Chhath Puja 2026 in Delhi: 1,400 Ghats, New 11-Km Ghat on Munak Canal and a Holiday on November 16
Delhi is preparing over 1,400 ghats for Chhath Puja, including an 11 km ghat on the Munak canal, and has declared November 16 a holiday. Here is how it compares with Pune.
Photo: Goutam1962 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
New Delhi, 14th November 2026: Delhi is preparing more than 1,400 ghats for Chhath Puja this year, up from 1,326 last year, including a new 11 km ghat along the Munak canal that is expected to be the city’s longest, PTI reported. The Delhi government has declared Monday, November 16, a public holiday, according to Open magazine.
Chhath runs from November 13 to 16 this year. “Yamuna” and “Ganga” were among the top trends on X in India on Friday as the festival began.
Delhi’s Chhath arrangements
- More than 1,400 ghats across the city, including sites along the Yamuna
- An 11 km ghat on the Munak canal, from the Outer Ring Road to Inderlok, with steps on both sides and a concrete approach road; BJP national president Nitin Nabin was set to open it on November 12
- Covered tents at large and medium ghats because of the winter cold
- Changing rooms for women, CCTV at major ghats, lighting and round-the-clock cleaning
- A public holiday on November 16, the day of the Usha Arghya
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta chaired the review meeting and asked departments to finish basic work in advance.
The four days of Chhath
| Date | Ritual |
|---|---|
| Friday, 13 November | Nahay Khay |
| Saturday, 14 November | Kharna |
| Sunday, 15 November | Sandhya Arghya (evening offering to the setting sun) |
| Monday, 16 November | Usha Arghya (morning offering to the rising sun) |
Why the Yamuna is always in the news at Chhath
Chhath is celebrated standing in water, so the state of the Yamuna draws attention every year. Pollution and foam on parts of the river have been widely reported in past years, and the Delhi government’s decision to build canal-side and artificial ghats is partly meant to give devotees clean, safe spots.
Who celebrates Chhath in Delhi
Chhath is the biggest festival for families from Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, often called Purvanchalis. Delhi has one of the largest Purvanchali populations outside those states, which is why the city government expands ghats every year. Women devotees usually keep a 36-hour fast without water from Kharna until the morning offering.
How Pune compares
Pune’s Chhath is smaller but growing. The Pune Municipal Corporation’s Standing Committee has approved temporary ghats, artificial ponds, women’s changing rooms, lighting, CCTV and lifeguards this year, as we reported in Chhath Puja 2026 in Pune. Unlike Delhi, Maharashtra has not declared a holiday for Chhath.
For families travelling home from Pune, Central Railway is running special trains to Danapur and Gorakhpur; see Pune special trains for Chhath.
Frequently asked questions
How many Chhath ghats are there in Delhi in 2026?
Delhi is preparing more than 1,400 ghats, up from 1,326 last year.
Where is Delhi’s longest Chhath ghat?
The new 11 km ghat runs along the Munak canal from the Outer Ring Road to Inderlok.
Is November 16 a holiday in Delhi?
Yes. The Delhi government has declared 16 November 2026 a public holiday for Chhath, according to Open magazine.
When is Chhath Puja 2026?
Chhath runs from 13 to 16 November 2026, with Sandhya Arghya on Sunday 15 November.
