India
Delhi Declares 16 November 2026 a Public Holiday for Chhath Puja
By Ravi Hari
The Delhi government has announced that Monday, 16 November 2026, will be a public holiday for all government offices, autonomous bodies and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in the national capital. The holiday is to observe Pratihar Shashthi or Surya Shashthi, popularly known as Chhath Puja. The decision was approved by Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu in an official order, which stated: "The Lieutenant Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi is pleased to declare 16 November, 2026 (Monday) to be a holiday in all government offices, autonomous bodies and Public Sector Undertakings, on account of Pratihar Shashthi or Surya Shashthi (Chhath Puja)."
The four‑day Chhath Puja festival begins in Delhi on 13 November 2026, with the public holiday falling on the final day. More than 1,400 ghats are being prepared across the city, an increase from 1,326 the previous year. Arrangements include lighting, tents, CCTV cameras at major ghats, changing rooms for women and round‑the‑clock cleaning. The chief minister, Rekha Gupta, has emphasized that Chhath is a symbol of Delhi’s social and cultural unity and urged officials to prioritise devotees’ convenience, safety and cleanliness.
A notable addition this year is an 11‑km‑long ghat being developed along the Munak canal, said to be Delhi’s longest Chhath ghat. It will stretch from the Outer Ring Road to Inderlok and feature steps on both sides and a concrete road for easy access. BJP national president Nitin Nabin is scheduled to inaugurate the facility on 12 November.
On 6 November, Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu reviewed the Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) preparations for Chhath Puja with its vice‑chairman and other senior officials. He directed the DDA to provide spaces and ponds on the Yamuna floodplain and public parks for Chhath celebrations free of cost, ensuring thorough cleaning, adequate lighting and transparent allotments that consider local requirements and demand from devotees, especially those from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. The DDA was also instructed to deploy staff to assist devotees and coordinate with the Delhi Jal Board and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and to restore the sites after the festival. (With PTI inputs)