Siliguri Chhath Puja 2026: Mahananda River Ghats, Sandhya & Usha Arghya Timings & Traffic Advisory

Each year following Diwali and Bhai Phota, the banks of the Mahananda River in Siliguri transform into a luminous sanctuary of unwavering faith, austerity, and community harmony for Chhath Puja. Celebrated with profound spiritual devotion across Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and throughout Bengal and the Terai region, Chhath Mahaparv in Siliguri attracts over two lakh devotees and vrattis (those observing the rigorous fast).

The sacred festival is dedicated to Surya Dev (the Sun God, the supreme cosmic source of life and energy) and his divine consort Usha along with Chhathi Maiya. What makes Chhath unique in world spiritual heritage is that prayers and offerings are made both to the setting sun (Sandhya Arghya) and the rising sun (Usha Arghya)—symbolizing that cosmic cycles of sunset and sunrise, endings and beginnings, are equally holy.

Whether you are performing the sacred puja rites with your family, offering seva, or visiting the illuminated ghats, this comprehensive guide covers the verified 2026 calendar, Panjika arghya timings, Mahananda river ghats, and police traffic guidelines in Siliguri.

Siliguri Chhath Puja 2026: 4-Day Sacred Calendar & Arghya Timings

Chhath Puja spans four rigorous days of spiritual purification, fasting (nirjala vrat), and divine surrender. Devotees in Siliguri should note the following verified dates:

Major Mahananda River Ghats in Siliguri

The Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) and the Siliguri Metropolitan Police (SMP) set up dedicated civic amenities, high-mast lighting, barricades, and lifebuoy patrols across multiple riverbank sectors:

1. Lalmohan Ghat (Hill Cart Road / Air View More — Ward 1)

• Status: The flagship and most popular Chhath ghat in North Bengal.
• Atmosphere: Accommodating over 50,000 devotees, Lalmohan Ghat features expansive illuminated welcome arches extending from Air View More down to the water's edge. A temporary footbridge connects sandbanks to expand worshipping berths.
• Facilities: Central police command booth, SDRF rescue speedboats, medical triage desk, public address system, and clean drinking water tankers.
• Access: Easiest access from Central Siliguri, Hill Cart Road, and Venus More.

2. Ramghat & Mahananda Riverbank (Ward 10 & 11)

• Status: Historic paved ghat with wide concrete steps leading smoothly into the river.
• Best For: Families with senior citizens and toddlers who require stable, non-slip footing rather than muddy riverbank trails.
• Location: Centrally located below Court More and Siliguri Town area.

3. Noukaghat (South Siliguri / Tinbatti More Link)

• Status: Southern Siliguri's primary Chhath congregation hub.
• Atmosphere: Situated near the confluence where the river widens, Noukaghat offers extensive open sandy banks. Devotees from Central Colony, Babupara, Tinbatti More, and the NJP corridor converge here.
• Facilities: Massive decorated bamboo arches, separate changing enclosures for women vrattis, and ample open ground parking along the Tinbatti link corridor.

4. Santoshi Mata Mandir Ghat (Pradhannagar / Guru Nanak Sarani)

• Status: The preferred ghat for residents of northern Siliguri, Champasari, and Hill Cart Road North.
• Atmosphere: Clean river approach with the serene spiritual backdrop of the adjacent Santoshi Mata temple. Devotees often visit the mandir for blessings following morning Usha Arghya.

5. VIP Ghat (Near Court More / Subhas Pally)

• Status: Secure civic ghat frequently utilized by local administration officials, senior citizens, and cultural delegates.
• Facilities: Dedicated staging platforms, illuminated walkways, and direct connectivity to Bidhan Road and Court More.

6. Fulbari Mahananda Barrage & Teesta Canal Banks

• Status: Outer-city water bodies serving devotees from southern fringes, Fulbari, and adjacent tea garden estates.
• Advantage: Open horizons offering unobstructed panoramic vistas of the setting and rising sun over the Himalayan foothills.

Anatomy of the Chhath Offerings (Daura & Soop)

Chhath Puja is revered as one of the most environmentally pure and sustainable Vedic festivals. No metal or plastic is used in core rituals:

• Bamboo Soop & Daura: Handcrafted bamboo trays (soop) and large round baskets (daura) woven by traditional artisans.
• Thekua: The quintessential sacred offering prepared with whole wheat flour (atta), pure desi ghee, jaggery (gur), cardamom, and dry coconut, deep-fried on wood stoves.
• Agricultural Bounty: Whole sugarcane stalks with green leaves (ganna), raw turmeric clusters, ginger plants, pomelo (shaddock / chakor), coconuts with water, bananas, and seasonal winter fruits.
• Earthen Pradips: Clay lamps filled with pure mustard oil or cow ghee, lit on the bamboo soop during the arghya invocation.

Traffic Advisories & Commuter Guidelines for Siliguri

During Sandhya Arghya (Sunday afternoon) and Usha Arghya (early Monday dawn), thousands of families carry decorated dauras on their heads in celebratory processions toward the river. To maintain smooth transit, the Siliguri Metropolitan Police enforces the following measures:

1. Hill Cart Road & Mahananda Bridge Regulation: Heavy vehicular traffic and trucks are diverted away from Mahananda Bridge and Air View More between 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM on Sunday, and between 3:30 AM and 7:30 AM on Monday. 2. Designated Vehicle Parking: - Lalmohan Ghat Visitors: Park cars at Kanchenjunga Stadium open grounds or Baghajatin Park. Proceed on foot down Hill Cart Road. - Noukaghat Visitors: Park along designated fields near Tinbatti More truck terminus and follow pedestrian barricades. 3. Toto / E-Rickshaw Priority: Green E-Rickshaws (Totos) operate designated drop-off shuttles up to 200 meters before the river ghats. 4. Cleanliness & Water Safety Protocol: - Devotees must stay strictly within the bamboo safety markers installed by Civil Defence inside the river channel. - Never venture into deep water trenches. Keep children under close adult supervision at all times. - Dispose of fruit peels, dry flowers, and puja packaging in the designated SMC Nirmalya Green Bins rather than throwing them into the running river.

Plan your transit smoothly with our Interactive Siliguri Puja Map and check Areas Guide.