When Is Chhath Puja 2027? Date, Nahay Khay, Kharna and Arghya Timings
Chhath Puja, also known as Chhath Mahaparv or Surya Shashthi, is one of the most important traditional festivals celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and parts of Nepal. The four-day festival is dedicated to the worship of Lord Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya. Devotees observe rituals, maintain fasts and offer prayers to the setting and rising Sun for the well-being, health and prosperity of their families.
When is Chhath Puja 2027? Chhath Puja will begin on Tuesday, 2 November 2027, with Nahay Khay, and conclude on Friday, 5 November 2027, with Usha Arghya and the completion of the fast. The main evening offering, known as Sandhya Arghya, will take place on Thursday, 4 November 2027.
The festival is observed with great devotion along riverbanks, ponds and other water bodies. Here is a complete guide to the Chhath Puja 2027 dates, four-day schedule, rituals, puja samagri and significance.
When Is Chhath Puja 2027? Date and Four-Day Calendar
Chhath Puja is observed on Kartik Shukla Shashthi, the sixth day of the waxing lunar fortnight in the Hindu month of Kartik. The main evening worship takes place on Shashthi, while the morning offering is made on the following day.
In 2027, the four-day Chhath Mahaparv schedule is as follows:
| Festival Day | Date | Day | Ritual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 2 November 2027 | Tuesday | Nahay Khay |
| Day 2 | 3 November 2027 | Wednesday | Lohanda and Kharna |
| Day 3 | 4 November 2027 | Thursday | Sandhya Arghya (evening offering) |
| Day 4 | 5 November 2027 | Friday | Usha Arghya (morning offering) and Parana |
The dates above follow the New Delhi 2027 Chhath calendar. Sunrise and sunset timings for the rituals vary by location, so devotees should check their local panchang before planning the offerings.
Why Is Chhath Puja Celebrated?
Chhath Puja is dedicated to Lord Surya, who is regarded in Hindu tradition as the source of light, energy and life. Devotees offer prayers to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, seeking blessings for the health, happiness and prosperity of their families.
Chhathi Maiya is worshipped as a nurturing and protective divine figure. Many devotees observe the festival with the belief that sincere prayers and disciplined rituals bring well-being and blessings to their children and family members.
Unlike many other Hindu festivals, Chhath Puja places particular emphasis on worshipping the setting Sun as well as the rising Sun. The practice reflects gratitude for the natural cycle of life and the energy that sustains all living beings.
Four Days of Chhath Puja 2027: Rituals and Traditions
Day 1: Nahay Khay – 2 November 2027
Nahay Khay marks the beginning of Chhath Mahaparv. On this day, devotees take a ritual bath, clean their homes and prepare for the days of worship ahead. Cleanliness and purity are important parts of the observance.
The person observing the fast, commonly called the vratin, generally eats a simple vegetarian meal prepared in a clean environment. Traditional meals may include rice, chana dal and lauki (bottle gourd). Rock salt and other ingredients are selected according to family customs.
Nahay Khay is also a day for preparing the home, kitchen and utensils that will be used during the remaining rituals.
Day 2: Lohanda and Kharna – 3 November 2027
The second day is known as Lohanda or Kharna. Devotees observe a fast during the day and perform prayers in the evening. After the worship, the fast is broken with traditional prasad.
One of the most common Kharna preparations is jaggery-based kheer, often made with rice and milk. Roti and other simple offerings may also be prepared according to family traditions. The prasad is first offered to Chhathi Maiya and then shared with family members.
After Kharna, many devotees begin a strict nirjala fast, traditionally observed without food or water, which continues until the morning offering on the fourth day. The duration is commonly described as approximately 36 hours.
Day 3: Sandhya Arghya – 4 November 2027
The third day is the main day of Chhath Puja. Devotees prepare bamboo baskets and traditional offerings, then gather at riverbanks, ponds, lakes or specially arranged ghats to worship the setting Sun.
Standing in water, devotees offer Arghya to Surya Dev as the Sun sets. The offerings commonly include thekua, fruits, sugarcane, coconut, rice-based sweets and other traditional prasad. Families and communities gather at the ghats, creating a deeply devotional atmosphere with prayers, folk songs and traditional rituals.
