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Hindu festival · San Francisco Bay Area

Chhath Puja - Sandhya Arghya

Why it matters

The evening-arghya day is the most visually recognized Chhath observance, honoring the setting Sun with gratitude for life and sustenance.

The story behind it

Chhath is an ancient solar observance centered on gratitude to Surya and Chhathi Maiya, discipline, purity and family well-being.

Prayers and worship

Devotees stand near clean water, sing Chhath devotional songs and offer arghya to the setting Sun.

Fasting and devotional customs

A strict fast is usually maintained while families carry baskets of offerings to a river, pond or designated water site.

What is typically offered

Thekua, seasonal fruit, sugarcane, coconut, lamps and offerings arranged in bamboo baskets are common.

Visiting a temple that day

When held outdoors, respect water-edge safety, maintain silence during arghya and avoid obstructing the vratins. Temple practices vary by region and sampradaya. Dress modestly, remove footwear where required, follow priest/volunteer directions, ask before photography, and check the temple’s event page for exact pooja, fasting and prasādam arrangements.

Spiritual themes

Gratitude, discipline, purity, family well-being and reverence for the Sun.

This date was validated against a location-specific Northern-California Panchāṅgam source. Dates are compiled for the Fremont / Bay Area location and checked against Northern-California Panchāṅgam references. They can differ from a calendar computed for another city or another sampradāya. Please confirm any date on which you plan a ceremony with Sri Kumar Gurukkal. How these dates are calculated →