Chhath Puja 2026 Date, All Four Day Schedule

Chhath Puja 2026 falls across four days in November, with the main Chhath Puja Shashthi (sixth day) on Sunday, 15 November 2026. The festival dedicated to the Sun God (Surya Devata) and Chhathi Maiya begins with Nahay Khay on Friday, 13 November 2026. Banks in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh observe closures on key Chhath days. How many days are left for Chhath Puja? As of today (14 August 2026), Chhath Puja is approximately 91 days away.

What Is Chhath Puja?

Chhath Puja is one of the most ancient Vedic festivals, dedicated to the Sun God for sustaining life and for the well-being of family members. The word "Chhath" means "six" in Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Awadhi — the festival falls on the sixth day (Shashthi) of the Kartik Shukla Paksha. The four-day vrat (fast) is one of the most rigorous in Hinduism, with devotees (primarily women) observing a waterless fast, bathing in rivers, and offering Arghya (water offerings) to the rising and setting sun. Chhath is the cultural heartbeat of Bihar and Jharkhand and is also enthusiastically observed by communities in Eastern UP, Delhi, and among Bihari diaspora worldwide.

Chhath Puja 2026: All Four Days

Day | Date | Day | Occasion | Key Ritual
Day 1 | 13 November 2026 | Friday | Nahay Khay (Chaturthi) | Holy bath, eating gourd vegetable and chana dal
Day 2 | 14 November 2026 | Saturday | Kharna / Lohanda (Panchami) | Day-long fast, evening prasad of kheer and roti on banana leaf
Day 3 | 15 November 2026 | Sunday | Sandhya Arghya (Shashthi — main Chhath day) | Evening Arghya to the setting sun at ghats
Day 4 | 16 November 2026 | Monday | Usha Arghya (Saptami) | Pre-dawn Arghya to the rising sun; fast broken

Is Chhath Puja a Bank Holiday in 2026?

Date | Day | Occasion | Bank Closure Status
13 November 2026 | Friday | Nahay Khay | Not a gazetted bank holiday
14 November 2026 | Saturday | Kharna (also 2nd Saturday) | Banks closed nationwide (2nd Saturday)
15 November 2026 | Sunday | Sandhya Arghya (Chhath main day) | Already a weekly off; no additional weekday closure
16 November 2026 | Monday | Usha Arghya | Bank holiday in Bihar and Jharkhand; verify for UP

Note: Chhath Puja 2026's main day falls on a Sunday, so it does not add a separate weekday bank closure. However, Kharna on 14 November (Saturday) coincides with the 2nd Saturday bank holiday. Usha Arghya on Monday, 16 November, typically results in a bank closure in Bihar and Jharkhand where it is a gazetted holiday.

Chhath travel to ghat-side locations in Bihar, UP, or Jharkhand can involve significant advance planning. CreditMitra's short-term personal loans can be applied for entirely online before the Chhath holiday begins, so festive travel and gifting expenses are covered.

What Works and What Doesn't During Chhath Puja

Service | Available During Chhath?
UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, BHIM) | Yes, 24/7
IMPS transfers | Yes, 24/7
NEFT transfers | Yes, 24/7
ATM withdrawals | Yes, 24/7
Mobile and internet banking | Yes
RTGS transfers | No, resumes next working day
Branch services | No, branch closed on holiday days
NACH EMI auto-debit | Processed on the next working day if due date falls on Usha Arghya holiday

What Happens If Your EMI Is Due During Chhath?

If your EMI falls on 16 November 2026 (Monday, Usha Arghya), it will be processed on the next working day in Bihar and Jharkhand where it is a gazetted holiday. Ensure your account has sufficient balance from 13 November (before the Chhath weekend) to avoid a debit failure.

Need funds for Chhath preparations, travel, or new clothes? CreditMitra's short-term personal loans offer a fully online application and fast disbursal before the Chhath holiday cluster begins.