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

TL;DR

• Chhath Puja 2026 falls on November 13–16 in Guwahati
• Main ghats: Uzan Bazar, Kachari, Fancy Bazar, and Bharalumukh along the Brahmaputra
• The festival opens with Nahay Khay on Day 1 and closes with Usha Arghya at sunrise on Day 4
• District administration deploys SDRF, NDRF, and police at every major ghat 🙏
• Bihari and Purvanchal communities across the city pour onto the riverbanks for four days

What Is Chhath Puja and Why Guwahati Celebrates It

Chhath is a four-day sun-worship festival observed by communities from Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Over the decades, as these communities settled across Assam for work and trade, Guwahati became one of the most prominent cities outside the home belt to celebrate Chhath in full. Today, thousands of families gather at the Brahmaputra river ghats for the sandhya arghya (evening offering) and usha arghya (morning offering), turning the riverside into a sea of marigolds, sugarcane, and earthen lamps.

In 2026, the four days begin on Friday, 13 November and conclude on Monday, 16 November. The central rituals — the two arghyas — happen on 15 and 16 November respectively. These are public, open celebrations, and anyone who wants to witness or participate is welcome at the ghats.

Guwahati's Key Ghats for 2026

The district administration officially designates a set of ghats along the Brahmaputra for Chhath Puja each year. Barricading, lighting, and cleaning work is completed before the festival begins.

Uzan Bazar Ghat is consistently the busiest location in the city. Families set up their baskets of offerings — thekua, gur, seasonal fruits, and sugarcane — along the stone steps in the afternoon. The crowd swells to its peak during the Sandhya Arghya on Day 3 when the sun touches the horizon over the river.

Kachari Ghat, a short distance from Uzan Bazar, has a long history of hosting Chhath celebrations. It is another well-lit and patrolled venue where the district administration sets up changeover points for SDRF personnel.

Fancy Bazar Ghat and Bharalumukh round out the four primary ghats named in official communications. Both see heavy footfall from nearby residential clusters on the evening of Day 3.

Beyond these four, celebrations extend to Pandu, Choonsali, Maligaon, Birubari, Basistha, Jyotikuchi, Narengi, Pathar Quarry, Chandrapur, Sonapur, and Azara — covering almost every corner of greater Guwahati. If you live on the city's edge, you very likely have a ghat within a few kilometres.

The Four Days: A Practical Breakdown

Day 1 — Nahay Khay (November 13): Devotees wake early, take a ritual bath, and eat a single cooked meal of chana dal, lauki (bottle gourd), and rice. The day is calm and largely spent at home.

Day 2 — Kharna / Lohanda (November 14): A complete fast is kept through the day. At sunset, devotees break the fast with kheer (rice and jaggery) and rotis prepared in strict ritual purity. After the family eats, the 36-hour nirjala (waterless) fast begins.

Day 3 — Sandhya Arghya (November 15): This is the night most visitors come to see. Devotees dressed in yellow or red sarees carry bamboo baskets called dauras filled with offerings and walk to the ghat. As the sun descends toward the Brahmaputra, they stand waist-deep in water and offer the arghya. Chhath geet fills the air until well past midnight.

Day 4 — Usha Arghya (November 16): Before sunrise, the family returns to the same ghat to offer the final arghya to the rising sun. The fast breaks immediately after with prasad distributed among those present. By mid-morning, the ghats clear and the festival concludes.

Sun Worship and the Navagraha Mandir

Guwahati already carries a quiet connection to sun worship through Navagraha Mandir, the ancient nine-planet temple on Chitrachal Hills. The central Shivalinga in the temple symbolises Surya, the same deity honoured during Chhath. Many families making the festival their first in Guwahati choose to visit Navagraha Mandir on Day 1 or the morning of Day 4 as an additional puja stop, linking the city's own sacred landscape to their Bihar-rooted tradition.

Safety and Administration

The District Magistrate's office issues traffic restrictions around Uzan Bazar, Kachari, and Fancy Bazar ghat zones from the afternoon of Day 3 through the morning of Day 4. SDRF and NDRF boats patrol the water throughout both arghya periods. There are designated entry and exit corridors at every major ghat. Do not wade beyond the marked shallow-water areas.

Insider Tip: Arrive at Uzan Bazar Ghat no later than 3 PM on November 15 for Sandhya Arghya. By 4 PM the approach roads begin filling and parking becomes difficult. Bring a small torch for the walk back — ghat lighting focuses on the water steps, not the lanes behind.

FAQ

Q: When exactly is Chhath Puja 2026? It spans four days: Nahay Khay on November 13, Kharna on November 14, Sandhya Arghya (sunset) on November 15, and Usha Arghya (sunrise) on November 16.

Q: Which ghat has the biggest crowd in Guwahati? Uzan Bazar Ghat draws the largest number of devotees. Kachari Ghat and Fancy Bazar Ghat are also heavily attended on the Sandhya Arghya evening.

Q: Do I need to be from Bihar or eastern UP to participate? Chhath Puja at the ghats is open to all. You do not need to belong to the community to come and witness or offer support as a visitor.

Q: What traffic restrictions should I expect? The district administration typically closes vehicle access to ghat-adjacent lanes from late afternoon on Day 3 and the pre-dawn hours of Day 4. Check local Kamrup Metropolitan notifications closer to the date.

Q: What should I bring to the ghat? If you are attending as a devotee, your offerings are prepared at home and carried in the traditional daura basket. As a visitor, bring something warm for the pre-sunrise arghya and leave room on the steps for families carrying heavy baskets.

Bottom Line

Chhath Puja in Guwahati is one of the most visually arresting religious observances in the city — thousands of families standing in the Brahmaputra at golden hour, chanting and offering to the sun. The administration has steadily improved infrastructure at the main ghats over the years. Whether you are a participant observing the vrat or someone who simply wants to witness a tradition that travels well, the evening of November 15 and the early morning of November 16 at Uzan Bazar or Kachari Ghat are worth clearing your calendar for.