# Delhi Declares Public Holiday for Chhath Puja, All Government Offices to Remain Closed on November 16 > The Delhi government has announced a public holiday on November 16, 2026, for Chhath Puja. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta reviewed festival arrangements in a meeting with officials, marking four days of rituals starting November 13. **Type:** article · **Category:** Delhi · **Published:** 2026-11-10 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/delhi/delhi-declares-public-holiday-for-chhath-puja-all-government-offices-to-remain-closed-on-november-16-58607 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Chhath Puja, Delhi Government, Public Holiday, Rekha Gupta, National Capital The Delhi administration has made a major announcement regarding the upcoming Chhath Puja festival, bringing cheer to millions of devotees in the capital. The government has formally issued a notification declaring a public holiday on the festival day, ensuring that citizens can participate in the celebrations without facing any professional hurdles. ## Public Holiday on November 16 According to the official notification released by the Delhi government, a public holiday has been declared across all government offices, autonomous bodies, and public sector undertakings within Delhi on November 16, 2026, which falls on a Monday, on the occasion of Pratihar Shashthi or Surya Shashthi, commonly known as Chhath Puja. > ## Four Days of Devotion and Rituals The festival will span four days this year, commencing on November 13 and concluding on November 16. This sacred festival is entirely dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. During this period, devotees express their profound gratitude to the Sun God and offer prayers while keeping fasts to pray for the well-being and prosperity of their families. ## Cultural Significance Across Regions While the festival holds immense cultural and traditional significance particularly in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, it is observed with equal reverence and grandeur in Delhi and numerous other parts of the country where devotees gather in large numbers to offer their prayers. ## Day-by-Day Schedule of the Festival The four-day festival begins on Friday, November 13, with Nahay-Khay. On this opening day, devotees take a holy bath, thoroughly clean their homes, and prepare traditional meals to formally commence their fast. The second day, Saturday, November 14, is marked as Kharna. Devotees observe a fast throughout the day and perform the rituals in the evening, offering traditional prasad before the commencement of the rigorous nirjala fasting phase. The third day, Sunday, November 15, is dedicated to Sandhya Arghya, the primary evening ritual of the festival. Devotees gather in huge numbers along the banks of rivers, ponds, and other water bodies to offer arghya to the setting sun, carrying baskets beautifully decorated with fruits and traditional delicacies like thekua. The festival culminates on Monday, November 16, with Usha Arghya and Paran, where devotees offer prayers and water to the rising sun before breaking their fast. ## Chief Minister Rekha Gupta Holds Review Meeting Ahead of the festivities, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta held a comprehensive meeting on Monday with senior administrative officials and members of various Chhath Puja committees. During the discussion, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta emphasized that Chhath is a festival deeply intertwined with the faith, beliefs, and traditions of millions of people. Highlighting the government's priorities, she stated that ensuring a hassle-free and comfortable prayer experience for all devotees is paramount. She directed all concerned departments to work in close coordination and put all necessary arrangements in place keeping the specific needs of visiting devotees at the ghats in mind. ## What this means for you The public holiday declaration for Chhath Puja will provide significant convenience to government employees and residents participating in the festival across Delhi. - **Across India:** The holiday specifically applies to government sector workers within the national capital region, allowing them dedicated time for festival observances. - **In Delhi:** All government offices, autonomous bodies, and public sector undertakings across Delhi will remain completely shut on November 16. - **Traffic Management:** Heavy gatherings around major water bodies and ghats will prompt local authorities to implement specific traffic diversions and security measures. - **Ghat Preparations:** Local committees and government departments will ensure adequate sanitation, lighting, and logistical arrangements at riverbanks and ponds for devotees. ## Why this happened The government's decision to declare a holiday and coordinate administrative preparations stems from the immense religious and cultural significance of Chhath Puja for millions of citizens. - **Religious Significance:** The festival represents the sacred worship of the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, with millions observing rigorous four-day fasts according to tradition. - **Administrative Priority:** The Chief Minister directed departments to coordinate closely to ensure devotees face no inconvenience during their religious observances. - **Crowd Management:** Advance review meetings were held to put proper logistics in place to handle the massive influx of worshippers at riverbanks and water reservoirs. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. When is the public holiday for Chhath Puja in Delhi? The Delhi government has declared a public holiday on Monday, November 16, 2026, for Chhath Puja. ### 2. How many days is Chhath Puja celebrated? The festival is celebrated over a span of four days, running from November 13 to November 16. ### 3. Which day marks the beginning of Chhath Puja? The festival begins with Nahay-Khay on Friday, November 13, 2026. ### 4. Who held the review meeting regarding festival arrangements in Delhi? Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta held a meeting with administrative officials and members of Chhath Puja committees. ### 5. On which day will Sandhya Arghya take place? The primary evening ritual of Sandhya Arghya will be held on Sunday, November 15, 2026. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._