Chhath Puja 2026 in Pune: November 13 to 16 Dates, PMC Ghat Facilities and Special Trains to Bihar
Chhath Puja 2026 runs from November 13 to 16. PMC has approved ghats, artificial ponds and women’s changing rooms, and Central Railway is running extra trains from Pune.
Photo: Pustam.EGR / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pune, 13th November 2026: Chhath Puja 2026 begins today, Friday, November 13, with Nahay Khay and ends on Monday, November 16, with the offering to the rising sun. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has approved a plan for temporary ghats, artificial ponds, lighting and changing rooms for women at sites across the city.
The festival is celebrated by families from Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand who live across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the crowds at riverside ghats have grown every year.
Chhath Puja 2026 dates
The four days of the festival this year, according to SmartPuja’s Chhath calendar:
| Day | Date | Ritual |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Friday, 13 November | Nahay Khay |
| Day 2 | Saturday, 14 November | Kharna (Lohanda) |
| Day 3 | Sunday, 15 November | Sandhya Arghya to the setting sun |
| Day 4 | Monday, 16 November | Usha Arghya to the rising sun |
Sunday evening’s Sandhya Arghya is the main gathering, when devotees stand in water to offer arghya at sunset. Sunrise and sunset times differ by city, so check local timings for Pune.
What PMC has approved for Chhath ghats
The PMC Standing Committee approved a proposal tabled by corporator Suhas Tingre, Punekar News reported. It covers:
- Temporary ghats and artificial ponds wherever needed
- Drinking water and water tankers
- Separate, hygienic changing rooms for women
- Lighting, generators and signboards
- CCTV cameras, barricades, lifeguards, fire brigade and medical teams
- Collection of puja offerings (nirmalya) and cleaning after the rituals
- Traffic management and parking at busy sites
- A single-window system for Chhath committees to get permissions
The proposal also calls for preparations to start a month before the festival in future years. PMC has not published a list of ghat locations. Committees usually announce their sites, so check with your local Chhath mandal.
Special trains from Pune for Chhath
Central Railway’s Pune Division is running 551 special train trips in both directions during the Diwali and Chhath rush, The Free Press Journal reported. Six extra ticket counters are open at Pune station and five at Hadapsar during peak hours.
Key services this week:
- Train 01473 Pune-Danapur one-way special left Pune on November 12 at 8:20 pm
- The Jaipur-Khadki special leaves Jaipur on November 13, and the Khadki-Durgapura return runs on November 15
- Pune-Danapur specials continue until November 28, and Danapur-Hadapsar services until November 30
For the full list of Bihar and UP trains, see our report on Pune-Danapur and Gorakhpur special trains.
Tips for Sunday evening at the ghats
Reach early, as riverside spots fill up an hour before sunset. Keep children away from deep water and follow lifeguards’ instructions. Expect traffic near ghats on Sunday evening and before sunrise on Monday. Use public transport where possible, and see our Pune events this weekend page for other gatherings.
What is still not clear
PMC has not announced specific ghat sites or traffic diversions for Chhath. We will update this story if the PMC or Pune Traffic Police issue notices.
Frequently asked questions
When is Chhath Puja 2026?
Chhath Puja runs from Friday 13 November to Monday 16 November 2026, with Sandhya Arghya on Sunday 15 November.
Where is Chhath Puja celebrated in Pune?
Chhath committees use riverside ghats and artificial ponds across the city. PMC has approved temporary ghats and ponds but has not published a full list of sites.
Are there special trains from Pune for Chhath?
Yes. Central Railway’s Pune Division is running 551 special trips, including Pune-Danapur and Danapur-Hadapsar specials until the end of November.
What facilities will PMC provide at Chhath ghats?
Drinking water, lighting, women’s changing rooms, CCTV, barricades, lifeguards, medical teams and waste collection.
