Chhath Puja is among the most disciplined and beautiful festivals of the Hindu calendar. It is dedicated to the Sun God, Surya, and to Chhathi Maiya, and it is observed with a 36-hour fast, offerings at sunset and sunrise and an almost complete absence of idols and priests. Its heartland is Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh, but the festival is also observed in Mumbai, Delhi and abroad.
Fri, 13 Nov: Nahay Khay
Sat, 14 Nov: Kharna (Lohanda)
Sun, 15 Nov: Sandhya Arghya (evening offering to the setting sun)
Mon, 16 Nov: Usha Arghya (morning offering to the rising sun) and parana. Sunset and sunrise times vary by city, so please check locally.
Day by Day
Day 1: Nahay Khay
The devotee, called a vrati, bathes in a river or pond, cleans the house and eats one simple meal, traditionally lauki (bottle gourd) with rice, cooked in pure conditions.
Day 2: Kharna
The vrati fasts through the day and breaks the fast after sunset with rasiya (jaggery kheer) and roti, which is shared as prasad. The strict 36-hour nirjala fast, without even water, begins after this.
Day 3: Sandhya Arghya
The main day. Families go to a riverbank, pond or home tub to stand in water and offer arghya to the setting sun, with bamboo baskets (soop) filled with thekua, sugarcane, coconuts and seasonal fruit.
Day 4: Usha Arghya
Before sunrise the vrati returns to the water and offers arghya to the rising sun. The fast is then broken with prasad and a drink of water or milk.
Why Chhath Is Unique
- It honours the visible God. The Sun is worshipped directly, as the source of life and energy.
- Purity and discipline. Prasad is cooked on clay or mango-wood stoves, without salt, onion or garlic, in strict cleanliness.
- Community. Neighbours help to clean ghats, prepare baskets and share prasad.
Legends and Beliefs
Tradition names Karna, the son of Surya in the Mahabharata, as one of the first to worship the Sun while standing in water. Draupadi and the Pandavas are said to have observed the vrat to regain their kingdom, and Ramayana traditions say that Sita and Rama observed it after returning to Ayodhya. Chhathi Maiya is worshipped as the protector of children, and devotees pray for the health, long life and well-being of their families. Accounts of her identity vary by region and text: some traditions describe her as the sister of the Sun God, and others associate her with Devasena, the consort of Kartikeya.
Practical Guidance
- Choose a safe, shallow place to stand in water, and have family nearby.
- A 36-hour waterless fast is demanding. People with health conditions, pregnant women and elders should seek medical advice and may follow a lighter form of the vrat.
- Keep the ghat clean. Use clay lamps and leaf plates and avoid plastic.
Chhath comes after Diwali; if you are following the season, see our guide to Diwali, and our article on Dev Diwali.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Chhath celebrated on Shashthi?
Chhath means “sixth” and falls on Kartik Shukla Shashthi, six days after Diwali Amavasya. The sixth tithi is associated with Chhathi Maiya.
Do men observe Chhath too?
Yes. Both women and men can observe the vrat. It is traditionally kept by the family member who takes the vow.
Is Chhath celebrated only in Bihar?
It is most strongly associated with Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh, and also with Nepal's Terai, but large communities observe it in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and overseas.
Read Next
- Dev Diwali
- Diwali Date, Puja Muhurat, Puja Vidhi and Significance
- What Are the Reasons to Celebrate Diwali?
Resources and references. SmartPuja: Chhath Puja 2026 | Traditional sources: Mahabharata and Ramayana folk traditions; Brahma Vaivarta Purana accounts of Devasena (Shashthi)
Disclaimer. This article is shared for general knowledge and cultural interest. It draws on traditional beliefs, scriptural tradition and published panchang sources, and is not scientific, medical, legal, financial or professional advice. Astrology, Vastu, omens and religious observances are belief-based and offer no guarantee of any outcome. Dates, tithi and muhurat timings differ by city and by panchang, and the figures given here may change or contain errors, so please confirm them with your local panchang or family priest before you act. Fasting and dietary practices must suit your health; consult a doctor first if you are unwell, pregnant, elderly or on medication. Sansthaan and its writers accept no responsibility or liability for any decision, loss or consequence arising from the use of this content.
Sansthaan Team
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