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

TL;DR

• Chhath Puja 2026 runs Nov 12–15 in Guntur, with the main Sandhya Arghya (sunset offering) on Nov 14 🌅
• The festival honors Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya through fasting, offering, and open-air ghat gatherings at water bodies
• Local temples including Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple and Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple are active through the Kartik festive month
• Guntur's Eastern Indian community brings the Bihar-born Chhath tradition to the banks of the Krishna river region
• Confirm all event timings and ghat locations with community groups before you attend

What Is Chhath Puja?

Chhath Puja is one of the oldest Vedic festivals in the Hindu calendar, devoted to Surya Dev (the Sun God) and his consort Chhathi Maiya. Unlike most festivals centered around idols, Chhath is entirely open-air: worshippers wade into rivers or ponds at specific times — once at sunset on the third day (Sandhya Arghya) and again at sunrise on the fourth morning (Usha Arghya) — offering fruit, sugarcane, thekua sweets, and flowers directly to the sun.

Originating in the Mithila and Bhojpura regions of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, the festival has traveled with Eastern Indian communities to every corner of the country. Guntur's own mix of communities means that Chhath observances have become part of the city's festive calendar, drawing participation from neighbours across backgrounds.

Chhath Puja 2026 Dates in Guntur

Chhath Puja follows the Kartik Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight of Kartik month), beginning four days after Diwali:

The autumn festival season leads directly into Chhath: Navratri begins Oct 11, Dussehra/Vijayadashami falls Oct 20, Dhanteras is Nov 6, Diwali lands on Nov 8, and Bhai Dooj follows on Nov 11.

Where to Observe and Participate in Guntur

Chhath gatherings happen near accessible water bodies — rivers, ponds, or large tanks. Community groups from the Eastern Indian diaspora in Guntur organise collective ghat setups where participants arrange bamboo baskets (soop) filled with offerings.

Several temples serve the city's broader devotional needs through the festive season. Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple in Srinivas Nagar Colony and Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple in Arundelpet are active throughout the Kartik month. Shivalayam on Bamboor Main Road sees heightened activity during this period as many observe Kartik-linked fasts alongside Chhath. For those seeking a quieter space for pre-Chhath puja, Ankamma Thalli Temple and Sree someswara swami devasthanm on the Guntur–Amaravathi Road are worth visiting during this period.

The Swayambhu Sri Pushpadri Lakshmi Nrusimha Swamy Temple in Nallapadu and GnanaMandir (Ramalayam) on SriKaliGardens Approach Road are among the spaces used for broader Kartik devotions throughout the festive fortnight.

Confirm hours before you visit and check with local community groups for the exact ghat location for Sandhya and Usha Arghya.

The Four Rituals Explained

Nahay Khay (Day 1): The vratin (fasting devotee) takes a ritual bath, often in river water, and eats one purified meal — usually bottle gourd, chana dal, and rice cooked without onion or garlic. The home is thoroughly cleaned.

Kharna (Day 2): A full fast with no water. After sunset the vratin prepares kheer (rice pudding with jaggery) and roti on an earthen stove using mango wood. This prasad is shared with family and neighbours. The 36-hour strict fast then begins.

Sandhya Arghya (Day 3 — Main Puja): This is the heart of Chhath. Worshippers gather at the ghat in the late afternoon dressed in new clothes. Bamboo soop baskets filled with seasonal fruits, thekua (wheat-jaggery cookies), coconut, banana, sugarcane, and earthen lamps are carried to the water's edge. The vratin stands waist-deep, facing the setting sun, and offers arghya (water cupped in joined hands). The atmosphere — hundreds of diyas floating on the water, bhajans playing, incense rising — is unique to this festival.

Usha Arghya (Day 4 — Sunrise): Before dawn the community reassembles at the ghat to offer the final arghya at sunrise. The fast is broken with prasad — thekua and the fruits offered the previous evening.

Insider Tip

Arrive at the ghat well before sunset on Day 3 — crowds build fast and the best spots for the offering go early. Bring a bamboo mat or plastic sheet to stand on the bank, dress modestly since you may enter the water, and carry a torch for the pre-dawn Usha Arghya. If you are attending as a community observer rather than performing the puja yourself, volunteer to help carry baskets or light lamps — it is the done thing and warmly welcomed.

The Community Behind Chhath in Guntur

Guntur has a long history of welcoming migrants from across the country, and the city's Eastern Indian community — families with roots in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh — has carried the Chhath tradition with them. Over the years the celebration has grown from small courtyard observances to full community ghat events attended by neighbours of all backgrounds.

The Abhaya Anjaneya Swami Temple in Arundelpet and Sathemma Thalli Temple in Gudi Bazar are active year-round but draw additional footfall during the Kartik festive month as families make daily temple visits alongside the Chhath preparations.

Explore the Guntur city guide on Desi.Net to find more events, restaurants, and community resources throughout the year.

FAQ

When exactly is Chhath Puja 2026 in Guntur? The main Sandhya Arghya is on Nov 14, 2026 (Kartik Shukla Shashthi). The four-day festival runs Nov 12–15.

Is Chhath Puja celebrated in Andhra Pradesh? It is not a local Andhra tradition, but Guntur has a resident Eastern Indian community from Bihar and UP that observes the festival. Over time, the celebrations have drawn wider participation from the broader community.

Do I need to fast to attend Chhath Puja? No. Observers and helpers are welcome at the ghat. Only the vratin (the principal devotee) performs the formal fast and the arghya offering.

What should I bring to a Chhath ghat gathering? If you are attending as a visitor: comfortable clothes you do not mind getting wet, a mat for the bank, and a small torch for the pre-dawn Usha Arghya. Offerings like fruit and thekua are brought by the vratin's family.

How do I find the Chhath ghat in Guntur? Contact local Bihar associations or check with community WhatsApp groups closer to the date. Confirm the exact location before you attend, as it can change year to year depending on water levels and civic permissions.

Bottom Line

Chhath Puja is one of the most visually and spiritually powerful festivals in the Hindu calendar — the combination of water, fire, sunrise, and community creates something that stays with you. Guntur's Eastern Indian families bring this Bihar-born tradition to life every Kartik, and any resident or visitor who witnesses the evening arghya at the ghat is likely to return year after year. Mark Nov 14 for the sunset offering and Nov 15 for the sunrise — and confirm timings with the organising community before you go.