Yes, it is true. Devotees keep a Chhath Puja fast of about 36 hours without even water. It starts after the Kharna meal on the second day and ends at sunrise on the fourth day, after Usha Arghya. In 2026 that means from the evening of 14 November to the morning of 16 November.
After breaking the day-long fast on the second day, people go on a fast of 36 hours without drinking water. This is an important fact of Chhath Puja.
Tradition says Lord Rama, Karna and Draupadi also observed Chhath Puja (see the story of Chhath). Devotees worship the Sun God for the well-being of their families.
When does the 36-hour fast of Chhath Puja begin and end?
Chhath lasts four days. The 36-hour fast covers the middle of it.
It begins on the evening of Kharna, the second day. All day the devotee, called the parvaitin, keeps a fast without even water. After sunset she eats rasiaav, a kheer of rice and jaggery, with roti. This is the last food and drink she takes until the festival ends.
The fast then runs through the third day, Sandhya Arghya, when she stands in water at a river or pond and offers arghya to the setting sun. It ends only on the fourth morning, after Usha Arghya, the offering to the rising sun. From the Kharna meal to that sunrise is roughly 36 hours. That is why the vrat is called nirjala, without water.
The four days of Chhath at a glance
- Day 1, Nahay Khay: a bath in a river, then one simple meal cooked without onion or garlic.
- Day 2, Kharna: a day-long fast, broken after sunset with rasiaav and roti.
- Day 3, Sandhya Arghya: prasad such as thekua, fruit and sugarcane is carried to the water in bamboo baskets. Offerings go to the setting sun.
- Day 4, Usha Arghya: offerings to the rising sun, then the fast is broken.
In 2026 most panchangs place Chhath on 13 to 16 November, with Sandhya Arghya on Sunday 15 November and Usha Arghya on Monday 16 November. Sunset and sunrise times differ by city, so check a local panchang.
Planning your Chhath? See the Chhath puja samagri list: soop, daura and thekua prasad and the full Chhath Puja 2026 dates, Nahay Khay to Usha Arghya.
Why do devotees keep this fast?
Chhath honours Surya, the Sun, and Chhathi Maiya. Families keep it for the well-being of children and the household, and to give thanks. The old texts name several people who observed it. According to tradition, Sita kept the Surya Shashthi vrat after the return to Ayodhya, Kunti observed it after the escape from Lakshagriha, and Draupadi is said to have done so for the Pandavas. These are traditions and local beliefs rather than verses from the Valmiki Ramayana or Vyasa’s Mahabharata, and regions tell them differently. Wikipedia’s page on Chhath lists these associations and the day-by-day rituals.
The fast is a personal vow. Anyone with a health condition should follow the advice of their doctor and elders, and many families help the parvaitin through the days with prayer and care.
FAQ
Is water allowed during the Chhath fast?
No. In the traditional vrat the devotee takes no water from the Kharna meal until the Usha Arghya offering.
How many hours is the Chhath fast?
About 36 hours, from the Kharna meal after sunset on day 2 to the Usha Arghya offering on the morning of day 4. In 2026 that is roughly 37 hours, from the 14 November sunset (about 5:28 PM in New Delhi) to the 16 November sunrise (about 6:44 AM).
छठ का 36 घंटे का निर्जला व्रत कब शुरू होता है?
खरना की शाम रसिया (गुड़ की खीर) और रोटी खाने के बाद व्रत शुरू होता है। इसमें पानी भी नहीं पिया जाता। यह चौथे दिन उषा अर्घ्य के बाद सुबह पारण पर खुलता है।
Who can observe Chhath?
Both women and men observe it. Women are the more visible parvaitins in most families.
Where can I read about Chhath outside India?
See our post on Chhath Puja in the USA.
Read next: Govardhan Puja · The story of Saraswati Puja and Shri Krishna · Chhath Puja in the USA: Celebrating Gratitude & Tradition Across the Miles