Chhath Puja 2026 in Bihar: Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga and District-Wise Celebrations

Chhath Puja 2026 in Bihar will be celebrated from Friday 13 to Monday 16 November, as millions of devotees worship Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya. From the Ganga ghats of Patna to the ponds of Darbhanga, the riverfront of Bhagalpur and the neighbourhood ghats of Muzaffarpur, Bihar is preparing for its most cherished festival, Chhath Mahaparv, also called Surya Shashthi and Dala Chhath.

Families keep a strict fast, prepare thekua and other prasad, clean and decorate their homes, and gather at rivers, ponds and designated water bodies to offer Sandhya Arghya to the setting Sun and Usha Arghya to the rising Sun.

Chhath Puja 2026 in Bihar: dates

The Bihar government's holiday calendar lists 14 November (Kharna) and 15–16 November as Chhath holidays.

Arghya times in Bihar's main cities

Times are from Drik Panchang. For more cities in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and beyond, see our Chhath Puja 2026 arghya time city-wise guide.

Patna: Chhath on the Ganga ghats

Patna is the heart of Chhath. On Sandhya Arghya, the Ganga riverfront fills with devotees standing in the water with soops of thekua, fruits and sugarcane, while Chhath songs echo along the ghats.

Well-known Patna ghats include Gandhi Ghat, Collectorate Ghat, Bans Ghat, Digha Ghat, Kurji Ghat, Mahendru Ghat, LCT Ghat, Pahalwan Ghat and Patipul Ghat, along with neighbourhood ponds and artificial ponds prepared by the Patna Municipal Corporation for those who cannot reach the river. Which ghats are open changes every year with the river's course and the administration's safety checks, so use only ghats on the district's approved list.

Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inspected Ganga ghats in Patna on 5 November to review security, cleanliness and facilities for Chhath Mahaparv 2026. Local reports describe cleaning, lighting, barricading, warning signs, CCTV, watchtowers, changing rooms and better access routes across the city's ghats and ponds.

Gaya

In Gaya, one of Bihar's great pilgrimage cities, families keep the four days at home and gather at ponds, neighbourhood water bodies and suitable stretches of riverbank for the two arghyas. Sandhya Arghya is at about 5:03 PM. Check the district administration's list of designated ghats before travelling.

Muzaffarpur

Across Muzaffarpur and north Bihar, preparations begin days before Nahay Khay, with homes cleaned and soops, fruit and sugarcane bought in the markets. Neighbourhood ponds and approved water bodies come alive on the evening of 15 November, with Sandhya Arghya at about 4:59 PM. Watch for municipal announcements on approved ghats and traffic restrictions.

Bhagalpur

Bhagalpur keeps Chhath on the Ganga, at locations such as the Barari riverfront, Budhanath Ghat and Adampur Ghat. Local reports in November said the district was preparing about 270 Chhath ghats, with cleaning, silt removal and access work, and extra care at spots where water depth or slippery banks are a risk. Sandhya Arghya is at about 4:54 PM, the earliest among Bihar's big cities.

Darbhanga: Chhath around historic ponds

Darbhanga's Chhath has a character of its own, centred on the city's historic ponds rather than a river. Municipal officials inspected cleaning and ghat work at ponds including Harahi, Dighi and Gangasagar ahead of the festival, according to local reports. Restoration work can affect access, so check the latest arrangements before choosing a pond.

Begusarai

In Begusarai, a municipal review in October covered cleaning of ghats, ponds and water bodies, repairs and painting, barricading, lighting and decoration, and pumping out excess water from some ponds before the festival, local reports said.

Hajipur and Vaishali

Close to Patna, Hajipur and the Vaishali region keep Chhath near the Ganga and Gandak, at ponds and local water bodies. Many families move between Patna and Hajipur over the festival; use only designated ghats and check traffic arrangements on the Ganga bridges.

Other districts across Bihar

• Nalanda and Bihar Sharif: ponds and water bodies across the district.
• Munger and Jamalpur: Ganga riverfront ghats where permitted.
• Purnia, Katihar and Seemanchal: rivers, ponds and neighbourhood ghats.
• Chhapra and Saran: the Ghaghara and Ganga; watch water levels and currents.
• Ara and Bhojpur: ponds and riverbanks, with many families returning home for the festival.
• Sitamarhi and Madhubani (Mithilanchal): family rituals and devotional singing around local ponds.
• Samastipur, East and West Champaran, Buxar, Siwan, Gopalganj, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Nawada, Jamui and more: Chhath is kept in every town and village.

Safety at the ghats

Chhath brings enormous crowds to the water's edge, especially at Sandhya and Usha Arghya. District administrations deploy divers, rescue boats, medical teams and police, and barricade or close unsafe ghats. A PTI report on 9 November said the state disaster management department had asked districts to ban firecrackers near ghats and private boat operations during the festival; follow the instructions of local police and ghat committees.

• Use only approved ghats and stay inside barricades.
• Do not go into deep water; keep children close.
• Do not take private boats during the festival.
• No firecrackers near the ghats.
• Arrive early, follow traffic and parking arrangements, and leave the ghat clean.

The four days of Chhath Puja

Day 1: Nahay Khay, 13 November

A ritual bath, a cleaned home and a sattvic meal of rice, chana dal and lauki.

Day 2: Kharna, 14 November

A day-long fast broken after sunset with jaggery kheer and roti; the 36-hour nirjala fast begins.

Day 3: Sandhya Arghya, 15 November

Devotees offer arghya to the setting Sun with soops and daura of thekua, fruits, sugarcane and coconuts, amid Chhath songs.

Day 4: Usha Arghya and Parana, 16 November

Before sunrise, devotees offer arghya to the rising Sun and end the fast with Parana.

Chhath prasad in Bihar

Thekua, kasar, jaggery kheer, roti, bananas, coconuts, sugarcane, seasonal fruits, ginger and turmeric plants are arranged in bamboo soops and daura. See our thekua and Chhath prasad recipes.

Why Chhath matters so much in Bihar

Chhath is Bihar's identity festival, kept across communities and social backgrounds. It celebrates the Sun, water and nature; brings families together to prepare the offerings; passes songs and rituals from grandparents to children; and is the great homecoming of the year, when people working in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru return home. For festival special trains, see our Dasara, Diwali and Chhath special trains update.

Travel tips

• Book trains and rooms early for Patna, Gaya and other cities.
• Check your district's approved ghat list; older lists may be out of date.
• Arrive early at major ghats.
• Follow traffic diversions and parking arrangements.
• Keep children supervised and avoid unsafe water.

For Chhath in Delhi, see our report on ITO Yamuna Ghat preparations; for families abroad, see our USA, UK and Ireland, Canada and Australia guides.

Jai Chhathi Maiya! Jai Surya Dev!

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Chhath Puja 2026 in Bihar?

13 to 16 November 2026: Nahay Khay on 13, Kharna on 14, Sandhya Arghya on 15 and Usha Arghya on 16 November.

What time is Sandhya Arghya in Patna in 2026?

At sunset on Sunday 15 November, about 5:01 PM. Usha Arghya on Monday 16 November is at about 6:07 AM.

Which are the famous Chhath ghats in Patna?

Gandhi Ghat, Collectorate Ghat, Bans Ghat, Digha Ghat, Kurji Ghat and other riverfront ghats. Check this year's approved list before visiting.

Is Chhath a holiday in Bihar in 2026?

Yes. The state holiday calendar lists 14 November (Kharna) and 15–16 November.

What are the safety rules for Chhath 2026 in Bihar?

Use approved ghats, stay within barricades, avoid deep water, do not use private boats and do not burst firecrackers near the ghats.