Chhath Puja 2026 festivities entered their second day on Saturday with the observance of Kharna, an important ritual in the four-day festival dedicated to the Sun God and rooted in folk traditions, purity and devotion.

The festival began on Friday with Nahaay-Khay. Kharna marks the start of a rigorous 36-hour nirjala fast, during which devotees abstain from both food and water. In the evening, after bathing and changing into clean clothes, they worship the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya before preparing the ritual offering.