Chhath Puja 2028: Worship of the Sun God
Festival guide · 2028
Chhath Puja (छठ पूजा) is a four-day festival dedicated to Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya. It falls six days after Diwali in the bright fortnight of Kartik (October–November) and is primarily observed in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and by their diaspora worldwide.
What makes Chhath unique is its austerity and outdoor, waterside setting. Devotees — mainly women known as Vratin — stand waist-deep in water to offer arghya directly to the setting and rising sun. There are no priests; devotees commune directly with Surya.
2028 Dates
| Date | Thursday, October 26, 2028 |
Dates are calculated automatically and may vary by ±1 day. Always confirm with your local religious authority.
Traditions & Observance
Day 1 — Nahay Khay (Bath and Eat)
Devotees take a holy bath in a river and bring home sacred water. They eat a single meal of chana dal, bottle gourd, and rice cooked in pure ghee on an earthen stove. From this point, the household is kept meticulously clean and family members observe a restricted diet.
Day 2 — Kharna (The Long Fast)
Devotees observe a full-day fast without water. After sunset, prasad is prepared — kheer (rice pudding with jaggery) cooked on earthen stoves using mango wood. The Vratin eats a small amount after offering it to the Sun, then distributes to family and neighbours. A 36-hour waterless fast now begins.
Day 3 — Sandhya Arghya (Evening Offering to the Setting Sun)
Vratin carry bamboo baskets filled with seasonal fruits, sugarcane, wheat bread (thekua), and prasad to the riverbank. At sunset, standing in the water, they offer arghya (water from a brass vessel) to the setting sun, accompanied by devotional Chhath songs. This is the most visually spectacular evening of the festival.
Day 4 — Usha Arghya (Sunrise Offering)
Before dawn, devotees return to the water for the final offering to the rising sun — Usha Arghya. Standing in the water through the night, they greet the first rays of sunrise with water offerings. The 36-hour fast ends when the Vratin drinks prasad water. The festival closes with distribution of prasad.
Other Years
Chhath Puja falls 6 days after Diwali. Dates vary slightly by year. Confirm with your local community or temple.