Hyderabad gears up for Chhath Puja from November 13-16, 2026

Devotees offering prayers to the Sun god in Hyderabad on November 07, 2024, on the occasion of Chhath Puja festival | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL

While Deepavali marks the culmination of the festive celebrations for many communities across India, people from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and parts of West Bengal are preparing for another important festival — Chhath Puja. This year, large numbers of devotees are expected to gather at lakes, ponds and other water bodies across Hyderabad to offer prayers to the setting and rising Sun.

Ahead of the celebrations, the Telangana government has directed civic bodies and disaster management authorities to facilitate Chhath Puja at 28 locations across the city and make necessary arrangements, including sanitation, lighting, drinking water and crowd management. In a recent memo, the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) department has forwarded the association’s representation to the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), and the three municipal corporations asking them to take necessary action in coordination with the departments concerned.

What is Chhath Puja?

Chhath Puja is dedicated to the worship of the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya. The Sun is worshipped as the source of life, energy and sustenance. Devotees offer prayers to the setting and rising Sun, seeking good health, prosperity, happiness and the well-being of their families.

Devotees offer prayers to the setting and rising Sun during Chhath Puja festival. File | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL

When is it celebrated?

Chhath Puja is a four-day festival, with each day having a distinct ritual. The first day, Nahay Khay, involves devotees taking a ritual bath, cleaning their homes and preparing a traditional meal. The second day, Kharna, involves a day-long fast, which is broken after sunset with offerings such as jaggery-based kheer, chapati and fruits. Following this, devotees undertake a rigorous fast without food and water.

On the third day, known as Sandhya Arghya, devotees gather at rivers, lakes, ponds and other water bodies to offer prayers to the setting Sun. Standing in water, they make offerings of fruits, sugarcane and traditional preparations. The festival concludes on the fourth day with Usha Arghya, when devotees return to the water bodies before sunrise to offer prayers to the rising Sun. The rituals conclude with devotees breaking their fast.

Chhath Puja is a four-day festival — Nahay Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya and Usha Arghya — with each day having a distinct ritual. File | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL

Where will Chhath Puja be held?

The celebrations in Hyderabad — organised by the Bihar Association, Hyderabad — are scheduled for November 14, 15 and 16. The proposed locations fall under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) and Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation (MMC) limits. Some of the proposed locations include Tank Bund, Hasmatpet Lake, Durgam Cheruvu, Shamirpet, Miyapur and Uppal, among several others.

The association has proposed celebrations at 28 specifically named locations, apart from other Bathukamma ghats in and around the city. Tank Bund is expected to be among the major gathering points for the celebrations. “The biggest location which sees huge crowds is the Bathukamma Ghat at Tank Bund, where thousands of devotees gather to celebrate the puja. Many Ministers, legislators and retired and serving bureaucrats also participate in the celebrations here,” said Bihar Association president Hareram Singh.

What arrangements have been sought?

The Bihar Association has urged the civic bodies to clean and maintain the designated ghats and surrounding areas, with particular attention to sanitation and hygiene. It has also sought adequate lighting at the ghats and approach roads, drinking water facilities and other essential public amenities. With devotees expected to gather for the evening prayers on November 15 and the morning rituals on November 16, the association has specifically requested adequate lighting during these periods.

Other requests include crowd management and traffic regulation in coordination with the Police Department, provision of chairs, carpets and mats, public-address systems and, wherever necessary, stages or platforms to facilitate the organised conduct of the celebrations. The association has also sought necessary safety and civic arrangements to ensure that devotees can perform the rituals in a safe, clean and orderly environment.

Published - November 10, 2026 01:57 pm IST