📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka
Religion
Chhath Puja 2026 in Bihar: Dates, Rituals and Holiday Status Clarified
✍️ Amar Ujala · Patna
🗓 12 Nov 2026, 02:00 PM
👁 13
The 2026 edition of Bihar’s Chhath Puja, a four‑day solar worship, will begin as per the Hindu calendar, with the state expected to announce official holidays soon.
Chhath Puja, one of the most revered festivals in Bihar, is observed over four consecutive days dedicated to the worship of the setting and rising sun. The 2026 celebrations will commence on the day prescribed by the Hindu lunar calendar, marking the start of the first ritual known as "Nahay Khay."
The festival proceeds with "Kharna," a day‑long fast, followed by "Sandhya Arghya" at sunset and culminates with "Usha Arghya" at sunrise on the final day. Each day involves specific rites, communal gatherings on riverbanks, and offerings of fruits, especially the traditional "thekua."
State authorities typically issue a public notice confirming which of the four days will be observed as a holiday for schools and offices. While the exact holiday declaration for 2026 has not yet been released, residents are advised to monitor official channels for the final schedule.
Chhath Puja remains a cultural cornerstone in Bihar, drawing millions of devotees who converge on the banks of the Ganges and its tributaries to perform the solemn rituals that have been passed down through generations.
The festival proceeds with "Kharna," a day‑long fast, followed by "Sandhya Arghya" at sunset and culminates with "Usha Arghya" at sunrise on the final day. Each day involves specific rites, communal gatherings on riverbanks, and offerings of fruits, especially the traditional "thekua."
State authorities typically issue a public notice confirming which of the four days will be observed as a holiday for schools and offices. While the exact holiday declaration for 2026 has not yet been released, residents are advised to monitor official channels for the final schedule.
Chhath Puja remains a cultural cornerstone in Bihar, drawing millions of devotees who converge on the banks of the Ganges and its tributaries to perform the solemn rituals that have been passed down through generations.