Chhath Puja 2026 in Surrey: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate
Chhath Puja 2026 in Surrey: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate
Chhath Puja is one of the most ancient and deeply reverent festivals in the Hindu calendar, dedicated to the Sun God (Surya Dev) and Chhathi Maiya, the goddess of progeny and life force. Observed primarily by communities with roots in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, this four-day festival is a powerful expression of gratitude, discipline, and spiritual renewal. Unlike most Hindu festivals celebrated with elaborate temple rituals, Chhath Puja is uniquely an open-air, river-bank ceremony — devotees gather at the water's edge to offer arghya (water offerings) directly to the sun at sunset and sunrise.
Chhath Puja 2026 Dates
Chhath Puja 2026 unfolds over four sacred days in November:
November 12 (Thursday) — Nahay Khay (Chaturthi): The festival begins with a ritual purifying bath in a river, pond, or lake. Devotees cook and eat a simple, sanctified meal of bottle gourd (lauki) and rice. The home is deep-cleaned and a spirit of purity governs the household.
November 13 (Friday) — Kharna (Panchami): Devotees observe a strict all-day fast without water. At sunset, they break the fast with a specially prepared prasad of kheer (rice pudding) and roti, shared with family and neighbours. This meal is considered deeply auspicious, and prasad from a Chhath household is eagerly received across the community.
November 14 (Saturday) — Sandhya Arghya (Shashthi): This is the main day of the festival and its most visually striking moment. Devotees gather at riverbanks or lakeshores at sunset, standing in the water holding bamboo baskets (soops) filled with seasonal fruits, sugarcane, coconut, thekua (wheat sweets), and earthen lamps. They offer these to the setting sun in a deeply moving collective ceremony.
November 15 (Sunday) — Usha Arghya (Saptami): Before dawn, devotees return to the water body for the sunrise offering. This final arghya breaks the multi-day fast and is followed by the joyful sharing of prasad with family, friends, and the broader community.
Where to Celebrate Chhath Puja in Surrey
Surrey's large and growing South Asian population — one of the most vibrant Punjabi and Indian communities in Canada — has embraced Chhath Puja as an important community occasion. For the outdoor water rituals that are the heart of Chhath, devotees typically gather at Surrey's scenic natural water bodies.
Hjorth Road Park and the Serpentine Fen Nature Reserve are among the most popular locations for Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya ceremonies. Both offer accessible waterside settings where families can gather safely for the sunset and sunrise offerings. Visitors are encouraged to check with local organizers in advance for exact gathering points and any city park permissions required.
For community prayers, bhajan sessions, and the spiritual context of the festival, Surrey's Hindu temples provide a welcoming home:
- Sri Ganesha Hindu Society of BC — 14633 60 Ave, Surrey, BC V3S 1R5. One of Surrey's most active Hindu community organisations, regularly hosting major festival events.
- Sri Sri Gyan Vikas Kendra Nira Kar Mahadev Temple Canada INC. — 10909 128a St, Surrey, BC V3T 3G1. A dedicated spiritual centre serving Surrey's Hindu community.
- Radha Soami Society Beas Canada — 2932 176 St, Surrey, BC V3Z 9V4. Serving the broader Punjabi and Sikh community with a tradition of inclusive gatherings.
Contact these temples directly in October for announcements about any organised Chhath Puja gatherings, bhajan programmes, or community prasad distributions they may be coordinating.
What to Bring & What to Expect
If you're attending Chhath Puja ceremonies at a Surrey waterside for the first time, here's what to know:
What to bring: Assemble a bamboo soop (flat basket) filled with seasonal offerings — whole sugarcane stalks, coconuts, bananas, a variety of seasonal fruits, thekua (fried wheat-jaggery sweets), puffed rice, earthen diyas (lamps), and flowers. A clean cloth or mat is useful for placing the soop. Bring a thermos of warm water or ginger tea for after the fast-breaking.
What to wear: Dress modestly in clean, traditional clothing. Yellow, orange, and red are considered auspicious colours for Chhath. Many devotees wear new clothes purchased for the occasion.
What to expect: Chhath gatherings are serene and deeply communal. Expect devotional Chhath folk songs (giits) playing from speakers, the glow of hundreds of diyas reflected on the water, and a joyful yet reverent crowd. Children, elders, and the broader community all participate.
Practical tips: Arrive well before sunset (around 5:00 PM) and before sunrise (around 6:00 AM) as gathering spots become crowded. Keep the water area and surroundings clean — Chhath Puja has a strong tradition of environmental respect. Follow any guidelines posted by Surrey Parks. Newcomers to the festival are warmly welcomed; do not hesitate to ask a devotee for guidance.