Chhath Puja USA 2026: City Arghya Timings & Guide
Chhath Puja 2026 in the USA: city-by-city Sandhya & Usha arghya timings (NJ, NYC, Chicago, Dallas, Bay Area, Atlanta), no-river guidance and DST note.
Chhath Puja 2026 in the USA: city-by-city Sandhya & Usha arghya timings (NJ, NYC, Chicago, Dallas, Bay Area, Atlanta), no-river guidance and DST note.
Quick answer: Chhath Puja 2026 in the USA follows the same four days (13–16 Nov), but you offer arghya at your own city’s sunset (15 Nov) and sunrise (16 Nov). US clocks fell back on 1 November, so sunsets are early — e.g. New Jersey/NYC sunset ~4:39 PM, sunrise ~6:44 AM.
Across New Jersey, New York, Chicago, Texas, the Bay Area and Atlanta, the Bihari–Purvanchali community keeps Chhath with full devotion. Because the USA observes the festival on the same calendar days but at local sun times — and because the clocks changed on 1 November — the single thing you need is your city’s sunset and sunrise. This guide lists both, and shows how to perform Chhath where there is no river.
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 — USA (2026)
Note: US clocks fell back to standard time on 1 November 2026, so sunset is roughly an hour earlier than in October. Times below are local and approximate — verify your city’s sunset/sunrise on the day.
| City | Sandhya (sunset, 15 Nov) | Usha (sunrise, 16 Nov) |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey / New York | 4:39 PM | 6:44 AM |
| Chicago | 4:31 PM | 6:41 AM |
| Dallas | 5:27 PM | 6:58 AM |
| San Francisco Bay (Fremont) | 4:58 PM | 6:49 AM |
| Atlanta | 5:36 PM | 7:10 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/daura, sugarcane and fresh fruit are available at Indian grocery stores in most metros (Edison NJ, Jackson Heights NY, Devon Chicago, Hillcroft Houston, Bay Area Indian stores). Many local Chhath samitis also arrange a permitted lake or pool venue and a samagri list — search your city’s “Chhath Puja Samiti”.
Related reading
- Chhath Puja 2026 — complete guide
- Chhath Puja in the UK 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 USA?
On the same four days as in India — 13 to 16 November 2026 — but arghya is offered at your local sunset (15 Nov) and sunrise (16 Nov). New Jersey/NYC sunset is about 4:39 PM and sunrise about 6:44 AM.
Does daylight saving affect Chhath timings in the US?
Yes. US clocks fell back on 1 November 2026, so November sunsets are roughly an hour earlier. Always use your city’s current local sunset and sunrise for the arghyas.
How do I do Chhath in the US without a river?
Use a clean backyard or community pool, a lake shore where permitted, or a large tub of clean water at home, and offer arghya to the sun at the correct local time. Many US Chhath samitis arrange a permitted venue.
Where can I buy thekua and soop in the USA?
Indian grocery stores in metros like Edison, Jackson Heights, Chicago’s Devon Avenue, Houston’s Hillcroft and the Bay Area stock Chhath samagri; community samitis often coordinate bulk sourcing.
