Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi wish devotees on Chhath Puja 2026, pray for prosperity
Synopsis
As Chhath Puja reached its most sacred stage — the Sandhya Arghya to the setting Sun — Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra both extended greetings on X, while millions of devotees across India began a gruelling 36-hour Nirjala fast. The festival concludes Monday with arghya to the rising Sun.
Key Takeaways
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra extended Chhath Puja greetings on 15 November 2026 via posts on X .
Devotees offered Sandhya Arghya to the setting Sun on Sunday evening , the festival's most significant ritual.
The four-day festival concludes on Monday morning with arghya to the rising Sun.
Fasting devotees are observing a rigorous 36-hour Nirjala fast without consuming even water.
Kharna rituals were performed on Saturday , with prasad including rasiya, kheer, and puris cooked on clay stoves with mango wood.
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra extended their greetings to devotees across the country on the occasion of Chhath Puja on Sunday, 15 November 2026, praying for happiness, prosperity, and good fortune. Both leaders shared their wishes on social media platform X as the festival reached its most significant stage.
What the Leaders Said
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi offered his greetings, writing: 'Heartfelt greetings to all of you on the auspicious occasion of Chhath Puja.' He added: 'May this grand festival of Sun worship illuminate your lives and bring renewed energy, positivity, and prosperity.'
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also took to X to extend her wishes, calling the occasion a festival 'dedicated to the worship of Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya.' She said: 'On this sacred occasion, I pay my respects to all the devotees observing the fast. May Chhathi Maiya bless your lives with happiness, prosperity, and good fortune.'
The Festival's Most Sacred Moment
Devotees across the country were immersed in deep religious fervour on Sunday as Chhath Puja reached its most sacred stage — the offering of Sandhya Arghya, or the first arghya to the setting Sun, on Sunday evening. The four-day festival is set to conclude on Monday morning with devotees offering arghya to the rising Sun.
Those observing the festival undertake a rigorous 36-hour Nirjala fast — without consuming even water — as an expression of devotion to Lord Surya. The discipline and rigour of this fast make Chhath one of the most demanding observances in the Hindu calendar.
Kharna Rituals and Traditional Preparations
On Saturday, devotees performed the Kharna rituals, preparing prasad — including rasiya, kheer, and puris — using traditional methods. Offerings were cooked on clay stoves fuelled by mango wood, preserving the age-old customs central to the festival's character.
After a day of strict purity and religious discipline, fasting devotees consumed the Kharna prasad in the evening in accordance with prescribed rituals, marking the formal beginning of the challenging 36-hour waterless fast. In several households, special prayers were held in separate and secluded rooms, in keeping with the festival's religious traditions.
Significance of Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja is one of India's most widely observed folk festivals, particularly in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and among their diaspora communities across the country. The festival honours Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya and is marked by communal gatherings at rivers and water bodies. As the festival draws its millions of observers to riverbanks nationwide, the political outreach from leading opposition figures reflects the cultural and electoral weight the festival carries across northern and eastern India.
Point of View
But Chhath Puja carries particular electoral weight — it is the defining cultural marker for communities from Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern UP, whose votes are fiercely contested. Both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra choosing to post individually, rather than through the Congress party handle alone, signals deliberate outreach to these communities. The timing, as the festival hits its most emotionally resonant moment — the Sandhya Arghya — maximises visibility. Routine as such wishes are, their SEO and social reach at peak festival fervour is a studied political calculation.
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Rahul Gandhi say on Chhath Puja 2026?
Rahul Gandhi extended heartfelt greetings on Chhath Puja via X on 15 November 2026, writing: 'May this grand festival of Sun worship illuminate your lives and bring renewed energy, positivity, and prosperity.' He addressed his wishes to all citizens observing the festival.
What did Priyanka Gandhi Vadra say on Chhath Puja?
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra posted her Chhath Puja greetings on X, dedicating them to worshippers of Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya. She said: 'May Chhathi Maiya bless your lives with happiness, prosperity, and good fortune,' and paid her respects to all fasting devotees.
What is Sandhya Arghya in Chhath Puja?
Sandhya Arghya is the offering made to the setting Sun on the third day of Chhath Puja, considered the festival's most sacred and significant ritual. Devotees gather at rivers and water bodies at dusk to present this offering as part of their worship of Lord Surya.
How long is the Chhath Puja fast?
Devotees observing Chhath Puja undertake a rigorous 36-hour Nirjala fast, during which they abstain from consuming even water. The fast begins after the Kharna rituals and concludes with the offering of arghya to the rising Sun on the fourth morning.
When does Chhath Puja 2026 conclude?
Chhath Puja 2026 concludes on Monday morning, 16 November 2026, with devotees offering arghya to the rising Sun. This marks the end of the four-day festival and the completion of the 36-hour Nirjala fast.
