As Chhath Puja approaches, families across Auckland are preparing to welcome devotees and neighbours for four days of prayer, fasting and gratitude.
As Chhath Puja approaches, families across Auckland are preparing to welcome devotees and neighbours for four days of prayer, fasting and gratitude. From Pukekohe to Waimauku, Glen Eden, Henderson and Stanmore Bay, here is what makes this ancient festival special and where you can join the celebrations.
By Webfit News Community Desk | 10 November 2026
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND: Thousands of kilometres from the riverbanks of Bihar and Jharkhand, a familiar tradition is finding a home in New Zealand.
The preparations are beginning. Families are planning their offerings, gathering traditional ingredients and inviting friends and neighbours to join them. Soon, prayers to the setting and rising sun will mark one of the most meaningful festivals in the Hindu calendar.
Chhath Puja, celebrated this year from Friday, 13 November to Monday, 16 November, is more than a religious occasion. For many families, it is a connection to their childhood, their parents and grandparents, and the communities they left behind when they moved overseas.
Across Auckland, several families and community groups are preparing to observe the festival and have shared invitations welcoming others to participate.
Whether you grew up celebrating Chhath in India, have recently moved to New Zealand, or are simply curious about this remarkable tradition, there are opportunities to experience the celebrations closer to home.
What is Chhath Puja, and why is it so important?
Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to Surya Dev, the Sun God, and Chhathi Maiya, who is revered in the festival’s devotional traditions.
It is particularly associated with Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh, although it is also observed in parts of Nepal and by Indian communities around the world.
At its heart is a simple but powerful idea: gratitude.
The sun provides the energy that sustains life on Earth. Through prayer, fasting and offerings, devotees express thanks for life, health, prosperity and the wellbeing of their families.
Unlike many festivals associated with elaborate temple ceremonies, Chhath is traditionally centred on personal discipline, family participation and worship in natural surroundings.
Devotees gather beside rivers, ponds and other bodies of water to offer Arghya, a ritual offering of water, to the setting and rising sun.
One of the most distinctive features of Chhath Puja is that devotees honour both the setting sun and the rising sun.
The ritual carries a meaningful message. Gratitude is not reserved only for moments of success and brightness. The setting sun, too, deserves respect.
A tradition passed down through generations
The origins of Chhath Puja are rooted in ancient religious and cultural traditions.
Devotional accounts connect the festival with stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, including traditions associated with Sita, Kunti and Karna. These are religious narratives passed down through generations rather than historically verified accounts of the festival’s beginnings.
Over time, Chhath became especially important in the cultural identity of Bihar and neighbouring regions.
For many families, memories of the festival are inseparable from the atmosphere surrounding it: freshly cleaned homes, traditional songs, bamboo baskets filled with offerings, the preparation of thekua and the sight of devotees standing in water as the sun disappears below the horizon.
There is also a remarkable sense of shared responsibility.
Family members help prepare the prasad, arrange offerings and support those observing the demanding fast. Neighbours often assist one another, and participation extends beyond the person performing the main rituals.
Chhath is therefore as much about community and continuity as it is about individual devotion.
From Bihar’s riverbanks to New Zealand’s shores
For families who have settled overseas, festivals such as Chhath Puja take on an additional meaning.
In India, celebrations can bring together entire neighbourhoods along riverbanks and traditional ghats. In New Zealand, families often recreate those experiences within their homes and local communities.
The setting may be different, but the intention remains the same.
Traditional songs are still sung. Prasad is prepared with care. Children learn why their parents and grandparents observe the rituals. Friends who may never have witnessed Chhath before are invited to participate.
And perhaps most importantly, the festival creates an opportunity for people to feel connected to their roots while building a life in a new country.
The invitations shared with Webfit News show how celebrations are being organised across different parts of Auckland, making participation possible for families who may otherwise struggle to travel long distances.
For those who are new to New Zealand, or who have never celebrated Chhath away from their hometown, a simple invitation can make a significant difference.
Understanding the four days of Chhath Puja
Chhath is traditionally observed over four days, each carrying its own significance.
Day 1: Nahaye Khaye | Friday, 13 November
The festival begins with purification and preparation.
Devotees traditionally bathe, clean their surroundings and prepare a simple vegetarian meal. The emphasis is on purity, discipline and beginning the observance with devotion.
Day 2: Kharna | Saturday, 14 November
The second day involves fasting, followed by the preparation and offering of traditional prasad, commonly including kheer and roti.
After the evening rituals, devotees observing the full traditional fast begin a demanding period of abstinence that continues until the final morning.
Day 3: Sandhya Arghya | Sunday, 15 November
This is one of the most significant moments of the festival.
Families gather to offer prayers and Arghya to the setting sun. Traditional offerings may include fruits, sugarcane, coconuts and homemade prasad arranged in baskets.
The evening is marked by devotional songs, prayers and a strong sense of togetherness.
