PM Modi extends Chhath Puja Sandhya Arghya greetings to nation
Synopsis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to all Indians on the occasion of Chhath Puja's Sandhya Arghya on 15 November 2026, praying for new energy, social harmony, and the blessings of Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi posted Chhath Puja Sandhya Arghya greetings on 15 November 2026 .
The message was in Hindi and addressed all citizens of India.
He highlighted nature-worship , social harmony, and spiritual well-being as themes of the festival.
Chhath Puja is a four-day festival dedicated to Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya , primarily observed in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern UP and Nepal.
Sandhya Arghya is the third-day evening ritual considered the most iconic moment of the Chhath cycle.
The golden hour of Sandhya Arghya — the evening offering to the setting sun — arrived on Sunday, 15 November 2026, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the sacred moment with a heartfelt message to every Indian celebrating Chhath Puja, one of Hinduism's most demanding and deeply rooted festivals.
In his post on X, the Prime Minister offered greetings in Hindi, writing: 'सभी देशवासियों को महापर्व छठ के संध्या अर्घ्य की अनेकानेक शुभकामनाएं' — 'Many, many good wishes to all countrymen on the Sandhya Arghya of the great festival of Chhath.' He invoked the spirit of nature-worship at the heart of the occasion, expressing the hope that it would bring 'new consciousness and energy' to every devotee while deepening 'harmony and accord in society.' He closed with a blessing — 'May the grace of Surya Dev illuminate everyone's life' — and the traditional salutation: 'Jai Chhathi Maiya!'
What Sandhya Arghya means in the Chhath cycle
Chhath Puja is a four-day festival observed primarily across Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Nepal, dedicated to Surya Dev, the Sun God, and Chhathi Maiya, the folk goddess revered as his sister and protector of devotees. The rituals are among the most rigorous in the Hindu calendar — devotees undertake extended fasting, stand waist-deep in rivers or ponds, and offer arghya (water oblations) twice: once to the setting sun on the third evening, and once to the rising sun at dawn the following day. Sandhya Arghya, the evening offering, is the festival's most visually arresting moment, with millions gathering on riverbanks as the sky turns amber.Modi's tradition of acknowledging regional festivals
The Prime Minister's message follows a well-established pattern of publicly recognising India's regional and linguistic festival traditions. Chhath holds particular cultural weight for the large Bihari diaspora spread across Indian cities and abroad, making greetings directed at the festival an act of broad national outreach. Modi's framing — centred on nature reverence, social harmony, and collective well-being — reflects the themes that characterise his festival messaging year after year. As millions stand at water's edge this evening, eyes turned to a setting sun, the Prime Minister's words land where they are meant to — in the quiet space between prayer and community.Point of View
The messaging frames a regional festival as a pan-Indian value. The consistent pattern of such posts reinforces the BJP's efforts to position itself as culturally inclusive across linguistic and geographic lines. At a symbolic level, invoking both Surya Dev's blessings and social 'samrasta' (harmony) knits together Hindu devotional sentiment with a broader civilisational narrative the party consistently cultivates.
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chhath Puja Sandhya Arghya?
Sandhya Arghya is the third-day evening ritual of Chhath Puja where devotees stand in water and offer oblations to the setting sun. It is considered the most sacred and visually iconic moment of the four-day festival.
What did PM Modi say on Chhath Puja 2026?
PM Modi wished all Indians 'many, many good wishes' on Chhath Puja's Sandhya Arghya, praying that the festival bring new consciousness and energy to devotees and deepen harmony in society, and closed with 'Jai Chhathi Maiya!'
Who is Chhathi Maiya in Chhath Puja?
Chhathi Maiya is the folk goddess central to Chhath Puja, revered as the sister of Surya Dev (the Sun God) and the protector of devotees and their families.
Which states celebrate Chhath Puja the most?
Chhath Puja is observed most prominently in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal, though it is now widely celebrated by Bihari communities across India and abroad.
Why does PM Modi post greetings for Chhath Puja?
PM Modi regularly acknowledges major regional festivals including Chhath to reach out to diverse linguistic and cultural communities across India, with Chhath carrying particular significance for the large Bihari population nationwide.
