Chhath Puja in Dallas

Chhath Puja in Dallas: Date and Timing

Chhath Puja is observed on Kartik Shukla Shashthi, the sixth tithi of the bright fortnight of Kartik. The deity honoured is Surya, with Chhathi Maiya; the central observance is sun worship at rivers.

For Dallas, in the time zone America/Chicago, the date computed for the city's own sunrise is:

• 2026: Saturday 14 November 2026
• 2027: Wednesday 3 November 2027

These are the dates for Dallas itself, not a translation of an Indian date. The sunrise and sunset that anchor the vrat are Dallas's own, which is why the observance is kept locally rather than at Indian clock time.

Why the Date Can Differ from India

Chhath is tied to a tithi, and a tithi is defined by the Moon's movement relative to the Sun — not by a fixed hour. The tithi begins and ends at moments that fall differently across the world's time zones. A tithi that is current at sunrise in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh or Nepal may still be running, or may already have given way to the next, at sunrise in Dallas.

Because the observance follows the local sunrise, the Dallas date can fall on the same civil day as India's or on a neighbouring one. This is normal for tithi-based festivals and is not an error in either calculation. Where families keep both the Indian and the local date, traditions differ; the brief for this page does not choose between them.

Where and How the Community Observes

Chhath is a sun-centred observance, traditionally kept at rivers. In a city like Dallas, families adapt the setting while keeping the essentials: an offering to Surya at sunrise and at sunset, a clean and prepared space, and the discipline of the vrat itself. Communities in the diaspora often gather in groups so that the arghya can be offered together, and the same restraint and cleanliness observed at a riverbank is carried into whatever local setting is used.

Specific venues, organisers and events are not named here, as they are not part of the brief.

Practical Tips

• Confirm the local sunrise and sunset times for Dallas on your chosen date, since the arghya is offered at those moments.
• Note that the date is computed for Dallas's own sunrise, so it may differ from the date observed in India.
• Prepare the space and the offerings in advance, as is customary for the vrat.
• If you are unsure how the tithi falls in your own case, or how your family's tradition applies, consult a qualified jyotishi for personal guidance.
• Where customs differ between regions and sampradayas, follow the practice of your own family and lineage.