Chhath Puja does not need a temple, an idol or a priest. It needs water, the Sun and a devotee willing to fast. That simplicity is why the festival travels so well. Families living thousands of kilometres from Bihar keep it with the same discipline, whether they live near a lake in New Jersey or a canal in London.In 2026 the four-day observance runs from Friday 13 November to Monday 16 November, on the same dates worldwide. The only thing that changes is the clock.
When to Offer Arghya Abroad
Arghya is always made at local sunset and sunrise, not Indian time. A family in London should never follow a relative’s WhatsApp message from Patna. Sandhya Arghya falls on Sunday 15 November, and Usha Arghya on Monday 16 November.Sunday sunset and Monday sunrise in key diaspora cities:·New Jersey: 4:39 PM and 6:45 AM·Toronto: 4:51 PM and 7:13 AM·London: 4:10 PM and 7:20 AM·Dubai: 5:30 PM and 6:36 AM·Port Louis, Mauritius: 6:26 PM and 5:22 AM·Sydney: 7:35 PM and 5:43 AMThe figures show how differently the festival plays out. In London the evening offering happens in the middle of the afternoon, so working families have to plan the day carefully. In the Southern Hemisphere it is the opposite. Sydney’s evening arghya comes late and its dawn arghya very early, because November there is late spring.
Finding Water When There Is No Ganga
A natural water body is ideal. A clean lake, river or seashore where public access is allowed works well. Many countries require permission for gatherings or for entering open water, so check local rules a few weeks ahead.When that isn’t possible, an artificial pool is fully accepted. A large tub, an inflatable pool on a terrace or in a garden, or a community swimming pool can serve as the ghat. What matters is that the water is clean and that the vrati can stand in it facing the Sun. Some vratis simply stand in a basin of water at home. The devotion counts more than the depth.
Preparing Prasad Abroad
Jaggery, wheat flour, ghee and rice are easy to find in most Indian grocery stores overseas. Thekua can be made at home. The one rule that doesn’t bend is purity: a clean kitchen, no onion or garlic, and no tasting while cooking.Some items are harder to find. Sugarcane, fresh turmeric and water chestnuts may only be available at Asian markets, and some families order them a week early. A bamboo soop can be replaced with a new brass or steel plate if needed. Fruit should be fresh and whole.
Dressing for the Weather
Standing in cold water is the biggest physical challenge in North America and Europe. Mid-November temperatures at dawn can fall close to freezing. Vratis can wear thermal layers under a saree or dhoti, keep a heavy shawl at the water’s edge, and limit their time in the water to the arghya itself. A thermos of warm water should be ready for the moment the fast ends.Elderly devotees, and anyone with a heart condition or diabetes, should get medical advice before keeping a nirjala fast in such conditions.
Keeping the Rituals Whole
The four-day sequence should stay unchanged:·Nahay Khay on Friday, with a cleansing bath and a simple meal·Kharna on Saturday, ending the day-long fast with jaggery kheer after sunset·Sandhya Arghya on Sunday evening·Usha Arghya on Monday morning, followed by ParanaWorking professionals often take Monday morning off, since the dawn arghya and the meal that breaks the fast take a few hours.
Why It Matters to Families Abroad
For many families, Chhath is the one festival that pulls the whole household together, however far they are from home. Children born overseas learn Chhath songs, help shape thekua and wake up before dawn to stand by the water. For some, it is the first ritual they understand as their own.The Sun is the same over the Hudson as over the Ganga. Chhath simply asks that you meet it at the right moment.