Chhath Puja in Patna unites people for a four-day holiday of faith and family. In 2026, this Bihar festival falls on 13–16 November, with Sandhya Arghya on the evening of 15 November and Usha Arghya on the morning of 16 November.
The festival allows tourists to learn about the traditions of one of India’s states. For those who wish to go into the specifics, the Chhath Puja 2026 is an occasion to learn about the rituals and offerings to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya.
Chhath Puja: What Is It About?
Chhath Puja is a Hindu festival that is popular in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Also called Surya Shashti, Chhath Puja is celebrated over four days and includes ritual bathing, fasting, preparing prasad, and performing arghya to the sun.
Most importantly, it incorporates evening and morning rituals. They mean the continuous devotion of the people who have faith in the power of Surya Bhagwan and Chhathi Maiya. This is also a family event, since the whole family helps to prepare for the rites.
If you plan to find out “about chath puja”, this is where you need to begin. Chhath Puja is a four-day event, which has many rituals. However, one should know that they are not performed at once, since the festival includes several stages.
Chath Puja Dates: 2026 Schedule in Patna
If you want to know the specific events for each day of Chhath Puja 2026, we have created this guide. First of all, it is necessary to highlight that the first day is different from the others. It focuses on preparing for the next few days.
Day Date Observance Main ritual Friday, 13 November 2026 Nahay Khay ritual bathing, cleaning, and preparation Cleaning of houses and bathing in water bodies/rivers, and taking Ganga water if possible Sunday, 15 November 2026 Sandhya Arghya Offering to the Setting Sun Family prasad and evening ritual Monday, 16 November 2026 Usha Arghya Offering to the Rising Sun Eating prasad after the morning ritual
The table above reflects the 2026 festival schedule. At the same time, it is advisable to consult a trusted local panchang for the Patna region about the exact times for sunrise, sunset, and rituals.
Chath Puja Details That We Should Know
Chath Puja (or Chhath) is a four-day festival that is associated with Surya Bhagwan and Chhathi Maiya. It begins with Nahay Khay and ends with Usha Arghya. Each of the four days has its rituals and observations. Here is a detailed overview.
Nahay Khay (Day 1)
Nahay Khay is the first day of Chhath Puja, which is dedicated to ritual bathing. First of all, devotees clean their homes. After that, they take a bath in water bodies or rivers. In particular, some families take Ganga water to their homes.
Kharna (Day 2)
Kharna day is about fasting. In the evening, devotees honour the Sun God. After that, kheer is distributed as prasad. It is given to all family members, guests, and friends.
It is also essential to prepare for the long fast before morning rituals. Throughout the days, many people pay special attention to hygiene. It applies to food, plates, and cooking places.
Sandhya Arghya (Day 3)
Sandhya Arghya is the evening offering to the setting sun. On this day, families prepare prasad and baskets with offerings. In addition, the morning ceremony includes folk songs about the festival and Bihar’s traditions.
Sandhya Arghya is performed near water. In the evening, all family members go to the banks of the river. At the same time, some families also observe Kosi rituals. They mean additional offerings to Surya Bhagwan and Chhathi Maiya. These are sugarcane, earthen lamps, and baskets with prasad. During the Kosi, sugarcane is arranged in a canopy over the baskets.
Usha Arghya (Day 4)
Usha Arghya Day is dedicated to morning rituals and is the last day of the festival. Devotees go to the bank of water before sunrise. There, they perform the last offering to Surya Bhagwan and Chhathi Maiya. In particular, they honor the rising sun.
After that, the fast is broken. The prasad is distributed to family members and neighbors. This is how the festival ends, and all its participants enjoy a holiday.
Chhath Puja Fruits and Traditional Prasad
Fruits play a vital role in Chhath Puja, and they are part of the gifts to the gods. However, in addition to fruits, families also collect baskets with coconuts and prasad. The last two items are arranged in bamboo trays or baskets.
In particular, the festival traditions suggest having the following items:
- Coconut (to put in the same basket with other offerings)
- Fruits (for the offering baskets)
- Thekua (a traditional offering)
- Rice sweets (as part of the prasad)
- Sugarcane (for Kosi rituals).
Chhath Puja in Patna
Patna is a great place to experience the four-day holiday. In particular, the festival is traditionally associated with the river. As for the visitors, they can see the festival from two sides: the evening and morning rituals. The locals express their gratitude to the sun for giving life and for its role in sustaining people.
This is how the faithful honor Surya Bhagwan and Chhathi Maiya. In turn, it is necessary for the visitors to be considerate and respect the traditions. First of all, this applies to the allocation of space for devotees. They have the right to gather in groups to carry offerings.
Tips for Seeing the Festival in Patna
While visiting the festival in Patna, one should know and respect certain rules. These are not only conditions for safety. Moreover, they ensure the comfort of not only visitors but also the local people. Here are some examples.
- It is necessary to check the news and announcements in advance so as not to arrive late at the festival.
- It is advisable to come in advance to the ghat where the event will be held.
- In addition, it is necessary to obey the police, barriers, and restrictions.
- Do not walk on the steps where devotees carry offerings.
- Do not take pictures up close of the faithful. Ask for permission if it is possible.
- Do not go to the river just to take photos.
- Finally, do not throw away packaging and other trash in the water and near the festival.
FAQ
Chhath Puja in Patna is celebrated on 13–16 November 2026. Sandhya Arghya falls on 15 November, and Usha Arghya is on 16 November.
This festival is unique because it is dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. The faithful observe Chhath Puja with two daily rituals: one for the setting and one for the rising sun. In addition, the festival is four days long and includes many rituals, such as bathing, fasting and preparing prasad.
As for the fruits to offer to the gods, remember that each family has its own traditions and practices. They may vary from household to household. However, one can highlight the most common items. It is advisable to have a fruit basket and coconut for Chhath Puja offerings.
Sandhya Arghya is evening, and Usha Arghya is morning. Sandhya Arghya is performed on the third day: 15 November 2026. In turn, the fourth day, 16 November 2026, is dedicated to Usha Arghya. It is noteworthy that on this day, the devotees break their fast.
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