MAYIN Guides

Saree for Chhath Puja: Colours, Fabrics and What the Vrati Wears

By Nishita Nathani17 min read

Lemonade plain yellow mul cotton saree by MAYIN for Chhath Puja

The best saree for Chhath Puja is a light cotton one in a sun colour such as yellow, orange or red; pink, green, and white with a festive border are also widely worn. If you are the vrati, keeping the fast and standing in water to offer arghya at sunset and again at sunrise, choose a mul cotton saree that is light when wet and dries quickly, and carry a shawl and a dry change for the cold dawn. Family and guests who stay on the bank can wear zari, tissue, linen or chiffon. Below: the dates, who wears what, colours, fabrics for the water, the customs many families keep, a drape for the ghat, layering and a colour test.

Chhath 2026 at a glance
13 to 16 NovChhath 2026, four days
15 NovSandhya Arghya, Sunday evening
16 NovUsha Arghya, Monday at sunrise
About 15 °CAverage November minimum in Patna
In this guide

Chhath 2026 and 2027: The Four Days

Chhath is held over four days in the month of Kartik, from the fourth to the seventh day of the bright fortnight, with the main day about a week after Diwali. It is one of the most important festivals of the year in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh and in the Terai of Nepal, and it is kept wherever families from these regions now live, from Delhi and Mumbai to London and New Jersey. In 2026 the calendars we checked agree on the dates below.

Chhath Puja 2026
Fri 13 NovNahay KhayA ritual bath, a cleaned home, a simple vegetarian meal
Sat 14 NovKharnaAlso called Lohanda; the evening meal, then the long fast begins
Sun 15 NovSandhya ArghyaOffering to the setting sun, standing in water
Mon 16 NovUsha ArghyaOffering to the rising sun, then the fast is broken

For 2027, Drik Panchang and Prokerala both place the main Chhath day, Sandhya Arghya, on Thursday 4 November. Counting the days around it gives Nahay Khay on Tuesday 2 November, Kharna on Wednesday 3 November and Usha Arghya on Friday 5 November; those three are worked out from the tithi sequence, so confirm them with your local panchang. Sunset and sunrise times vary by city; in Patna, one widely used panchang gives sunset at about 5 pm on 15 November 2026. A smaller Chaiti Chhath is also kept in March or April in some families; the same advice holds, with lighter layers.

What to wear, day by day
DayThe vratiFamily and guests
Nahay KhayA fresh, clean cotton saree after the morning bath; plain or a small printEveryday cotton; most of the day is spent cooking and cleaning
KharnaCotton again, often yellow, orange or pink, for the evening puja and prasad of kheer and rotiA festive cotton or mul modal for visitors who come for prasad
Sandhya ArghyaThe main saree: light cotton in yellow, orange or red, worn into the waterThe dressiest look of the four days, kept on the bank: zari, tissue, linen or chiffon
Usha ArghyaA second light cotton saree, with a shawl until the sun is upWarm layers over cotton or mul modal; it is cold before sunrise

Vrati, Family or Guest: Who Wears What

What you wear depends on how close you will be to the water. The vrati may stand waist deep for a long time at both arghyas; the rest of the family carry the soop and daura (the winnowing tray and bamboo basket of offerings), help the vrati in and out, and wait on the steps; guests come to watch, help and share thekua, the festival’s sweet.

Dress for how close you will be to the water
You areExpectWear
The vratiStanding in water at dusk and dawn; sitting on the ground; long hoursLight mul cotton you can rinse at home: Lemonade, Harvest Sun, Poppy Seed, Devi
Close familyCarrying offerings, wading in to help, cookingCotton or mul modal: Coral Mist, Crimson Charm, Amber, True Garnet
Family on the bankPhotos, singing, lighting diyasSomething with shine: Manjari, Kamakshi, Miss Earth, Golden Hour
Guests and neighboursA crowded ghat or a building terrace, standing a whileComfortable and festive: Elara, Liora, Anthuria

Colours for Chhath

Chhath is a festival of the sun, and its colours follow: yellow and orange for the light, red for married women in many families, with pink and green also common. There is no single required colour. Many women wear orange sindoor from the tip of the nose up the parting, and it sits naturally with yellow, orange and red.

