Chhath Puja 2026 in Ajmer: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate

TL;DR

• Chhath Puja 2026 runs approximately November 13-16, the culminating festival after Diwali 2026 (November 8) and Navratri 2026 (October 11) 🪔
• The four-day observance honors Surya and Chhathi Maiya through fasting, ritual bathing, and sunset/sunrise arghya at open water bodies
• Ana Sagar Lake is the natural venue for community arghya; local Hindu sabha groups coordinate ghat access annually
• Temple communities near Brahma Temple (Pushkar) and Nasiyan Jain Temple anchor the Hindu festive network in Ajmer
• Source puja materials before Diwali week, and note that the Pushkar Camel Fair coincides with the Chhath Puja period in 2026

Chhath Puja in Ajmer: Background and Community

Ajmer is widely known as the location of Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the revered shrine of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti that draws pilgrims of multiple faiths year-round. The city's identity is pluralistic, with Muslim, Hindu, Jain, and other communities living alongside each other. Within this landscape, the Hindu community in Ajmer maintains an active festive calendar, and the season that culminates in Chhath Puja 2026 is one of the most event-dense of the year.

That season begins with Navratri 2026 on October 11, continues through Dussehra/Vijayadashami 2026 on October 20, Karva Chauth 2026 on October 29, Dhanteras 2026 on November 6, Diwali 2026 on November 8, and Bhai Dooj 2026 on November 11, before arriving at Chhath Puja on approximately November 13-16. For families that observe multiple festivals in this stretch, the period is both demanding and rewarding.

Families with roots in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh — the communities most closely associated with Chhath traditions — are present in Ajmer and form the core organizing group for the festival. Over time, the broader Ajmer Hindu community has increasingly joined the celebrations, particularly for the communal arghya at Ana Sagar Lake.

The Four Days of Chhath Puja

Day 1 — Nahay Khay Devotees take a purifying bath at a river or clean water source and then prepare a single sattvic meal: lauki-chana (bottle gourd with chickpeas), cooked in a clean kitchen without onion, garlic, or non-vegetarian ingredients. The vrati's consumption of this meal marks the formal opening of the vrat.

Day 2 — Kharna Rice and jaggery kheer is prepared and offered to Chhathi Maiya at sunset. After this offering and the distribution of prasad, the 36-hour nirjala fast begins — no food, no water. This is the most physically demanding stage and should be approached with health preparation. The commitment represents a complete devotional offering of the self.

Day 3 — Sandhya Arghya The community assembles at the ghat as evening approaches. Bamboo soops filled with thekua, seasonal fruits, sugarcane, coconut, and flowers are carried to the water's edge. The vrati stands in the water and offers arghya to the setting sun as devotional parvati geet songs are sung by those gathered. This is the most communal moment in the four-day cycle.

Day 4 — Suryoday Arghya Before dawn, families return to the ghat. At sunrise, the vrati makes the final offering to the sun. The fast then breaks with the distribution of prasad — thekua and fruits — to all present. The mood moves from austere devotion to relief and celebration.

Where to Celebrate in Ajmer

Ana Sagar Lake Built in the 12th century, Ana Sagar Lake sits on the edge of Ajmer's urban area and provides the most accessible open water body for Chhath Puja arghya. The lake's broad embankment can accommodate large community gatherings, and the local Chhath Puja Samiti typically coordinates with the Ajmer Municipal Corporation to designate specific sections for the festival, arrange lighting, and organize post-arghya cleanup. For 2026, confirm the designated sections at least a week before Sandhya Arghya.

Brahma Temple and the Pushkar Connection Pushkar, located about 11 km from Ajmer, is home to one of the few temples in India dedicated to Lord Brahma — the Brahma Temple. The Ajmer-Pushkar area is considered sacred Hindu geography, and many Hindu families in Ajmer mark the festive season partly through visits to Pushkar. The Brahma Temple's calendar aligns with the broader Kartik festival period that coincides with Chhath Puja, as Kartik Purnima falls on November 15, 2026, the same date as Sandhya Arghya. This overlap makes the period particularly significant for the Hindu community in this region.

