Chhath Puja
छठ पूजा
One of the most important festivals of the Madhesi (Terai) community - worship of the Sun god (Chhathi Maiya / Surya) and Usha (goddess of dawn) for the welfare of family. Unique for its absence of idol worship and its strict purity requirements.
When
October–November
Gregorian (approximate — lunar dates shift yearly)
Nepali month
Kartik
Bikram Sambat calendar
Duration
4 days
Tourist appeal
Medium
Hindu · Terai
Chhath is one of the most environmentally conscious Hindu festivals: no idols are used, no priests are required, and the main ritual involves devotees standing in river water for hours offering arghya (offering of water and food) to the setting and rising sun. The Bagmati River in Kathmandu and rivers of the Terai host massive gatherings.
Traditions & rituals
Nahay Khay: ritual bath and eating boiled rice with pumpkin
Kharna: fasting, then breaking fast with kheer and roti
Sandhya Arghya: evening offering to the setting sun from riverbank
Usha Arghya: dawn offering to the rising sun
What people eat during Chhath Puja
When does Chhath Puja fall this year?
Chhath Puja is observed in the Nepali month of Kartik, which corresponds to roughly October–November in the Gregorian calendar. Most Nepali festivals follow the lunar Bikram Sambat calendar, so the precise day moves each year. Use our converter to map any Bikram Sambat date to the Gregorian calendar.
Nepali date converter (BS ⇄ AD) →Chhath Puja, answered
Common questions about the date, duration and meaning of Chhath Puja.
When is Chhath Puja celebrated?+
Chhath Puja falls in October–November — the Nepali month of Kartik in the Bikram Sambat calendar. Because most Nepali festivals follow the lunar calendar, the exact Gregorian dates shift slightly each year.
How long does Chhath Puja last?+
Chhath Puja lasts 4 days.
What is the significance of Chhath Puja?+
One of the most important festivals of the Madhesi (Terai) community - worship of the Sun god (Chhathi Maiya / Surya) and Usha (goddess of dawn) for the welfare of family. Unique for its absence of idol worship and its strict purity requirements.
Who celebrates Chhath Puja and where?+
Chhath Puja is primarily a Hindu festival, celebrated mainly in the Terai.
What food is eaten during Chhath Puja?+
Traditional Chhath Puja foods include Thekua (wheat-flour sweet biscuit), Kheer, Coconut, Sugarcane, Fruits offered on bamboo basket (soop).
Other festivals of Nepal
Sources & data note
Festival dates follow the lunar Bikram Sambat calendar and shift each Gregorian year; the approximate Gregorian months reflect the typical recent range. Cultural details on Chhath Puja are sourced from the Nepal Tourism Board and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.