Next: 13 to 16 Nov 2026
Chhath Puja
A four-day offering to the sun god, with devotees standing in rivers at dusk and dawn, kept in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
When is Chhath Puja in 2026?
Chhath Puja 2026 runs from 13 to 16 November 2026. Other years: 2027, 2 to 5 November 2027; 2028, 21 to 24 October 2028.
About Chhath Puja
Chhath is one of the oldest Hindu festivals and is centred on the sun god Surya and his consort Usha. Held six days after Diwali, it is observed above all in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and the Terai of Nepal. Devotees, mostly women, take a holy bath, fast for about 36 hours without water, and then stand waist-deep in a river or pond to offer arghya at sunset on the third day and again at sunrise on the fourth. Offerings are placed in bamboo baskets and include thekua, fruit and sugarcane. The riverbanks are cleaned, decorated and lit with lamps by neighbours. Songs in Bhojpuri and Maithili accompany the rites.
Chhath Puja dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Chhath Puja date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 to 16 November 2026 |
| 2027 | 2 to 5 November 2027 |
| 2028 | 21 to 24 October 2028 |
What is eaten
- thekua
- kheer
- sugarcane
Also part of it, and being written: Surya (The sun god honoured at the river.), Thekua (The fried wheat sweet of the offering.), Arghya (The offering of water to the sun.).
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Chhath" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.