Chhath colours and blouse pairings
Yellow
TrySkip
Red, maroon, green. Skip grey. The colour most families link to the sun; light yellows need a matching petticoat in water.
Orange and saffron
TrySkip
Yellow, green, gold. Skip navy. Echoes the orange sindoor and the evening light.
Red
TrySkip
Yellow, gold, green. Skip black. Worn by many married women, and lovely with orange sindoor.
Mustard
TrySkip
Maroon, rani pink, gold. Skip grey. A warmer yellow that suits most skin tones and shows mud less.
Pink
TrySkip
Orange, yellow, gold. Skip grey. Some families wear it for Kharna; pink with an orange or yellow blouse is cheerful.
Green
TrySkip
Red, yellow, gold. Skip black. Fresh with a red or yellow blouse; good for family members who prefer it to yellow.
Good to know
Many families avoid black, blue and grey for Chhath, especially for the vrati. This is a belief rather than a written rule, and practice varies, but if you are a guest it is a simple courtesy to choose a sun colour. More pairings are in our guides to a blouse for a yellow saree, a blouse for an orange saree and a blouse for a red saree.

Fabric for Standing in Water

Lemonade plain yellow mul cotton saree by MAYIN for Chhath Puja

Wet cloth gets heavy and clings, and the heavier the weave, the more water it holds and the longer it takes to dry. A heavy woven saree or one with a lot of zari can weigh the vrati down, drag in the mud and stay cold and damp for hours afterwards, and river water and silt are hard on metallic thread. Light mul cotton is the opposite: it holds less water, dries faster and is soft against the skin over long hours.

Lemonade, a plain yellow mul cotton saree at ₹1,699, is the simplest Chhath saree we make. Harvest Sun (mustard gingham) and Poppy Seed (red gingham) are ₹2,199 each, for those who prefer a small check to a plain. All three are mul cotton with no blouse piece, and all can be gently hand washed in cold water.

Which fabric for which part of Chhath
Plain mul cottonStanding in waterHand wash at homeEvening on the bankCold dawn, with a shawl
Printed or gingham mul cottonStanding in waterHand wash at homeEvening on the bankCold dawn, with a shawl
Mul modalEvening on the bankCold dawn, with a shawlHand wash at homeStanding in water
Mul cotton with zariEvening on the bankCold dawn, with a shawl
Cotton tissueEvening on the bankCold dawn, with a shawl
Handloom linen with zariEvening on the bankCold dawn, with a shawl
Pure chiffonEvening on the bankCold dawn, with a shawl
Dhakai jamdaniEvening on the bankCold dawn, with a shawl
Best fitAlso works Filled means best fit. Zari, tissue, linen, chiffon and jamdani are dry clean only.

Mul modal, such as Amber in yellow and True Garnet in maroon red at ₹1,899, is soft, drapes fluidly and comes with a 1 metre running blouse piece; it suits family members on a cool evening. For anyone staying on the bank: Manjari, red mul cotton with zari stripes at ₹2,299, Miss Earth, yellow handloom cotton tissue with embroidery and zari at ₹3,499, and Golden Hour, mustard handloom linen with a zari border at ₹4,299. Keep all three out of the river. More in what is a mul cotton saree.

Unstitched Cloth, No Fall and New Clothes

In many homes the care taken over purity at Chhath extends to what the vrati wears. Customs differ between families and regions, so read this as a list of questions to ask at home, not a set of rules.

