Chhath Puja from 13 to 16 November; Varanasi station sets up help desk, holding area

VARANASI: Chhath Puja, the four-day festival dedicated to the Sun, will be observed from 13 to 16 November 2026, and Varanasi railway station has put extra passenger arrangements in place for the rush towards Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The festival matters to a large number of families in Kashi and across Purvanchal, many of whom travel to their home towns or gather at river and pond ghats for the evening and morning offerings. Trains passing through Varanasi are already running full, so travellers without a confirmed berth should plan for extra time at the station.

When and where: Nahay-Khay falls on 13 November and Kharna on 14 November, after which the 36-hour waterless fast begins. The evening offering to the setting sun, Sandhya Arghya, is on 15 November, and the festival closes with Usha Arghya to the rising sun on the morning of 16 November.

At the station: the station director told Patrika that seven special trains are operating from Varanasi and will continue until 30 November, alongside the regular services. A holding area and a help desk have been set up for waiting passengers, a medical team is on duty round the clock, and 182 CCTV cameras are monitoring the premises. Chhath songs are also being played at the station.

Festival dates are as published by Republic Bharat on 9 November and by India TV; the station arrangements are from Patrika's report of 10 November.