Chhath Puja 2026: Delhi, Patna race to ready ghats before November 15
By Ishita SenCulture & Heritage Editor, Peepals Sanskriti
Representative image: balouriarajesh / Pixabay
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta inspected the Munak Canal Chhath ghat on October 24, 2026, and Patna plans Rs 19.34 crore of work on 231 ghats before Chhath on Nov 13-16.
What Happened
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inspected the construction of a new Chhath ghat along the Munak Canal near Prembari Pul in Singhalpur, north-west Delhi, on Saturday, October 24, 2026, and directed officials to finish the ghat walls, pathways, lighting and drainage before the festival, according to the Delhi government. In Bihar, the Patna Municipal Corporation has drawn up a Rs 19.34 crore plan to prepare 231 ghats for devotees and aims to finish the work by November 12 or 13, a local report said. Chhath Puja, the four-day festival of prayers to the Sun, falls from November 13 to 16 this year, with the main evening offering, the Sandhya Arghya, on November 15.
Key Facts
- Delhi: Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inspected the Munak Canal Chhath ghat works near Prembari Pul, Singhalpur, on October 24, 2026.
- She reviewed landscaping, plantation, lighting, roads, footpaths and drainage, and asked officials to fix design flaws, remove construction debris and set up a waste collection system.
- Delhi's Chhath Puja committee, headed by Art and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra, oversees permissions, drinking water, medical aid, fire safety, security, traffic, sanitation and electricity at ghats.
- The Delhi government opened single-window clearance for Chhath organisers from October 15.
- Patna: the municipal corporation's Rs 19.34 crore plan covers 231 ghats, with barricading, riverbank levelling, lighting, access roads and parking; cloth barricades will close off dangerous stretches.
- Patna City and Azimabad circles are preparing 53 Ganga ghats and five artificial ponds for devotees who live far from the river.
- Chhath 2026 runs November 13 to 16; the Sandhya Arghya is on November 15.
Why It Matters
Chhath is among the most demanding Hindu festivals. According to tradition, devotees fast and then stand in a river, pond or canal to offer prayers, called arghya, to the setting Sun on the third evening and to the rising Sun the next morning. Because the rituals happen in water at dusk and dawn, the state of the ghats, the steps and banks leading to the water, decides whether the festival is safe.
That is why city governments start weeks ahead. In Delhi, the government has been adding ghats along canals so that devotees do not have to travel far or crowd a few sites. The Munak Canal works are part of that effort. The Chief Minister's instructions, on debris, lighting, drainage and garbage, address the practical problems that most often spoil the experience for families who arrive before dawn.
In Patna, the Ganga is the centre of the festival, and its banks change after every monsoon. Levelling the banks, barricading deep or slippery stretches and lighting the access roads are the basic safety steps. The artificial ponds are meant for devotees who live far from the river, a practice many cities now follow to reduce crowding.
For readers who plan to take part, the key dates are fixed by the lunar calendar: the festival begins on November 13, with the evening offering on November 15 and the morning offering on November 16.
| City | What is being done | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | New Munak Canal ghat; single-window permissions | Before the festival |
| Patna | Rs 19.34 crore plan for 231 ghats | November 12-13 |
| Patna City, Azimabad | 53 Ganga ghats, 5 artificial ponds | Before the festival |
Impact
Short-term: Civic workers in Delhi and Patna have about three weeks to finish ghats, lighting and barricades before devotees arrive on November 15.
Long-term: Permanent ghats along canals and rivers give devotees more options each year and spread crowds, which can make the festival safer.
Who is affected: Chhath devotees and their families; residents near the ghats; and civic, police and health staff deployed for the festival.
Key Takeaway
With Chhath Puja falling on November 13-16, 2026, Delhi's Chief Minister inspected the new Munak Canal ghat on October 24 and Patna plans Rs 19.34 crore of work on 231 ghats.
Questions and Answers
When is Chhath Puja in 2026?
Chhath Puja 2026 runs from November 13 to 16. The evening offering to the setting Sun, the Sandhya Arghya, falls on November 15, and the morning offering on November 16.
What did Delhi's Chief Minister order at the Munak Canal ghat?
On October 24, 2026, Rekha Gupta asked officials to finish the ghat walls and pathways, fix design flaws, remove construction debris, install lights and set up a waste collection system before the festival.
How is Patna preparing its ghats for Chhath 2026?
The Patna Municipal Corporation has a Rs 19.34 crore plan for 231 ghats, covering barricading, riverbank levelling, lighting, access roads and parking, with completion targeted for November 12 or 13.
How do Chhath organisers in Delhi get permission?
The Delhi government opened a single-window clearance system for Chhath organisers from October 15, with a committee headed by Art and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra overseeing permissions and facilities.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Ishita Sen, Culture & Heritage EditorCovers Culture & Heritage and more for Peepals Sanskriti. All stories by Ishita Sen
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Ishita Sen is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