Customs to ask about
CustomWhat it means in many familiesYour options
Unstitched clothThe vrati wears cloth that has not been cut and sewn: a saree for women, a dhoti for men. Some describe it as akhandit, whole and unbroken.Some vratis wear the saree with no blouse or petticoat; many wear a plain cotton blouse and petticoat as usual. Follow your family.
No fall on the sareeSome families prefer that no needle has touched the puja saree, which rules out a stitched fall.MAYIN sarees come without a fall or pico, so there is nothing to unpick before the day.
New clothesMany families buy a new saree for the vrati, and often new clothes for the whole household.Do the colour test in this guide on a hidden corner, so the new saree holds no surprises in the water.
Colours to avoidBlack, blue and grey are avoided in many homes.Yellow, orange, red, pink, green, or white with a festive border.

If your family follows the unstitched custom and the vrati will go without a petticoat, remember that any light cotton, plain or printed, turns sheer in water. Plan for it: a broad pallu wrapped around the body, and a shawl or towel held ready on the steps for the moment she comes out. Mul cotton sarees come without a blouse piece, so a vrati who does wear a blouse can use one she already has. If unsure, ask the eldest woman in the family who has kept the fast, including whether a print or a white saree with a border, such as Devi (white mul cotton with red and gold detailing, ₹1,999), is acceptable in your home; in many families both are.

A Drape for the Ghat

A ghat at Chhath is crowded, the steps are often wet and muddy, and the vrati goes in and out of the water more than once. A few changes to your usual drape help.

Six adjustments for the water
1
Drape a little higherLet the hem fall at the ankle rather than the floor, so the pleats do not drag through mud on the steps.
2
Pin the pleatsMake five to seven pleats, tuck the pleats in at the navel, facing left, and pin them at the waist so moving water does not pull them open.
3
Secure the palluBring the pallu around the back and tuck it in at the waist, or pin it at the shoulder, so it does not float or trail in the water.
4
Match the petticoatLight cotton turns sheer when wet. Match the petticoat to the saree where you can; if you have no match on a light saree, nude usually shows less than white.
5
Go barefoot near the waterMost people leave their footwear at the top of the steps. Wear flat slip-ons you can step out of easily, and take care on wet steps.
6
Keep jewellery lightLeave anything you would hate to lose at home. A few bangles, toe rings and a nose pin are plenty.

Our guide on how to drape a mul cotton saree walks through it, and the saree petticoat guide covers petticoat colours and fabrics.

Cold Mornings and What to Carry

Usha Arghya is offered as the sun rises, close to the coldest part of the day. In Patna the average November minimum is about 15 °C, and on the ghat, after a short night and wet from the water, it feels much colder than that. In Delhi and further north it can be cooler again. Plan your layers around the moment the vrati comes out of the water.

Layering for the dawn arghya
A shawl until sunriseA wool or cotton shawl over the saree on the walk and the wait; take it off just before stepping in, and have someone hold it.
Deeper mul modalFor family members on the bank, mul modal in a deeper colour, such as True Garnet, layered under a shawl.
Hair tied backA low bun or plait keeps hair out of the water and tucks under a shawl.
Your ghat bag
A dry saree, blouse and petticoat for the vrati, and a towel.
A large bag for wet clothes, so they do not soak everything else.
Six to eight safety pins for pleats and pallu.
A shawl or stole for everyone, and socks for the walk.
A sheet or mat to sit on while you wait.
A small torch for dark steps before dawn.
Sindoor, bindis and a small mirror.
A zip pouch for jewellery taken off before the water.

Will the Colour Run? A Quick Test and Care

Bright reds and oranges are among the colours most likely to release dye when soaked, and a saree that bleeds can stain the blouse and petticoat under it. We cannot promise any saree is colourfast in river water, so test a hand-wash cotton or mul modal saree at home a few days before. Dry clean sarees belong on the bank, so leave them out of this test.

