Festival pujas Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja Vidhi in Toronto · Tamil
The complete vidhi of Chhath Puja — Nahay Khay, Kharna, Saanjh Arghya to the setting sun and Pratha Arghya to the rising sun — observed over four days.
Why is Chhath Puja Vidhi performed?
Chhath honours Surya and Chhathi Maiya for health, children and the family's wellbeing; the vratis (fasting devotees) keep a 36-hour nirjala fast.
Who performs it?
Families from Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Nepal's Terai, and their communities across India and abroad. Usually no pandit is required — the vratis themselves perform it.
When to perform it
Chhath falls six days after Diwali, from Kartika Shukla Chaturthi to Saptami, with the main arghyas at sunset on Shashthi and sunrise on Saptami. A smaller Chaiti Chhath is observed in Chaitra. Exact sunset and sunrise times vary by city.
Preparing at home
Clean the house thoroughly, buy new bamboo soop and daura, sugarcane, seasonal fruits, and wheat and jaggery for thekua. Many families start preparing the ghat area days ahead with their community.
After the puja
After the morning arghya the vrati breaks the fast with prasad — often thekua, fruits and ginger — and the prasad is shared with everyone at the ghat and later with neighbours.
Regional traditions
In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh families go to river ghats; in cities and abroad, lakes, ponds, artificial tanks or even terraces are used. Songs are sung in Bhojpuri, Maithili and Magahi.
Things to avoid
Don’t taste anything before it is offered, and keep everything for prasad strictly clean. The 36-hour nirjala fast is hard — elderly, pregnant or unwell devotees should consult a doctor.
Puja vidhi — step by step
- Day 1 — Nahay Khay — The vrati bathes, cleans the house and eats a single satvik meal of lauki-chana dal and rice.
- Day 2 — Kharna — Fast all day; in the evening gur-kheer and roti are offered and eaten, then the 36-hour nirjala fast begins.
- Day 3 — Saanjh Arghya — At sunset, standing in water, the vrati offers arghya to the setting sun with the soop of offerings.
- Day 4 — Pratha Arghya — Before sunrise the family returns to the ghat; arghya is offered to the rising sun and the fast is broken (parana).
Families and pandits follow different traditions; your pandit may add or skip steps.
Samagri — what you need
- Bamboo soop and daura
- Thekua
- Sugarcane
- Seasonal fruits (banana, coconut, sweet lime, sitafal)
- Diya and ghee
- Rice, jaggery for kheer
- New clothes for the vrati
- Copper or brass lota for arghya
Most pandits bring the special items; confirm the list when they contact you. Full Chhath Puja samagri list
Aarti & mantra for this puja
Pandits in Toronto
No pandits in Toronto are listed on MyPujaWorld yet — send a request below and our coordinator will find one who speaks Tamil. Are you a pandit in Toronto? List your services free.
Temples in Toronto
Many families perform Chhath Puja Vidhi at a temple, or ask the temple office to recommend a priest.
- BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Toronto Swaminarayan
Upcoming pujas and festivals in Toronto
- Diwali Festival of Lights Toronto 2026 October 24 (Sat) – 25 (Sun), 2026
Request a pandit in Toronto
Need a pandit for Chhath Puja Vidhi? Tell us your city, language and date — a coordinator will contact you on WhatsApp. No payment on MyPujaWorld.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a pandit for Chhath Puja Vidhi in Toronto?
Fill in the Request a Pandit form on this page with your date and preferred language (Tamil). A coordinator will contact you on WhatsApp with a pandit available in Toronto.
Do I need a pandit for Chhath?
Usually not — the vrati and family perform it themselves.
Can Chhath be done at home?
Yes. Many families abroad make a small water tank on a terrace or in the garden.
When are the arghya times?
At local sunset and sunrise — see the Chhath dates page for your city.
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