Chhath Puja 2026 in Varanasi
Chhath is a four-day observance centred on offerings to the setting and rising sun. In Varanasi, it is best approached as worship, not a riverfront show: give families room at the waterline, travel light and expect the final stretch to be on foot.
Confirmed dates
| Day | Observance | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nahay Khay | Friday, 13 November 2026 |
| 2 | Lohanda / Kharna | Saturday, 14 November 2026 |
| 3 | Sandhya Arghya | Sunday, 15 November 2026 |
| 4 | Usha Arghya and parana | Monday, 16 November 2026 |
The Ministry of Tourism’s Incredible India calendar lists the festival from 13 to 16 November 2026 and describes the evening offering on day three and the sunrise offering on day four. The 2026 Chhath calendar provides the day-by-day ritual sequence. Recheck Varanasi sunrise and sunset times close to the date; this guide does not substitute a generic-city muhurat for a local one.
What has not been announced
As of 17 September 2026, no official 2026 Varanasi order reviewed for this guide fixes traffic diversions, barricade lines, vehicle drop points, boat permissions or the list of accessible ghats. Those arrangements can change with crowd management and water conditions.
Check Varanasi district administration and Uttar Pradesh Police shortly before travel. A driver’s local knowledge, an old social post or a commercial confirmation is not permission to enter a restricted road or river stretch. The district’s ghat information also makes clear that ghats have different uses and ownership; do not assume every ghat is suitable or open for a particular observance.
Arrive to an outer drop, then walk
Book the vehicle to an official outer drop, not a promised ghat gate. When the event notice names a permitted approach or holding point, put that exact location in the booking.
- Share date, passenger count, luggage, mobility needs and preferred ghat area.
- Get the vehicle, total fare, waiting terms and provisional drop/pickup landmark in writing.
- On the day, reconfirm the official outer drop and agree the walking route before entering the crowd.
- Do not leave medicines, valuables or a child’s essentials in a car that may need to move.
The pricing engine’s published airport/city package starts at ₹899 for a Dzire, ₹1,299 for an Ertiga, ₹1,500 for an Innova and ₹2,500 for a 17-seat Tempo Traveller. These are fixed local-transfer starting rates—not a Chhath ghat-entry charge, parking guarantee or traffic-diversion surcharge. A festival booking is confirmed only when the actual outer drop, inclusions and any unavoidable official parking/toll cost are written down.
| Need | Fixed starting fare | Confirm before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Airport or station, 1–3 travellers | Dzire — ₹899 | Outer drop, luggage and pickup time |
| Family transfer, up to 6 travellers | Ertiga — ₹1,299 | Seating, luggage and walking distance |
| Senior-friendly family transfer | Innova — ₹1,500 | Door-to-outer-drop plan; no ghat-entry promise |
| Larger family/group transfer | 17-seat Tempo Traveller — ₹2,500 | Legal stopping point and regrouping plan |
Booking message: WhatsApp Kashi Taxi with your Chhath date and outer-drop requirement or call +91 99354 74730. Ask for a written fare and the cancellation/refund position if an official order prevents the planned approach.
Families, seniors and children
Choose one ghat area and one short route rather than trying to cover the riverfront. If someone cannot manage uneven steps or a crowd pause, choose a less congested plan or do not proceed until the local arrangement is suitable. Carry essential medicines, water, a charged phone and a small torch; wear footwear with grip.
Set a meeting point outside the ritual edge—at a named shop, crossing or official help point once announced. Give children a card with a guardian’s phone number. Keep them between adults near water and never ask a family to move aside for a photo. For an emergency, District Varanasi lists Police 112, ambulance 102/108, women’s helpline 1091 and child helpline 1098 on its official helpline page.
For normal-day orientation, use the Varanasi ghats guide. It is not a Chhath access map.
Puja supplies: buy simply and carry respectfully
Families observing Chhath commonly carry seasonal fruit, sugarcane, thekua, soop/daura baskets, diyas and items used in their own tradition. Buy from a seller you can identify, check freshness and keep the load manageable for the walk. Do not treat a generic “complete kit” as ritual authority: family and local practice vary.
Keep offerings covered, avoid disposable litter near the river and follow local committee instructions on waste or diyas when published. If you are visiting rather than observing the fast, ask before photographing people, baskets or preparations.
Boat and ghat access: book conditionally, or not at all
Chhath does not make the normal boat ride guide a guaranteed festival cruise. Do not assume a boat can board, move, anchor or view an arghya. River operations may be limited or suspended by the current police and water-safety order.
If an official order permits boats, confirm in writing: licensed operator, approved boarding point, life jackets, capacity, route, reporting time and refund/cancellation terms. Do not board an overloaded boat or one sent to an unapproved ghat. Until that order exists, make a refundable enquiry—not a promise of river access.
A safe pickup after the offering
The return walk is often harder than arrival. Keep the phone usable, wait until the crowd thins if needed and meet only at the pre-agreed outer landmark. Before getting in, match the vehicle number and driver details to the written booking. Do not step into moving traffic to reach a car or accept a last-minute “shortcut” through a barricaded lane.
If the landmark becomes inaccessible, contact the driver from a safe, well-lit public spot and use the police-directed pedestrian flow. The driver should not be asked to breach a restriction to reach you.
Useful planning links
- November 2026 in Varanasi for the rest of the month’s planning
- Airport to Assi Ghat taxi guide for a normal-day transfer reference
- 84 Ghats boat tour for non-festival sightseeing; it is not a Chhath reservation
Questions people ask
Which Varanasi ghat is best for Chhath 2026?
Use the ghat chosen by your family or local committee, then verify it against the current official access notice. This guide does not rank ghats or claim guaranteed entry, parking or accessibility for 2026.
Can a taxi drop us at the ghat?
Maybe, but only up to the permitted point named in the current traffic plan. The fixed local-transfer fare covers the written vehicle package; it does not buy access beyond a barricade.
Is a Chhath boat booking available now?
No river operation should be sold as guaranteed until the relevant official safety order is available. Use a refundable enquiry and get the approved boarding plan in writing if service is later permitted.