A five-minute colour test
1
Choose a hidden cornerAn inside corner of the pleats or the end that tucks into the petticoat.
2
Wet itDampen it with cold water.
3
Press a white cloth on itHold a damp white cotton cloth against it for a minute.
4
Check the clothIf colour transfers, rinse the saree on its own in cold water before the day, and wear a matching petticoat rather than a white one.
5
Test the blouse tooA new blouse or petticoat in a bright colour can bleed as well.
Caring for a saree after Chhath
After the ghat
✓Rinse plain and printed mul cotton and mul modal (no zari, paint or embroidery) in cold, clean water the same day to lift river water and silt.
✓Gently hand wash and dry in the shade.
✓Brush off dry sindoor before washing; once wet it can spread.
✓Send zari, tissue, linen, chiffon, jamdani, hand painted and embroidered sarees to the dry cleaner, with no rinsing at home first, and mention the river water and sindoor.
Avoid
✕Leaving a wet saree bundled in a bag overnight.
✕Hot water.
✕Wringing hard.
✕Drying bright colours in strong sun.

Full instructions by fabric are in how to wash cotton, chiffon and linen sarees.

Men, Children, City and Overseas Ghats

Everyone else at the ghat
MenA cotton dhoti and kurta is traditional. In many families a male vrati wears only an unstitched dhoti, with a gamchha or shawl over the shoulders.
ChildrenLight cotton in yellow, orange or red, with a sweater for the dawn arghya. Dress them in clothes that can get muddy.
Big-city ghatsRiver ghats, beaches such as Juhu in Mumbai and temporary ponds in parks are crowded and often muddy. Ankle-length drapes and slip-ons matter most here.
Terrace and courtyard tanksMany families now build a small tank at home. The vrati still stands in water, but family can wear linen or chiffon.
AbroadCommunities in the US, UK, Canada and elsewhere gather at lakes or in temporary pools, often in far colder weather. Add a long-sleeved blouse and a heavy shawl or coat.

Guests at a ghat or visiting for prasad: wear a sun colour, a modest drape and flat footwear you can slip off. Printed pure chiffon suits a city ghat or terrace: Elara in orange and Liora in yellow are ₹3,399 each and come with a 1 metre crepe blouse piece. Vintage Orange, an orange floral chiffon with hand embroidery at ₹3,499, is dressier, Naples is a yellow Dhakai jamdani at ₹4,999, and Anthuria, in orange hand painted mul cotton, is ₹2,499. All are dry clean only, so stay on the bank.

Six Complete Looks

Put together
The vrati, Sandhya Arghya
SareeLemonade, plain yellow mul cotton
BlouseRed cotton, or as your family keeps
SindoorOrange sindoor, nose to parting
FeetTan slip-ons, left at the steps
The vrati, Usha Arghya
SareePoppy Seed, red gingham
LayerCream wool shawl until sunrise
ChangeHarvest Sun in mustard, kept dry
FeetTan slip-ons for the walk
Mother-in-law or senior aunt
SareeTrue Garnet, maroon red mul modal
BlouseGold
LayerMustard shawl
JewelleryGold bangles and nose pin
Daughter-in-law on the bank
SareeMiss Earth, yellow tissue
BlouseMaroon, elbow sleeves
SindoorOrange sindoor
JewelleryRed glass bangles
Sister or daughter
SareeManjari, red with zari stripes
BlouseYellow cotton
JewelleryGold jhumkas
LayerIvory stole for later
Guest at a city ghat
SareeElara, orange floral pure chiffon
BlouseOrange, from the 1 m crepe blouse piece
LayerIvory stole
FeetGold flats

