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

TL;DR 🕉️

• Chhath Puja 2026 begins November 12 (Nahay Khay) and concludes with the sunrise arghya on November 15 in Anantapur 🌞
• Chhath is primarily observed by North Indian migrant communities in Anantapur, and its presence in the city is growing year by year
• Key sacred sites — Mounagiri Hanuman Temple, Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Temple (ISKCON), and the shivalayam on First Road — anchor the city's devotional calendar
• Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple in Tadipatri and Veerabhadra Temple Lepakshi are among the district's most significant pilgrimage destinations
• The festive period from Navratri through Chhath makes October–November the most spiritually active stretch of the year in Anantapur 🪔

Chhath Puja Comes to Andhra Pradesh

Chhath Puja has long been associated with the Gangetic plain — Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and the Terai of Nepal. But in recent decades, the festival has spread across India as a living expression of the country's internal migrations. In cities like Anantapur, where workers and families from Bihar and UP have settled for employment in construction, services, and industry, Chhath has become a recognizable part of the local calendar — observed alongside Telugu traditions like Ugadi and Bonalu rather than in place of them.

The festival runs for four days, and its 2026 dates for Anantapur are as follows:

• November 12 (Chaturthi — Nahay Khay): Sacred bathing and a first sattvic meal; sets the tone of purity and intention for the days ahead
• November 13 (Panchami — Kharna): Full-day fast, broken at night with kheer and chapati, with prasad distributed to neighbors and family after moonrise
• November 14 (Shashthi — Sandhya Arghya): The defining moment of Chhath — wading into water at sunset with a loaded bamboo soop to offer thekua, sugarcane, fruits, and coconut to the setting sun
• November 15 (Saptami — Usha Arghya): Pre-dawn congregation at the ghat; the final offering to the rising sun closes the vrat and the four-day observance

For Anantapur, local water bodies — the Tungabhadra canal system, local tanks, and reservoirs in the district — provide the setting for these rituals where organized by migrant communities.

Anantapur's Temples and Sacred Landscape 🛕

While Chhath Puja itself centers on water bodies rather than temple complexes, Anantapur district has an exceptionally rich landscape of sacred sites that see heightened activity throughout the autumn festival season.

Mounagiri Hanuman Temple in Hampapuram Village on NH-7 is one of the region's prominent Hanuman shrines. The temple draws devotees from across the district for its major festival observances and is a touchstone for the broader Anantapur community during the festive October–November window. Its location on the national highway makes it accessible to devotees traveling from outside the city.

Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Temple (ISKCON) on NH-7 at Somuladoddi is the city's major Vaishnava institution. ISKCON temples across India maintain active programming during the festive season, often incorporating kirtan events and community gatherings that draw both long-time devotees and first-time visitors. During the Diwali and Chhath window, the temple's energetic schedule of programs makes it a lively stop for spiritually inclined residents.

The shivalayam on First Road is a neighborhood Shaivite temple that provides accessible daily puja space for Anantapur residents. Such local mandirs are often the organizing nodes for community-level festival coordination — including Chhath preparations for nearby migrant families, who frequently use these spaces for puja rehearsals and prasad preparation.

For those willing to travel within the district, Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple in Tadipatri is one of Andhra Pradesh's most architecturally significant pilgrimage sites. This Shaivite temple, known for its remarkable Vijayanagara-era carvings and sculpted mandapams, draws steady pilgrim traffic from across the district. The festive season from October through November sees some of its heaviest visitor numbers as families combine temple visits with the broader festive calendar.

No survey of the Anantapur region's sacred landscape is complete without Veerabhadra Temple Lepakshi in Lepakshi (Andhra Pradesh 515331). One of the finest examples of Vijayanagara temple architecture in South India, Lepakshi's frescoes, monolithic Nandi, and the famously "hanging pillar" make it a destination that extends well beyond its religious function into architectural and cultural tourism. The temple complex sees peak visitor numbers during the autumn festival season.

Insider Tip: If you plan to visit Lepakshi during the Chhath or Diwali period, start your journey before 7 a.m. The site opens early and crowds build quickly after 9 a.m. The monumental Nandi — one of the largest in India — is best photographed in the early morning light before the buses and group tours arrive at the main gate.

The Festive Season in Anantapur: October–November 2026

Anantapur follows its own regional panchang, and the 2026 dates reflect some variation from calendars observed in northern states:

• Navratri 2026 (from Oct 11): Nine nights of Durga worship; Anantapur sees processions, Shakti puja, and the broader community energy of the region's major autumn festival
• Durga Ashtami 2026 (Oct 19): Peaks the Navratri celebrations across the region
• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 (Oct 20): The day of victory over evil; Ramlila observances in North Indian migrant neighborhoods across the city
• Karva Chauth 2026 (Oct 29): Observed by North Indian families in the city
• Dhanteras 2026 (Nov 6): Traditional gold and utensil purchases that open the Diwali season
• Diwali 2026 (Nov 8): Deepawali celebrations across Anantapur; homes lit with diyas; sweets and crackers mark the night
• Amavasya (Nov 9): The new moon falls the day after Diwali under Anantapur's regional panchang
• Bhai Dooj 2026 (Nov 11): Sibling celebration; falls two days after Diwali under AP's calendar
• Chhath Puja 2026 (Nov 15): The solar festival; observed by North Indian communities across the city at water body sites in the district

FAQ

Q: Is Chhath Puja widely celebrated in Anantapur? A: Chhath is primarily observed by North Indian migrant families in Anantapur — communities originally from Bihar, Jharkhand, and UP who have settled in the city. It is less mainstream than local Telugu traditions like Ugadi or Bonalu, but its observance is growing as migration patterns bring more North Indian families to Andhra Pradesh.

Q: Where do Anantapur devotees perform the Chhath arghya? A: Local tanks, the Tungabhadra canal system, and designated water bodies in the district serve as ghat sites. No single civic ghat for Chhath is officially maintained in Anantapur — community organizers typically announce the location through word of mouth and local social media groups ahead of the festival.

Q: Can I visit Veerabhadra Temple Lepakshi during the festive season? A: Yes. Lepakshi Temple is open to all visitors year-round. The festive season in October–November sees increased visitor numbers, so plan an early morning arrival to explore the site before crowds build.

Q: What is the significance of Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple for the Anantapur community? A: Located in Tadipatri, this Shaivite temple is known for its Vijayanagara-era sculpted mandapams and is a major pilgrimage destination within the district. It hosts large gatherings particularly around Shivaratri, and steady pilgrim traffic continues throughout the broader festive season.

Q: Does ISKCON in Anantapur do any special programming for Chhath? A: Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Temple (ISKCON) primarily follows Vaishnava observances. While it does not lead Chhath-specific rituals, it may open its grounds for community gatherings or coordinate with North Indian devotees seeking a welcoming space during the festive season.

Bottom Line

Anantapur's festive calendar runs at full intensity from Navratri through Chhath Puja — a six-week stretch that encompasses the full breadth of Hindu observance across both Telugu and North Indian traditions. For the growing number of Bihar and UP families making Anantapur home, Chhath Puja 2026 (November 12–15) is a meaningful expression of their roots carried into a new geography. The city's temple landscape — from the neighborhood shivalayam on First Road to the grandeur of Veerabhadra Temple Lepakshi — ensures that devotional space is never far away during this peak festive season.