Chhath Puja UK 2026: London & Leicester Timings
Chhath Puja 2026 in the UK: London, Leicester & Birmingham arghya timings, community venues, no-river guidance and the DST note.
Chhath Puja 2026 in the UK: London, Leicester & Birmingham arghya timings, community venues, no-river guidance and the DST note.
Quick answer: Chhath Puja 2026 in the UK is on the same four days (13–16 Nov); offer arghya at your city’s sunset (15 Nov) and sunrise (16 Nov). The UK fell back to GMT on 25 October, so sunset is early — London ~4:13 PM, sunrise ~7:19 AM.
The Purvanchali community across London, Leicester, Birmingham and Manchester keeps Chhath each year, often at the Thames, a local lake or a community hall with a pool. With the UK on GMT (clocks changed on 25 October), the November sun sets early — so your arghya times are earlier than many expect. Here are the local timings and venue tips.
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 — UK (2026)
Note: The UK returned to GMT on 25 October 2026, so November sunset is early (mid-afternoon). Times are local and approximate; Birmingham and Manchester are within a few minutes of Leicester — verify locally.
| City | Sandhya (sunset, 15 Nov) | Usha (sunrise, 16 Nov) |
|---|---|---|
| London | 4:13 PM | 7:19 AM |
| Leicester | 4:13 PM | 7:27 AM |
| Birmingham | ~4:15 PM | ~7:25 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
Thekua, soop and sugarcane are available from Indian/South-Asian grocers in Southall, Leicester’s Belgrave Road, Wembley and East Ham. Several UK Chhath associations (London, Leicester) organise a riverside or community-pool venue each year — search your city’s Chhath group for the registered spot and timings.
Related reading
- Chhath Puja 2026 — complete guide
- Chhath Puja in the USA 2026
- Chhath Puja in Canada, Australia & the UAE
- how to worship Surya Dev
- Hindu Festival Calendar 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Chhath Puja 2026 in the UK?
13 to 16 November 2026, with Sandhya Arghya at sunset on the 15th (~4:13 PM in London) and Usha Arghya at sunrise on the 16th (~7:19 AM in London).
Why is the arghya so early in the UK?
Because the UK returned to GMT on 25 October 2026 and November days are short, the sun sets in mid-afternoon. Use your city’s actual sunset and sunrise.
Where is Chhath celebrated in London?
Community groups arrange riverside (Thames) or community-pool venues; check your local UK Chhath association for the registered location and permitted timings each year.
Can I do Chhath at home in the UK?
Yes — a clean tub or pool of water and a vedi facing it suffice; offer arghya to the sun at the correct local sunset and sunrise.