Chhath Puja Sarees in This Guide

Shop Chhath Puja sarees
Lemonade Plain yellow mul cotton saree by MAYINLemonadePlain yellow mul cottonPair with Red, maroon, greenHarvest Sun Mustard gingham mul cotton saree by MAYINHarvest SunMustard gingham mul cottonPair with Maroon, red, whitePoppy Seed Red gingham mul cotton saree by MAYINPoppy SeedRed gingham mul cottonPair with Yellow, white, goldCrimson Charm Red polka dot block print mul cotton saree by MAYINCrimson CharmRed polka dot block print mul cottonPair with Yellow, white, goldCoral Mist Plain salmon pink mul cotton saree by MAYINCoral MistPlain salmon pink mul cottonPair with Gold, yellow, greenDevi White mul cotton, red and gold detailing saree by MAYINDeviWhite mul cotton, red and gold detailingPair with Red, yellow, goldAmber Plain yellow mul modal saree by MAYINAmberPlain yellow mul modalPair with Red, green, maroonTrue Garnet Plain maroon red mul modal saree by MAYINTrue GarnetPlain maroon red mul modalPair with Gold, mustard, greenManjari Red striped mul cotton with zari saree by MAYINManjariRed striped mul cotton with zariPair with Yellow, gold, greenKamakshi White mul cotton, red border, gold zari saree by MAYINKamakshiWhite mul cotton, red border, gold zariPair with Red, gold, maroonMiss Earth Yellow handloom cotton tissue, embroidery and zari saree by MAYINMiss EarthYellow handloom cotton tissue, embroidery and zariPair with Maroon, gold, greenGolden Hour Mustard handloom linen, zari border saree by MAYINGolden HourMustard handloom linen, zari borderPair with Maroon, gold, bottle greenElara Orange floral print pure chiffon saree by MAYINElaraOrange floral print pure chiffonPair with Orange, gold, greenLiora Yellow floral print pure chiffon saree by MAYINLioraYellow floral print pure chiffonPair with Yellow, gold, red

Browse all yellow sarees, orange sarees, red sarees and mulmul cotton sarees, or the wider festive wear collection. For the rest of the season, read our pooja saree guide, the Diwali saree guide and winter saree looks. Every MAYIN saree is 5.5 metres long and 45 inches wide, shipping is free within India, cash on delivery is available, and you can return or exchange within 7 days.

Questions People Ask

Which colour saree should I wear on Chhath Puja?

Yellow, orange and red are the most common, as colours of the sun, and many married women wear red. Pink, green, and white with a festive border are also widely worn.

Can we wear black or blue on Chhath Puja?

Many families avoid black, blue and grey for Chhath, especially for the vrati. It is a belief rather than a fixed rule, but as a guest a sun colour is the safer courtesy.

Which saree is best for Chhath Puja?

For the vrati, a light cotton saree: mul cotton in yellow, orange or red, which is light when wet and dries quickly. Family and guests on the bank can wear zari, tissue, linen or chiffon.

What does the vrati wear during Chhath?

Usually a new or freshly washed cotton saree in a sun colour, often with no stitched fall. In some families the vrati wears only unstitched cloth, with no blouse or petticoat.

Why do some vratis wear unstitched clothes?

In many families, cloth for the puja is meant to be whole, untouched by a needle, as a sign of purity. Practice varies, so follow what your family keeps.

Do you have to wear new clothes for Chhath?

Many families buy new clothes for the vrati and the household, but it is a custom, not a requirement everywhere. A clean, freshly washed saree is fine in many homes.

Why do women apply orange sindoor from the nose in Chhath?

It is a tradition in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, and many women hold the belief that a long line of sindoor is a blessing for the husband’s long life.

What should guests wear to a Chhath ghat?

A sun-coloured saree, a modest drape and flat footwear you can slip off. Avoid black, and carry a shawl for the dawn arghya.

When is Chhath Puja in 2026 and 2027?

From Friday 13 to Monday 16 November 2026, with Sandhya Arghya on Sunday 15 November and Usha Arghya at sunrise on Monday 16 November. In 2027 the main day falls on Thursday 4 November in most calendars, with the four days running from about 2 to 5 November; confirm with your local panchang.

Can I wear a printed saree for Chhath?

In many families, yes. Small checks, polka dots and block prints in sun colours are widely worn; ask what your family keeps.

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