Chhath (छठ पर्व) is a four-day festival in which devotees fast and offer arghya to the setting and rising sun, usually standing in a river or pond. Its main day falls on Kartik Shukla Shashthi; in 2083 BS, KhataIN's calendar lists Chhath Parva on Kartik 29 (15 November 2026) as a public holiday.
Open the Nepali calendar to see Chhath in Bikram Sambat and English dates, or check the full holiday list for 2083.
What is Chhath Parva?
Chhath is a festival dedicated to Surya, the sun god, and to Chhathi Maiya (छठी मैया), the goddess worshipped alongside him. Devotees give thanks for life, health and the harvest, and pray for the well-being of their families. The name comes from chhath, "sixth", because the main offering is made on the sixth day (Shashthi) of the bright half of the lunar month of Kartik.
Chhath is known for its discipline. Many devotees, called parvaitin or vratis, keep a strict fast, including a long fast without water, and prepare offerings with great attention to cleanliness. Women have traditionally led the observance, but many men keep the fast as well, and whole families take part in preparations.
When is Chhath in 2083?
Chhath follows the lunar calendar, so its English date changes every year. KhataIN's published 2083 holiday data lists:
| Event | BS date | AD date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chhath Parva (छठ पर्व) | Kartik 29, 2083 | Sunday, 15 November 2026 | Public holiday |
This is the main day, when the evening offering to the setting sun is made. The other three days fall around it, as described below. Because tithis can shift, confirm the exact days and arghya times with the Nepali calendar or a local panchang.
What happens on each of the four days?
- Nahay Khay (नहाय खाय): The festival begins with a ritual bath, often in a river or pond, followed by a simple, pure vegetarian meal. Homes and kitchens are cleaned thoroughly.
- Kharna (खरना), also called Lohanda: Devotees fast through the day and break it after sunset with a prasad such as kheer made with jaggery, along with roti and fruit. A long fast without water usually begins after this meal.
- Sandhya Arghya (सन्ध्या अर्घ्य): In the evening, devotees walk to the water's edge carrying offerings, stand in the water and offer arghya to the setting sun. This is the day listed in KhataIN's holiday data.
- Usha Arghya (उषा अर्घ्य): Before dawn the next morning, devotees return to the water to offer arghya to the rising sun. After the offering, they break their fast and share prasad with family and neighbours.
What are the main rituals and offerings?
Offerings are usually carried in bamboo baskets (daura) and winnowing trays (soop or nanglo). Common items include seasonal fruits, sugarcane, coconut, and thekua, a sweet baked or fried from wheat flour and jaggery. Arghya is offered with water or milk while facing the sun.
Ghats are cleaned and decorated in the days before, and families often build small altars at the water's edge. Folk songs specific to Chhath are sung while walking to the ghat and during the evening and morning offerings. Some families also keep a night vigil at the ghat between the two arghyas. Details differ between families and communities.
Where is Chhath celebrated?
In Nepal, Chhath is most closely associated with the Madhesh and the wider Terai, especially Mithila, Bhojpuri and Awadhi-speaking communities, where it is one of the largest festivals of the year. Janakpur and other Terai towns see large gatherings at ponds and riverbanks. Over the years the festival has also spread to Kathmandu and other cities, where devotees gather at ponds and along rivers. It is also celebrated widely in the neighbouring Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, and by diaspora communities abroad.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chhath a public holiday in Nepal?
KhataIN's published 2083 holiday data lists Chhath Parva on Kartik 29, 2083 (15 November 2026) as a public holiday. Holiday decisions are made by the government each year, so check the holiday list for the current year's status.
Why is Chhath celebrated on the sixth day?
The main offering is made on Shashthi, the sixth lunar day of the bright fortnight of Kartik. The word chhath itself means "sixth", and the festival is named after this day.
What is offered to the sun during Chhath?
Devotees offer arghya, water or milk poured while facing the sun, together with baskets of seasonal fruit, sugarcane, coconut and homemade sweets such as thekua. The offerings are prepared with strict attention to purity.
Can men observe the Chhath fast?
Yes. Women have traditionally kept the Chhath fast in larger numbers, but many men also observe it, and families decide according to their own tradition.
How do I find the Chhath date for another year?
Chhath moves with the lunar calendar. Open the Nepali calendar for the year you need, or use the date converter to turn a published BS date into an English date.