Chhath Puja 2026: Dates, Rituals, and What You Need for the Vrat

Chhath Puja is one of the few major Indian festivals with fixed rituals tied to exact days — there's no flexibility in when things happen, which makes planning ahead essential.

Chhath Puja 2026 Dates

• Nahay Khay — November 13, 2026: The observer takes a ritual bath, and the first meal of the fasting period is prepared and eaten
• Kharna — November 14, 2026: A day-long fast broken in the evening with a meal of rice, jaggery, and milk — this marks the start of the 36-hour nirjala (waterless) fast
• Sandhya Arghya — November 15, 2026: The main evening — devotees gather at a riverbank or water body to offer prayers to the setting sun
• Usha Arghya — November 16, 2026: The fast concludes the following dawn with prayers to the rising sun, after which the vrat is finally broken

What You Actually Need for Chhath

• Thekua — the primary prasad offered in the daura (bamboo basket) at both arghyas
• Sugarcane, seasonal fruits, and coconut — traditionally arranged alongside the prasad
• Sattu — often consumed around Kharna and in the days surrounding the fast
• A daura or bamboo basket — for carrying offerings to the ghat

Planning Ahead — Especially If You're Away From Bihar

If you're observing Chhath outside Bihar — in another Indian city or abroad — the biggest planning risk is leaving prasad arrangements too late. Thekua needs to be made properly, and if you're ordering online, shipping takes time on top of preparation.

Our recommendation: order at least 10-12 days before November 13 to be safe. Our Chhath Puja Prasad Box bundles Thekua, Sattu, and a Bihari Spice sampler in one order, sized for exactly this purpose.