Lucknow, Nov 2026 - Chhath Puja 2026: The four-day festival of Chhath, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, reaches its third day on Sunday, November 15, with devotees preparing to offer Sandhya Arghya to the setting sun. Thousands of devotees are expected to gather at riverbanks, ponds and other water bodies across Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and several other parts of the country to perform the evening rituals.
Chhath Puja began on November 13 with the traditional ritual of Nahay-Khay, followed by Kharna on November 14. The third day is dedicated to Sandhya Arghya, when devotees offer prayers and water to the setting Sun God. The festival will conclude on Monday, November 16, with Usha Arghya, offered to the rising sun, followed by the completion of the fast.
Sunset and sunrise timings are particularly important during Chhath Puja, as the main rituals are performed at these specific times. Since sunset varies from city to city, devotees should follow the local sunset schedule while planning their visit to the Chhath ghats.
Chhath Puja 2026: Sandhya Arghya Sunset Timings in Major Cities
According to the Panchang timings provided for Sunday, November 15, sunset in Patna is expected at 5:01 pm, while devotees in Gorakhpur will offer Sandhya Arghya around 5:06 pm. In New Delhi, sunset is scheduled for 5:28 pm, while Mumbai will witness sunset at 6 pm.
The city-wise sunset timings for Sandhya Arghya are given below.
Bihar: Sandhya Arghya Timings
| City | Sunset Time |
|---|---|
| Patna | 5:01 pm |
| Gaya | 5:03 pm |
| Muzaffarpur | 4:59 pm |
| Bhagalpur | 4:54 pm |
| Darbhanga | 4:57 pm |
| Purnia | 4:52 pm |
| Begusarai | 4:58 pm |
| Ara | 5:03 pm |
| Chhapra | 5:02 pm |
| Siwan | 5:03 pm |
| Motihari | 5:00 pm |
Uttar Pradesh: Sandhya Arghya Timings
| City | Sunset Time |
|---|---|
| Gorakhpur | 5:06 pm |
| Varanasi | 5:10 pm |
| Lucknow | 5:16 pm |
| Prayagraj | 5:15 pm |
| Kanpur | 5:19 pm |
| Ayodhya | 5:11 pm |
| Deoria | 5:05 pm |
| Ghazipur | 5:07 pm |
Jharkhand: Sandhya Arghya Timings
| City | Sunset Time |
|---|---|
| Ranchi | 5:04 pm |
| Jamshedpur | 5:01 pm |
| Dhanbad | 4:59 pm |
| Bokaro | 5:00 pm |
| Deoghar | 4:57 pm |
Delhi-NCR and Mumbai: Sunset Timings
| City | Sunset Time |
|---|---|
| New Delhi | 5:28 pm |
| Noida | 5:27 pm |
| Ghaziabad | 5:27 pm |
| Gurugram | 5:29 pm |
| Faridabad | 5:28 pm |
| Mumbai | 6:00 pm |
What is the Religious Significance of Sandhya Arghya?
Offering Sandhya Arghya to the setting sun is one of the most important rituals of Chhath Puja. According to religious beliefs, worshipping the setting Sun God brings happiness, prosperity and well-being to the family.
Devotees observe the rigorous Chhath fast and offer prayers for the long life, good health and prosperity of their children and family members. They worship both the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya with deep devotion and observe the rituals with discipline and purity.
One of the distinctive features of Chhath Puja is that devotees worship not only the rising sun but also the setting sun. The evening Arghya symbolises gratitude and devotion towards the Sun God, whose energy is considered essential for life on Earth.
How to Offer Sandhya Arghya During Chhath Puja
Devotees follow traditional rituals while offering Arghya to the setting sun. The preparations generally include arranging the offerings in bamboo baskets and reaching the Chhath ghat before sunset.
The main steps for performing Sandhya Arghya are:
Prepare the offerings: Arrange the traditionalkua and offerings, including Thekua, coconut, sugarcane, seasonal fruits and other puja materials, in bamboo Soop and Daura baskets.
Reach the Chhath ghat: Devotees should reach the riverbank, pond or designated water body with family members before sunset.
Stand in the water: Take a safe position in the water and prepare for the evening prayers.
Offer Arghya: Worship the setting Sun God by offering water and raw milk.
Pray to Chhathi Maiya: Seek blessings for family prosperity, happiness and the good health of children.
Prepare for Usha Arghya: After completing the evening rituals, devotees prepare for the final morning prayers on Monday.
Chhath Puja 2026: Usha Arghya Sunrise Timings on November 16
Monday, November 16, will mark the fourth and final day of Chhath Puja 2026. Devotees will reach the ghats before sunrise to offer Usha Arghya to the rising Sun God.
After offering prayers to the morning sun, devotees will complete the rituals and perform Paran, marking the conclusion of their fast.
The expected sunrise timings in selected cities on Monday are as follows:
| City | Sunrise Time |
|---|---|
| Patna | 6:07 am |
| Gorakhpur | 6:16 am |
| Ranchi | 6:03 am |
| Varanasi | 6:15 am |
| Lucknow | 6:26 am |
| Delhi | 6:44 am |
| Gaya | 6:06 am |
| Dhanbad | 5:59 am |
Chhath Puja 2026: Complete Four-Day Festival Schedule
Chhath Puja is observed over four days, with each day having a distinct ritual and religious significance. The schedule for the 2026 festival is:
| Date | Day | Ritual |
|---|---|---|
| November 13, 2026 | Day 1 | Nahay-Khay |
| November 14, 2026 | Day 2 | Kharna |
| November 15, 2026 | Day 3 | Sandhya Arghya |
| November 16, 2026 | Day 4 | Usha Arghya and Paran |
Chhath Puja Celebrations Across the Country
Devotees are displaying tremendous enthusiasm for Chhath Puja 2026, particularly in Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, where the festival is celebrated on a large scale. Chhath ghats are witnessing preparations and gatherings as families come together to observe the traditional rituals.
On Sunday evening, the ghats are expected to resonate with traditional Chhath songs and prayers dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. The offering of Sandhya Arghya will be followed by the final morning ritual on Monday, when devotees worship the rising sun and complete their fast.
With Sandhya Arghya on November 15 and Usha Arghya on November 16, the four-day Chhath Mahaparv will conclude with prayers for family well-being, prosperity and good health.