Sandhya Arghya is one of the most visually distinctive parts of Chhath Mahaparv, as hundreds of devotees may gather near the water to offer prayers together.
Day 4: Usha Arghya and Parana – 5 November 2027
The final day begins early in the morning, when devotees return to the ghats before sunrise. They offer Arghya to the rising Sun, known as Usha Arghya, and pray for the well-being of their families.
After completing the morning rituals, devotees perform Parana, which marks the conclusion of the fast. The vratin breaks the fast according to family and regional customs, often after sharing prasad with family members.
With Usha Arghya and Parana, the four-day Chhath Mahaparv comes to an end.
Chhath Puja Samagri 2027: Complete Items List
Preparing the puja samagri in advance helps families organise the rituals smoothly. The exact list may vary by region and family tradition, but the following items are commonly used during Chhath Puja.
Essential Puja Items
- Bamboo soop (winnowing basket) and daura (bamboo basket)
- Banana leaves and a clean cloth
- Diya, cotton wicks, oil or ghee
- Incense sticks and dhoop
- Kumkum, vermilion and turmeric
- Kalash or lota for offering water
- Milk and clean water for Arghya
- Flowers and other customary worship items
Fruits and Traditional Prasad
- Thekua, the traditional Chhath sweet
- Bananas and coconuts
- Sugarcane
- Apples and seasonal fruits
- Sweet potatoes
- Radish and other seasonal vegetables
- Ginger and turmeric
- Rice laddoos and other traditional sweets
- Ingredients for jaggery kheer and roti for Kharna
Many families prepare thekua and other prasad at home while following traditional cleanliness practices. The offerings are arranged in bamboo baskets and taken to the ghat for the evening and morning Arghya.
Where Is Chhath Puja Celebrated?
Chhath Puja is especially popular in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh. It is also widely observed in Nepal and by Indian communities living in other countries.
Major cities such as Patna, Ranchi, Varanasi, Delhi and Mumbai witness large community celebrations. Temporary ghats are often prepared near rivers, ponds and lakes so devotees can perform the rituals. In many places, local organisations and volunteers help arrange lighting, cleanliness, water facilities and other public services.
Even outside India, families and community groups continue the tradition by organising prayers and offerings near suitable water bodies or at designated community locations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chhath Puja 2027
1. When is Chhath Puja in 2027?
Chhath Puja 2027 will be observed from Tuesday, 2 November to Friday, 5 November. The main evening Arghya will take place on Thursday, 4 November 2027.
2. When is Nahay Khay in 2027?
Nahay Khay, the first day of Chhath Puja, falls on Tuesday, 2 November 2027.
3. When is Kharna in 2027?
Lohanda and Kharna will be observed on Wednesday, 3 November 2027. Devotees traditionally observe a fast during the day and break it after evening prayers and the preparation of prasad.
4. When is Sandhya Arghya in 2027?
Sandhya Arghya, the offering to the setting Sun, will take place on Thursday, 4 November 2027. The offering is made around sunset, and the exact time depends on the location.
5. When is Usha Arghya in 2027?
Usha Arghya, the offering to the rising Sun, will take place on Friday, 5 November 2027. Devotees gather at the ghats before sunrise to complete the final major ritual.
6. What items are needed for Chhath Puja?
Common Chhath Puja items include bamboo baskets, thekua, fruits, sugarcane, coconut, rice laddoos, milk, water, flowers, diya, incense and traditional worship materials. The exact list varies according to family and regional customs.
7. Why do devotees worship both the setting and rising Sun?
Chhath Puja honours the Sun as the source of life and energy. Offering Arghya to the setting and rising Sun expresses gratitude and devotion while recognising the importance of the Sun's daily cycle.
Conclusion
Chhath Puja 2027 will be celebrated over four days, from 2 November to 5 November 2027. The festival begins with Nahay Khay, continues with Kharna, reaches its main evening worship with Sandhya Arghya and concludes with Usha Arghya and Parana.
More than a religious observance, Chhath Mahaparv represents devotion, discipline, gratitude and the close relationship between people and nature. As families prepare for Chhath Puja 2027, the festival will once again bring communities together through prayers, traditional offerings and shared celebrations.