Chhath Puja 2026: Shubh Muhurat, and Timings From Nahay-Khay to Usha Arghya
The official countdown for the four-day solar festival of Chhath Puja 2026 has commenced across the country, as millions of devotees gear up to observe the sacred penance honoring the Sun God (Surya Dev) and Goddess Shashthi (Chhathi Maiya). Rooted in profound spiritual discipline, self-purification, and gratitude, this ancient festival is celebrated with immense fervor across Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and global Indian diaspora communities. Primarily undertaken by women (vratis) for the longevity, health, and prosperity of their children and households, the festival demands exceptional endurance, culminating in a rigorous 36-hour unbroken waterless (nirjala) fast. As municipal authorities and local committees begin sanitizing and decorating riverbanks and lake ghats, understanding the precise astrological tithi timings and day-by-day ritual sequence is essential for devotees preparing for this grand festival.
Four-Day Calendar: Precise Tithis and Ritual Timelines from Nahay-Khay to Kharna
The auspicious festivities formally inaugurate with the ritual of Nahay-Khay on Friday, November 13, 2026, marking the spiritual and physical cleansing of the household. Astrologically, the Kartik Shukla Chaturthi Tithi begins at 6:09 PM on November 12 and concludes at 8:42 PM on November 13, establishing the traditional sunrise calendar day for the ritual bath, home sanitation, and the preparation of the pure satvik meal consisting of bottle gourd curry (kaddu-bhaat) and Bengal gram cooked without onions or garlic. The second day, known as Kharna, falls on Saturday, November 14, 2026, aligning with Kartik Shukla Panchami, which commences at 8:42 PM on November 13 and runs until 11:23 PM on November 14. On this day, fasting devotees observe a complete daylong fast without water, breaking it only after dusk following special prayers with an offering of rice cooked in jaggery (gur ki kheer) and whole-wheat chapatis, marking the solemn initiation of the unbroken 36-hour nirjala vigil.
River Ghat Offerings: Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya Conclude the 36-Hour Nirjala Penance
The pinnacle of the four-day observance unfolds across the riverbanks during the third and fourth days, celebrating the cosmic cycles of dusk and dawn. The third day, Sandhya Arghya, will be observed on Sunday, November 15, 2026, corresponding to the auspicious Kartik Shukla Shashthi Tithi, which begins at 11:23 PM on November 14 and extends until 2:00 AM on November 16. On this evening, devotees assemble at illuminated water bodies to offer prayers and milk-and-water libations (arghya) to the setting sun, carrying bamboo baskets (soop) filled with traditional seasonal delicacies like thekua, sugarcane, and fresh harvests. The grand spiritual marathon reaches its divine conclusion on Monday, November 16, 2026, with the offering of Usha Arghya to the rising sun during Saptami Tithi, which lasts until 4:19 AM on November 17. Standing chest-deep in water at dawn, devotees welcome the first rays of the morning sun with final prayers before consuming prasad and raw milk during the Paran ritual, successfully completing the 36-hour austerity amidst devotional folk hymns and widespread community blessings.
