Delhi is ready for Chhath Puja. With the four-day festival beginning on Friday, November 13, the capital has readied more than 1,400 ghats, and the centrepiece this year is an 11-kilometre stretch along the Munak Canal that will be inaugurated on Thursday, November 12.
Preparations have gathered pace across the city over the past two days. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has stepped up inspections at ghats in every zone, while the Public Works Department and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department are working together to make sure the sites are clean, lit and safe before the first devotees arrive.
For the lakhs of people who observe Chhath in Delhi, this is the biggest festival of the year. More ghats have been prepared this year than last year, and the focus is on sanitation, security and easy access, especially during the evening and morning prayers on November 15 and 16, when the largest crowds are expected.
1,400 ghats across the capital
A total of 996 locations across Delhi have been identified for the festival, covering 1,482 ghats. Of these, 53 locations have 81 permanent ghats, 914 locations have 1,372 temporary ghats, and 29 locations sit along the Yamuna with 29 ghats.
That is a clear step up from last year, when 1,326 ghats were prepared. To get the work done on time, 74 agencies have been engaged and 155 works awarded across the city, with the Irrigation and Flood Control Department and the Delhi Jal Board leading the arrangements.
Inspections are being carried out in person rather than on paper. On Wednesday, Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh reviewed preparations at several locations, including the Hathi Ghat at ITO on the Yamuna. At Haathi Ghat near ITO, officials flagged waste accumulated along parts of the riverbank and floating garbage in the Yamuna, and were directed to clear it immediately using motorised boats.
The 11-km Munak Canal ghat
The most talked-about addition this year is the 11-kilometre-long Chhath ghat along the Munak Canal, from the Outer Ring Road to Inderlok. It has steps on both sides of the canal and a concrete access road, and BJP national president Nitin Nabin is scheduled to inaugurate it near Singalpur village on Thursday, November 12.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta chaired a review meeting with Chhath Puja committees and officials on Monday, November 10, and directed departments to prioritise sanitation, security and accessibility.
Four days of Chhath, from November 13 to 16
Chhath Puja 2026 begins on Friday, November 13, and concludes on Monday, November 16. The main festival day falls on Sunday, November 15, when devotees offer arghya to the setting sun, followed by the morning arghya on November 16.
- November 13: Nahay Khay, the first day of the festival, when devotees take a ritual bath and prepare the first meal.
- November 14: Kharna, the day of the day-long fast that ends after sunset with a meal of kheer and roti.
- November 15: Sandhya Arghya, the main evening prayer, when devotees gather at ghats to offer prayers to the setting sun.
- November 16: Usha Arghya, the morning prayer to the rising sun, which concludes the festival. The Delhi government has declared November 16 a public holiday.
Devotees who plan to visit the ghats on the evening of November 15 and the morning of November 16 should expect the largest crowds. The Delhi government has said the ghat facilities provided by the Delhi Development Authority on the Yamuna floodplain and in public spaces and parks will be free for devotees.
What devotees should know before heading out
With the festival falling in the middle of Delhi’s winter smog season, and the city’s air quality still in the very poor category, devotees spending long hours outdoors should plan for cool mornings and evenings and keep drinking water handy.
Families heading to the Yamuna ghats should arrive early, especially on November 15 and 16, and use the temporary ghats near their own neighbourhoods where possible.
For devotees, the essentials remain the same as every year: the bamboo soop, fruits, thekua and other offerings, and diyas for the evening prayer. What is different this year is the scale of the preparation, and the new Munak Canal stretch, which gives the city its longest single Chhath ghat yet.
FAQs
When does Chhath Puja 2026 begin in Delhi?
On Friday, November 13, 2026. It concludes on Monday, November 16, with the main evening prayers on November 15.
How many ghats has Delhi prepared for Chhath Puja?
More than 1,400 ghats at 996 locations across the capital, up from 1,326 ghats last year.
What is the 11-km Munak Canal ghat?
It is a new 11-kilometre-long Chhath ghat along the Munak Canal, from the Outer Ring Road to Inderlok, with steps on both sides and a concrete access road. It will be inaugurated on November 12.
Is November 16 a public holiday in Delhi?
Yes, the Delhi government has declared November 16, the concluding day of Chhath Puja, a public holiday.
Are the ghat facilities free for devotees?
Yes, the Delhi Development Authority’s ghat facilities on the Yamuna floodplain and in public spaces and parks are free for devotees.
Delhi’s preparations are complete and the ghats are ready. From Friday morning, the city will turn towards the river for four days that are, for lakhs of devotees, the heart of the festival.
