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The four-day festival Chhath Puja, a symbol of public faith, discipline and dedication towards nature, is being celebrated across the country these days. After Nahay-Khay on the first day of this great festival and Kharna on the second day, the ritual of the third day is considered the most important, which is called Sandhya Arghya. On this day, the devotees observe waterless fast for the whole day and reach the ghat of river, pond or any other water body in the evening and offer Arghya to the setting Sun God. According to religious beliefs, this fast observed for lasting marriage, long life of children and happiness and prosperity of the family is very difficult and fruitful. Since the timing of sunset varies in different parts and states of India due to geographical location, the exact time of Sandhya Arghya also changes from city to city. Let us know what would be the right time to offer Arghya to the setting sun in your city on this auspicious occasion of the year 2026 and which special mantras are considered beneficial to chant during this time.
The third day of Chhath Mahaparva i.e. Shashthi Tithi of Kartik Shukla Paksha is completely dedicated to the worship of Lord Bhaskar and Chhathi Maiya. On this day, there is an atmosphere of special enthusiasm in the houses since morning and puja items like thekua, rice laddu, seasonal fruits, sugarcane and coconut are decorated in bamboo soup and daura. After this the whole family moves towards the ghat of the river or pond with the echo of traditional songs. The biggest feature of this day is that along with the rising sun, the setting sun is also worshiped, which symbolizes that it is necessary to respect nature in every cycle of life. The devotees stand waist deep inside the water and offer milk and water to the Sun God with full devotion and devotion. During this time the atmosphere becomes completely spiritual and devotional, where echoes of folk songs are heard everywhere.
Time has special importance in religious rituals, and in Chhath Puja, Arghya is offered exactly at the time of sunset. There is a difference in the time of sunset according to different geographical areas, hence the devotees and their family members should offer Arghya at the ghat as per their local calendar or time. The probable time of sunset on the day of Sandhya Arghya in major cities of the country is as follows: around 5:28 pm in the capital Delhi, 5:01 pm in Patna, the capital of Bihar, 5:04 pm in Ranchi, Jharkhand, 5:16 pm in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, 5:19 pm in Kanpur, 5:10 pm in Varanasi, 5:19 pm in Gorakhpur, 5:19 pm in Kolkata, West Bengal. The sun will set at 4:53 pm and at 6:00 pm in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The devotees should take their place inside the water a few minutes before the scheduled time so that the Arghya can be offered at the right time.
It is considered very auspicious and fruitful to chant some special mythological and Vedic mantras while offering water to the Sun God from a copper pot or soup during the evening Arghya. Chanting mantras not only increases the sanctity of the worship but also provides mental peace and positive energy. You can chant the following mantras while offering Arghya. The first and the simplest mantra is ‘Om Suryay Namah’ or ‘Om Ghrini Suryay Namah’. Apart from this, it is also considered good to remember some important verses of Aditya Hridaya Stotra. This mantra can also be chanted while giving water to the Sun God: ‘Ehi Surya Sahastramsho Tejorashe Jagatpate, Anukampayetyaabhya Grihanarghyam Diwakar’. By reciting these mantras with true heart, one attains health, longevity and prosperity and Lord Bhaskar fulfills all the wishes of his devotees.
The discipline of Chhath Puja sets its own unique example across the world, hence, it is mandatory to strictly follow cleanliness and rules during this period. At the time of evening Arghya, lamps, incense sticks, fruits and thekua are decorated in bamboo soup and taken to the ghat. When Vrati enters the water, she has soup in her hand and offers Arghya in a very solemn manner, looking at the last rays of the Sun. While offering Arghya, take special care that the water should be looked directly towards the Sun and while offering it, a glimpse of the light coming from the Sun should be visible from the stream of water. Complete care should be taken to ensure that there is no impurity of any kind during the puja. Also, amidst the huge crowd at the ghat and tight security arrangements, special care should be taken of children and the elderly so that the ritual can be conducted peacefully.
Chhath Mahaparva is not just a religious ritual, but it is a great festival defining the deep interrelationship of nature, environment and human life. In this festival, all those natural resources are worshiped without which life cannot be imagined, such as water, sun, air, and soil. Even from a scientific point of view, the rays of the sun and the process of standing and worshiping in water strengthen the body’s immunity and improve mental health. This festival, which has crossed the boundaries of rural and urban culture, has today made its mark at the global level, where even Indians living abroad follow this tradition with full devotion. This panoramic view of Sandhya Arghya every year infuses a new energy and faith in the hearts of people, which keeps us firmly connected to the roots of our culture.