Chhath Puja 2026 — Dates, Arghya Time, Rituals & Significance

Chhath Puja is a 4-day Vedic festival dedicated to the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya (Goddess Usha). It is one of the oldest Hindu festivals, practiced mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern UP, and Nepal.

The 4 days: Day 1 — Nahay Khay (holy bathing and first meal). Day 2 — Kharna (36-hour fast beginning, evening meal of kheer-roti). Day 3 — Sandhya Arghya (evening offerings to the setting sun at a river/water body). Day 4 — Usha Arghya (morning offerings to the rising sun, fast broken).

Chhath is unique because it worships the SETTING sun — a rare practice in Hinduism. The Arghya (offering) is given standing waist-deep in water, holding a soop (bamboo tray) filled with fruits, thekua (special sweet), and sugarcane.

The festival requires extreme discipline: no onion, no garlic, no salt, no grains during fasting. The Vratin (person observing fast) sleeps on the floor without a pillow. The purity standards are among the strictest in any Hindu festival.