Chhath Puja 2026: Canada, Australia & UAE Guide
Chhath Puja 2026 across Canada, Australia & the UAE: Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney, Melbourne, Dubai & Abu Dhabi arghya timings, with hemisphere/DST notes.
Chhath Puja 2026 across Canada, Australia & the UAE: Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney, Melbourne, Dubai & Abu Dhabi arghya timings, with hemisphere/DST notes.
Quick answer: Chhath Puja 2026 is on 13–16 November everywhere; offer arghya at each city’s local sunset (15 Nov) and sunrise (16 Nov). Toronto sunset ~4:54 PM, Dubai ~5:32 PM, while Sydney (spring, on AEDT) is much later at ~7:36 PM.
From Toronto and Vancouver to Sydney, Melbourne, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Chhath is kept by a growing Purvanchali diaspora. Two regional quirks matter: Canada changed clocks (fell back 1 November), while Australia is in spring on daylight time (AEDT) — so the sun sets late and the season is opposite to the northern hemisphere. The UAE keeps no DST. Here are the local timings.
The four days (2026)
| Day | Date 2026 | Ritual |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Nahay Khay | Fri, 13 Nov | Holy bath; one sattvic meal (often lauki-bhaat). Purity begins. |
| 2 · Kharna (Lohanda) | Sat, 14 Nov | Day-long fast, broken after sunset with kheer-roti prasad; then the 36-hour nirjala fast begins. |
| 3 · Sandhya Arghya | Sun, 15 Nov | Evening arghya — offering to the SETTING sun, standing in water at the ghat. |
| 4 · Usha Arghya (Paran) | Mon, 16 Nov | Morning arghya to the RISING sun; the fast is broken (parana). |
City-wise arghya timings — Canada, Australia & UAE (2026)
Note: Canada fell back to standard time on 1 November; the UAE observes no DST; Australia is on AEDT (spring), so its sunset is much later and it is warm, not wintry. Times are local and approximate — verify on the day.
| City | Sandhya (sunset, 15 Nov) | Usha (sunrise, 16 Nov) |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto | 4:54 PM | 7:12 AM |
| Vancouver | 4:32 PM | 7:24 AM |
| Dubai | 5:32 PM | 6:37 AM |
| Abu Dhabi | 5:37 PM | 6:40 AM |
| Sydney | 7:36 PM | 5:44 AM |
| Melbourne | 8:10 PM | 6:01 AM |
How to perform Chhath without a river
- Use a clean backyard or community pool, a pond, a lake shore (where permitted), or a large tub/inflatable pool of clean water at home.
- Set up a small vedi (platform) facing the water; place the soop with thekua, fruits, sugarcane and a lit diya.
- Stand in the water (or beside it) and offer arghya to the setting sun at your city’s Sandhya time, and to the rising sun at Usha time.
- Check local rules before using public lakes/parks; many diaspora samitis arrange a permitted venue.
Samagri — sourcing abroad
In Canada, Indian grocers in Brampton, Scarborough and Surrey stock thekua and soop; in the UAE, Bur Dubai and Abu Dhabi Indian stores; in Australia, Indian grocers in Sydney’s Harris Park and Melbourne’s Dandenong. Community samitis in each city arrange permitted lake/beach/pool venues — confirm the registered spot and timing locally.
Related reading
- Chhath Puja 2026 — complete guide
- Chhath Puja in the USA 2026
- Chhath Puja in the UK 2026
- how to worship Surya Dev
- Hindu Festival Calendar 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Chhath Puja 2026 in Canada, Australia and the UAE?
On 13–16 November 2026, with arghya at each city’s local sunset (15 Nov) and sunrise (16 Nov). For example Toronto sunset is ~4:54 PM, Dubai ~5:32 PM, and Sydney ~7:36 PM.
Why is Chhath so different in Australia?
Australia is in the southern hemisphere and on daylight saving (AEDT) in November — it is spring there, the weather is warm, and the sun sets late (Sydney ~7:36 PM), unlike the cold, early-sunset northern regions.
Does the UAE observe daylight saving for Chhath?
No, the UAE keeps a single time zone year-round. Dubai’s Sandhya Arghya is about 5:32 PM and Usha about 6:37 AM on the festival dates.
Where can I celebrate Chhath in these countries?
Local Chhath samitis in Toronto/Brampton, Sydney, Melbourne, Dubai and Abu Dhabi arrange permitted lake, beach or pool venues each year — search your city’s Chhath group for the registered location.
