The four dates to put in your calendar
For the Indian reference locations in this guide, Chhath 2026 runs from Friday, November 13 to Monday, November 16. Nahay Khay is November 13, Kharna is November 14, Sandhya Arghya is November 15, and Usha Arghya is November 16. A listing that says “Chhath Puja: November 15” is identifying the main evening observance, not reducing the entire festival to one day.
Evening and morning arghya use different dates
The table below gives sunset on November 15 for Sandhya Arghya and sunrise on November 16 for Usha Arghya. All clock times are IST, UTC+5:30, for the named city. These are astronomical reference instants around which the observance is organised; they are not a declaration that a ritual must fit into one exact minute. Follow your family’s practice and the instructions at the designated venue.
| City | November 15 sunset (IST) | November 16 sunrise (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| Patna | 5:01 PM | 6:07 AM |
| New Delhi | 5:28 PM | 6:44 AM |
Each city name links to its source calendar. Checked October 27, 2026.
Plan Nahay Khay and Kharna with your household
Chhath honours Surya and Chhathi Maiya, with observances sustained by family and community participation. Ask the experienced person leading your household how they prepare the kitchen, offerings and prayer area. Write the meal and preparation sequence for the first two days separately from the ghat visits. This guide does not prescribe fasting, a universal menu or a new ritual for every family; it helps relatives supporting the observance organise their work.
Samagri: check the family list before shopping
Many households prepare a soop or basket, fruit, coconut, sugarcane and customary homemade prasad such as thekua. The exact items and quantities should come from your family’s practice. Check utensils and reusable containers already available, then make a measured list based on the number of participants. Keep clean preparation materials together and agree who will buy, prepare, pack and carry each item. Avoid turning a shopping list into a claim that a particular expensive item is compulsory.
Arrange the ghat visit before the festival
Confirm the venue, access route, designated arrival time and return transport with the local organiser. A ghat assembly time may be earlier than the solar reference below. Follow official on-site instructions and stay within marked areas; do not enter deep water or cross barriers for a photograph. Agree on a meeting point and accompany children and relatives who need help. Take packaging and waste back to the appropriate collection point rather than leaving it at the water.
Pack separately for the dawn visit
The morning arghya is on November 16, not the morning of the evening arghya date. Set an alarm that allows time for travel and venue access. Pack the required items beforehand, keep a torch available for dark approaches and confirm the transport arrangement before going to sleep. Share the correct date, city and meeting point in a single family message so no one follows an outdated forwarded screenshot.
What if your city is not in the table?
Do not borrow Patna’s time simply because your family comes from Bihar, or convert Delhi’s clock time to another time zone. The reference must match the place where you will observe the ritual. In the CosmosPandit web app, select your current city and check November 15 for sunset and November 16 for sunrise. For a community event, confirm the local organiser’s programme as well. No overseas festival date is inferred from this India table.
Keep the focus on preparation and participation
A clear plan leaves more room for prayer, family support and a calm gathering. Divide responsibilities early and let the people observing the household tradition guide the ceremony. These dates and times are planning references, not promises of a particular result. The linked city calendars were checked on October 27, 2026; check local event arrangements closer to the day.