs of devotion, fasting, and heartfelt prayers to the Sun god and Chhati Maiya.
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Note: All information used in this blog has been taken from verified sources
Summing Up
Chhath Puja 2026 is a big festival in many parts of North India, especially Bihar. Chhath Puja 2026 In Patna, just like the rest of India, will be celebrated from 13 to 16 November, 2026. In this blog, we’ve listed the festival timings, dates, and rituals. For more information on the festival, you can refer to our blog about the best ghats in Patna for Chhath Puja!