Nasiyan (Soniji Ki Nasiyan) Jain Temple Nasiyan (Soniji Ki Nasiyan) Jain Temple is one of Ajmer's most architecturally significant religious sites. While it is a Jain temple and not a Chhath Puja venue, it reflects the city's diverse faith landscape. During the November festive season, the broader religious community in Ajmer often shares event information across temple and community networks, making Jain and Hindu community channels useful for staying informed about ghat locations and event timings.

Local Community Organizations Bihari community associations and Hindu sabha groups in Ajmer are the primary organizers of Chhath Puja events. Watch for announcements at local mandirs and community halls in the first two weeks of November for specific ghat designations and timings.

Puja Preparations

Beginning preparations after Bhai Dooj (November 11) leaves less than 48 hours before Nahay Khay. Start sourcing materials in the last week of October.

Core puja items:

• Bamboo soop: the offering basket for the ghat; stock up early as supplies thin out near the festival
• Thekua: homemade wheat flour sweets with jaggery and ghee; pressed in carved molds and deep-fried over two to three days of preparation
• Seasonal fruits: bananas, pomelo, coconut, pears, sugarcane stalks
• Earthen diyas for the ghat ceremony
• Clean cotton garments (yellow or saffron) for the vrati
• A freshly cleaned, separate kitchen with no onion, garlic, or non-vegetarian ingredients during the four-day period

Karva Chauth 2026 (October 29) and the Diwali sequence have already involved fasting for many families, so health preparation for the 36-hour nirjala fast deserves attention. Consult a medical professional if there are concerns, and ensure the vrati is well-hydrated before Kharna.

Insider Tip: In 2026, the Pushkar Camel Fair (Kartik Mela) runs at the same time as Chhath Puja, as Kartik Purnima falls on November 15. Hotels and transport between Ajmer and Pushkar are heavily booked during this window. If family members are coming from outside Ajmer for the Sandhya Arghya or Suryoday Arghya, arrange accommodation before Diwali week — rates and availability worsen significantly as November progresses.

Chhath Puja in the Festive Calendar Context

The 2026 festive season for Ajmer's Hindu community is especially full. Navratri 2026 and Karva Chauth 2026 each require significant preparation; Diwali 2026 and Dhanteras 2026 add to the calendar before Chhath arrives. Families observing multiple fasts — Karva Chauth (October 29) and then the Chhath nirjala fast (beginning November 14) — should plan rest and nutrition carefully between the two.

For the younger generation and families newer to the Chhath tradition, community participation at the ghat on Sandhya Arghya remains the most accessible entry point.

FAQ

Q: When is Chhath Puja 2026? A: Nahay Khay is approximately November 13, Kharna on November 14, Sandhya Arghya on November 15, and Suryoday Arghya on November 16.

Q: Where do families gather for arghya in Ajmer? A: Ana Sagar Lake is the primary venue. The local Chhath Puja Samiti designates specific sections of the embankment each year in coordination with the Ajmer Municipal Corporation. Check with community organizations or local mandirs in early November for confirmed locations.

Q: What is the connection between Chhath Puja and Kartik Purnima? A: Suryoday Arghya on November 16 falls just after Kartik Purnima on November 15. Both fall in the auspicious month of Kartik, and the Brahma Temple area in Pushkar is especially active during this period, drawing the Hindu community in Ajmer into a wider devotional season.

Q: How long is the Chhath Puja fast? A: The nirjala fast — no food and no water — begins after the Kharna offerings on Day 2 (approximately November 14 evening) and ends after the Suryoday Arghya on Day 4 morning (approximately November 16 at sunrise): roughly 36 hours.

Q: Is Chhath Puja celebrated only by families from Bihar? A: No. While it originated with Bihari and eastern UP communities, it is now observed by Hindu families across India. In Ajmer, the broader Hindu community joins in, particularly for the communal ghat gatherings.

Bottom Line

Chhath Puja 2026 in Ajmer unfolds over November 13-16, closing out a festive season that spans from Navratri 2026 through Diwali 2026. Ana Sagar Lake is the natural gathering point for arghya, and the Brahma Temple in nearby Pushkar anchors the Hindu festive geography of the region during Kartik. Plan for the Pushkar Camel Fair overlap when arranging transport, source puja materials before the Diwali rush, and connect with the local Chhath Puja Samiti for ghat details as the festival approaches.