Chhath Puja in Chitrakoot

Chhath Puja in Chitrakoot: Date and Timing

Chhath Puja is observed on Kartik Shukla Shashthi, the sixth tithi of the bright fortnight of Kartik. The vrat is dedicated to Surya and to Chhathi Maiya, and the central act of worship is offered to the sun at a river or other water body.

Because the tithi is reckoned from the local sunrise and sunset of a place, the date can be computed for Chitrakoot itself rather than borrowed from a general panchang. For Chitrakoot (चित्रकूट), India, in the Asia/Kolkata time zone, the date falls on Sunday 15 November 2026 and on Thursday 4 November 2027.

Why the Date Can Differ from India as a Whole

A single all-India date is convenient, but the tithi is a lunar measurement tied to the sky as seen from a given location. Sunrise and sunset differ from place to place, so the window in which Shashthi is current can begin or end at slightly different clock times across the country.

When that window sits close to a sunrise or sunset boundary, one region may still be observing Shashthi while another has moved on. For that reason, a date computed for Chitrakoot's own sunrise is the safer guide for someone observing there, while a national list may show a neighbouring day.

It is also worth noting that panchang conventions are not uniform. Amanta and purnimanta reckonings, and the differing practices of regions and sampradayas, can lead to small variations in how a festival date is stated. Where traditions differ, the family or local custom usually settles the question.

Where and How the Community Observes

Chhath Puja is widely kept in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Nepal, and Chitrakoot lies within that broad belt of observance. The vrat is a household and community affair rather than a temple-centred one.

Vratis keep the fast and, at the riverside, offer arghya to the setting sun and again to the rising sun the following morning. The offerings are simple and traditional, and the riverside gathering is usually a family and neighbourhood matter. Since the observance is centred on water, the riverbank is the natural setting for the arghya.

Practical Tips

• Plan around the Chitrakoot date given above rather than a general national listing, and confirm locally as the day approaches.
• Expect the riverside to be busy at both the evening and morning arghya; arrive with time to spare.
• Keep to your family's customary offerings and procedure; customs vary between households and regions.
• For personal questions about your own vrat, timing or chart, consult a qualified jyotishi.