Government offices, autonomous bodies and PSUs under Delhi Government to remain closed as the capital prepares for the major Purvanchal festival
New Delhi : The Delhi Government has declared Monday, November 16, 2026, a public holiday on account of Chhath Puja, allowing government employees and their families to participate in the widely celebrated festival.
The decision has been formally notified by the General Administration Department (GAD) of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Accordingly, all Delhi Government offices, autonomous bodies and public sector undertakings functioning under the NCT of Delhi will remain closed on November 16.
The holiday assumes particular significance in Delhi, where Chhath Puja has emerged as one of the largest community festivals, especially among people originating from Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the Purvanchal region.
Four days of faith, discipline and devotion
Chhath Puja, popularly known as Chhath Mahaparv, is dedicated to Surya Dev, the Sun God, and Chhathi Maiya. The festival is distinguished by its emphasis on purity, self-discipline, fasting and prayers offered to both the setting and rising Sun.
The observance generally extends over four days, beginning with Nahay-Khay, followed by Kharna. The third day is marked by Sandhya Arghya, when devotees gather at water bodies to offer prayers and arghya to the setting Sun. The festival concludes the following morning with Usha Arghya, offered to the rising Sun.
Devotees prepare traditional offerings with great care. Thekua, fruits, sugarcane and other seasonal produce form an important part of the prasad. Bamboo baskets, earthen lamps and other traditional items are also closely associated with the rituals.
One of the most distinctive features of Chhath is that the principal worship takes place around rivers, ponds, lakes and specially prepared ghats, rather than being confined to temples. The festival therefore creates a strong sense of collective participation, with entire families and neighbourhoods coming together for the rituals.
A major festival for Delhi’s Purvanchal community
The declaration of a public holiday is also closely linked to the sizeable population from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh living across Delhi-NCR.
Over the years, Delhi and its surrounding urban centres have attracted a large number of people from these regions for employment, education, business and other opportunities. Their presence is particularly visible in Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and other parts of the National Capital Region.
There is no single, current official census figure that precisely establishes the combined population of people from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh across the entire Delhi-NCR region. Various estimates, however, indicate that the population runs into several million, making the Purvanchal community an important part of the social and cultural landscape of the capital region.
For this community, Chhath is not simply a religious occasion. It is also a time when families reconnect with their cultural roots, observe traditional customs and, in many cases, travel to their native villages and towns in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Chhath celebrations have expanded across Delhi
The scale of Chhath celebrations in Delhi has grown considerably over the years. From small neighbourhood gatherings, the festival has evolved into a major public celebration involving large numbers of devotees, temporary ghats, community organisations, volunteers and civic agencies.
Preparations begin well ahead of the festival. Authorities and local organisations make arrangements for water bodies, ghats, lighting, sanitation, security, traffic management and other essential facilities to accommodate devotees.
The festival also has a visible impact on public transport and inter-state travel. Around Chhath, a significant number of people from Delhi-NCR travel towards Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring regions, while many families also choose to celebrate the festival collectively in Delhi itself.
Holiday will enable government employees to participate
The November 16 holiday will provide government employees observing Chhath with an opportunity to participate in the concluding rituals without having to balance the festival with regular office responsibilities.
The decision also reflects the growing cultural significance of Chhath in Delhi, where the festival has moved beyond being a community-specific observance and has become an important part of the capital’s wider festive calendar.
With Usha Arghya marking the culmination of the four-day observance, devotees will gather at ghats and water bodies in the early hours to offer prayers to the rising Sun. Following the rituals, families traditionally break their fast and distribute prasad among relatives, friends and members of the wider community.
The Delhi Government’s decision to declare November 16 a public holiday therefore carries both administrative and social significance, recognising the importance of Chhath Puja for a large section of Delhi’s population and allowing devotees to observe one of the region’s most deeply rooted festivals with full participation.
