Chaiti Chhath Puja 2026: Dates, Nahay Khay to Usha Arghya

Chaiti Chhath Puja 2026 offers a special opportunity for devotees who honour the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya with full discipline twice in the year. Like Kartik Chhath, the Chaiti Chhath that falls in the month of Chaitra is also a four day long observance in which every step from Nahay Khay to the final offering to the rising sun demands physical restraint, mental focus and deep devotion. Many people feel uncertain about the exact dates in 2026, so it is helpful to understand clearly which day is linked with which part of the Puja.

When is Chaiti Chhath Puja in 2026

Chaiti Chhath is observed every year on Shukla Shashthi Tithi of the month of Chaitra, yet the vrat in practice extends over four days. In 2026 the full sequence of Chaiti Chhath Puja will be as follows.

Chaiti Chhath Puja 2026 date table

Day	Date	Weekday	Main observance
Day 1	22 March 2026	Sunday	Nahay Khay
Day 2	23 March 2026	Monday	Kharna Puja
Day 3	24 March 2026	Tuesday	Evening Arghya to the setting sun Sandhya Arghya
Day 4	25 March 2026	Wednesday	Morning Arghya to the rising sun Usha Arghya and completion of the vrat

These four days together form the complete Chaiti Chhath 2026 observance. The first day centres on purification, the second on sankalp and the beginning of the more intense fast, the third on the evening offering and the fourth on the pre dawn offering followed by closing of the vrat.

Chaiti Chhath Puja 2026 sunrise and sunset times

The heart of Chhath Puja lies in the Arghya offered to the setting and rising sun. Knowing the correct times of sunrise and sunset is therefore very important.

Chaiti Chhath 2026 Arghya timings

Type of Arghya	Date	Time
Sandhya Arghya sunset time	24 March 2026	06:40 PM
Usha Arghya sunrise time	25 March 2026	05:47 AM

On the third day, 24 March, as the sun moves towards the horizon, devotees stand in water and together offer the Sandhya Arghya. On the fourth day, 25 March, just as the sun is rising at about 05:47 AM, the final Usha Arghya is offered, after which the fast is brought to an end.

What is Chaiti Chhath and where is it observed

Chaiti Chhath is regarded as the form of Chhath Puja that occurs in the month of Chaitra and is observed with particular devotion in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and certain parts of Nepal. The festival is dedicated jointly to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya.

According to traditional belief, the observance of the Chhath vrat supports the long life of children, protection from disease and a special shield of the Sun’s energy over the household. Chhathi Maiya is seen as the giver of offspring, prosperity and relief from serious ailments. Women who keep the vrat and in many places men as well do so for the wellbeing and prosperity of the entire family.

Meaning of the four days of Chaiti Chhath Puja 2026

Each day of Chaiti Chhath 2026 carries its own discipline and spiritual mood.

The first day, Nahay Khay, will fall on Sunday, 22 March 2026. On this day the devotee bathes in clean water, gives special attention to the cleaning of the home and prepares simple sattvic food. The person observing the vrat eats only this purified meal, taken with reverence as prasad. In this way both the body and the home are made ready for the demanding fast that follows.

The second day, Kharna, will be observed on Monday, 23 March 2026. On this day the devotee avoids both food and water throughout the day. After sunset, near a water source, a simple prasad is prepared, usually including sweet rice made with jaggery and roti. This is first offered to Chhathi Maiya. Only then does the devotee accept the prasad. From this point the more rigorous phase of the vrat is considered to have begun.

The third day, Tuesday, 24 March 2026, is set aside for the Sandhya Arghya to the setting sun. The devotee remains without food and water and stands in river, pond or prepared water tank in the evening to offer the first Arghya to the Sun and to Chhathi Maiya. Baskets filled with fruits, coconuts, sweets and traditional offerings such as thekua are carried and the sounds of folk songs and bhajans create a distinctive sacred atmosphere.

The fourth day, Wednesday, 25 March 2026, is dedicated to Usha Arghya to the rising sun. Before dawn the devotee and family members reach the ghat. At sunrise the final Arghya is offered. Afterwards the devotee returns home, distributes prasad and then performs the formal closing of the fast.

Religious importance of Chaiti Chhath Puja

Chaiti Chhath is not limited to the strictness of the fast or the beauty of the tradition. It is often described as a festival that touches the physical, mental and spiritual layers of life.

The Sun is honoured as the source of life, energy and health. Standing in water at sunrise and sunset while focusing on the rays of the sun is believed to influence the body at a subtle level and to awaken clarity and steadiness in the mind.

Chhathi Maiya is revered as a protective and nurturing aspect of the divine who supports the wellbeing of children, the growth of the family and recovery from difficult illnesses. The devotee keeps the vrat not only for personal benefit but for the welfare of the entire household, especially for the younger generation. In Chaiti Chhath 2026, prayers for longevity of children, prosperity of the family and freedom from disease will again be central to the observance.

Effects of Chaiti Chhath 2026 on body, mind and home

One of the most striking features of the Chhath vrat is its discipline and sattvic orientation. Fasting for long periods without food and water is a form of tapas that reinforces patience and endurance.

Because purity is emphasised for four continuous days, the atmosphere of the home also takes on a different quality. From Nahay Khay to Usha Arghya, everything prepared in the kitchen is treated as prasad. Bhajans, folk songs and the sound of worship fill the space and children see directly how seriously the elders hold the tradition. This has a quiet yet deep effect on their own understanding of faith and family culture.

For families who observe the full sequence of Chaiti Chhath 2026 together, the festival can become more than a religious schedule. It can serve as a shared experience of cooperation, self control and heartfelt prayer that strengthens the bonds within the household.

Common questions

When will Chaiti Chhath Puja begin and end in 2026 Chaiti Chhath Puja 2026 will begin with Nahay Khay on Sunday, 22 March 2026 and will end on Wednesday, 25 March 2026, with Usha Arghya and the closing of the fast.

On which dates in 2026 will Nahay Khay, Kharna and the two Arghya offerings take place Nahay Khay will be on 22 March 2026 Sunday, Kharna Puja on 23 March Monday, the Sandhya Arghya for the setting sun on 24 March Tuesday and the Usha Arghya for the rising sun on 25 March Wednesday.

What will be the Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya timings for Chaiti Chhath 2026 The Sandhya Arghya on 24 March 2026 will coincide with sunset at about 06:40 PM and the Usha Arghya on 25 March 2026 will take place at sunrise around 05:47 AM.

In which regions is Chaiti Chhath mainly observed with full devotion Chaiti Chhath is observed with particular dedication in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Nepal, although it is now also seen in many other places where families from these regions have settled.

What central spiritual message can Chaiti Chhath Puja 2026 offer Chaiti Chhath Puja 2026 reminds devotees that the grace of the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya is invited not only through requests but through discipline, restraint and a sincere effort for the welfare of the family. For those who keep the four days with purity, patience and devotion, the festival can become a deep support for the long life of children, the prosperity of the household and the stability of the mind.