Day 4: Usha Arghya | Monday, 16 November
The final morning begins before sunrise.
Devotees gather again to offer prayers to the rising sun, seeking blessings for their families and expressing gratitude for life and wellbeing.
The observance concludes with Parana, the ceremonial breaking of the fast.
For many participants, this final morning is an emotional moment, marking the completion of days of preparation, prayer and personal discipline.
Where to celebrate Chhath Puja in Auckland in 2026
Several Auckland families and community organisers have shared invitations for this year’s celebrations.
The following locations are drawn from the invitations received by Webfit News. Each gathering has its own schedule, so participants are encouraged to contact the relevant hosts before attending.
1. Pukekohe: Bihar Jharkhand Association of New Zealand
Venue: 79 Schlaepfer Road, Pukekohe
The Bihar Jharkhand Association of New Zealand is inviting families and devotees to join its four-day Chhath Puja celebrations.
Programme:
RSVP:
Shalini: 022 538 8265
Rani: 022 429 9541
This location may be particularly convenient for families living in Pukekohe, Franklin and southern parts of Auckland.
2. Waimauku: Community Chhath Puja Gathering
Venue: 25 Sarah Todd Lane, Waimauku
Families in north-west Auckland also have an opportunity to participate in Chhath Puja celebrations hosted in Waimauku.
Programme:
RSVP:
Shubhu: 021 217 9123
Akanksha: 027 964 3539
This gathering offers another option for families living around Waimauku, Kumeū and neighbouring north-west Auckland communities.
3. Glen Eden: Chhath Puja Celebration in West Auckland
Venue: 19 Stallard Place, Glen Eden, Auckland
A Chhath Puja gathering is also being organised in Glen Eden, with an invitation encouraging families to come together in gratitude to the Sun God.
Programme:
RSVP:
Amit: 022 100 4901
Smriti: 022 569 6101
This may be a convenient option for residents of Glen Eden and surrounding western Auckland suburbs.
4. Henderson: Family Chhath Puja Celebration
Venue: 55B Te Kanawa Crescent, Henderson
Another Auckland family has extended an invitation to celebrate Chhath Puja at their home.
Programme:
RSVP:
Vikas: 021 0847 7873
Anu: 021 0852 9451
The gathering provides an option for families in Henderson and nearby West Auckland neighbourhoods.
5. Stanmore Bay: Chhath Puja Celebration on the Hibiscus Coast
Venue: 43 Vipond Road, Stanmore Bay
Families on Auckland’s Hibiscus Coast are also invited to join a four-day Chhath Puja observance.
Programme:
RSVP by 12 November 2026:
Harsh: 021 558 393
Neelu: 021 978 393
This celebration offers a local option for families in Stanmore Bay, Whangaparāoa and nearby communities.
Planning to attend? A few things worth knowing
Chhath Puja is a deeply respected religious observance, and visitors should be mindful of the traditions followed by their hosts.
Those attending for the first time may wish to ask about suitable clothing, whether any offerings are required and which parts of the programme are open to guests.
Participants should also remember that several of these gatherings are being hosted at private residences. RSVP is important so that organisers can prepare appropriately.
Sunrise and sunset rituals may have specific timings, and the times listed on individual invitations should be confirmed directly with the hosts.
You do not necessarily need to be observing the full fast to appreciate the festival, support participating families or learn about its traditions.
More than a festival, a connection between generations
There is something particularly meaningful about seeing Chhath Puja celebrated in a country so far from its traditional heartland.
For older generations, it preserves familiar rituals and memories.
For parents raising children in New Zealand, it offers an opportunity to pass on traditions that might otherwise become distant stories.
For younger generations, it is a chance to understand where their families came from and why these customs remain important.
And for neighbours and friends from other cultural backgrounds, it opens a window into one of India’s distinctive devotional traditions.
The five invitations shared with Webfit News reflect a simple but important reality: cultural heritage does not have to disappear when people move overseas.
It can travel with them, adapt to new surroundings and continue bringing people together.
Choose a location near you and be part of the celebrations
With gatherings planned in Pukekohe, Waimauku, Glen Eden, Henderson and Stanmore Bay, Auckland families have several opportunities to participate in Chhath Puja this November.
Whether you are a lifelong devotee, celebrating away from India for the first time, or hoping to introduce your children to the festival, consider reaching out to one of the organisers.
Find the location that suits you, RSVP with the host and join the celebrations.
Webfit News will publish the original invitations alongside this article so readers can check the complete programmes and contact details.
If you know of another Chhath Puja gathering taking place in Auckland or elsewhere in New Zealand, we welcome you to share the details with Webfit News so that more families can connect with celebrations in their area.
Chhath Puja is not simply about remembering home. It is about keeping a piece of home alive, wherever life takes you.
Webfit News wishes everyone observing Chhath Puja a peaceful and blessed celebration.
Jai Chhathi Maiya!
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