Karwa Chauth is one of the widely celebrated festivals in Hindu traditions for wives. It is a day associated with longevity, the husband's good health, marital love, and devotion to Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, and Goddess Parvati. It is a sacred day, on which everything must be performed according to rituals and traditions. From Sargi, on how to keep the fast, Karwa Chauth Puja muhurat, moonrise timings, and how to break the fast, everything has to be specific.
Whether you are married or in search of an eligible partner, it is important to know the Karwa Chauth date and moonrise time to observe the day properly. If you are keen to find all such details, the following sections contain all your answers.
Karwa Chauth 2026 falls on Thursday, October 29, 2026. This day falls on Krishna Paksha Chaturthi, and it begins at 1:06 A.M. and ends at 10:09 P.M. For more details, you can refer to the table below.
The important timings are:
|
Event |
Date & Time |
|
Karwa Chauth 2026 |
Thursday, October 29, 2026 |
|
Chaturthi Tithi Begins |
October 29, around 1:06 AM |
|
Chaturthi Tithi Ends |
October 29, around 10:09 PM |
|
Sunrise |
Around 6:31 AM |
|
Puja Muhurat |
Around 5:38 PM–6:56 PM |
|
Karwa Chauth Moonrise Time |
Around 8:17 PM |
Note: These timings are for New Delhi; however, for the exact times to begin the fast and for when the moon will rise at night, it is better to refer to the local panchang.
Karwa Chauth is a Hindu traditional fasting festival observed by married women, especially in northern India. It falls on the Krishna Paksha Chaturthi, also known as Karak Chaturthi, wherein women observe a fast for their husband’s longevity and good health. It is a festival that promotes peace and harmony between a couple and also strengthens their love, as the wife dedicates the day to fasting, whereas the husband tries to show gratitude with sweet gestures.
Karwa Chauth begins with Sargi, listening to the Karwa Chauth vrat katha, performing evening puja, worshipping the moon, and then breaking the fast. So, this is what Karwa Chauth is; however, you can learn more about its significance in the section below.
Have you always seen ladies around you dressing up nicely on Karwa Chauth and observing the fast? If yes, doesn’t a question come up in your mind as to what its significance is? Well, the following pointers will clarify it.
Prayer for long life of husband
One of the significances of keeping the Karwa Chauth fast is a good life for their husbands. Wives usually observe this fast for their husband's longevity and good health. On this day, wives pray to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, as per Hindu tradition, to seek their blessings and pray to god to protect him from negative energies.
Symbol of love and devotion
Karwa Chauth is one of the days when wives fast for their husbands for the entire day. In return, in modern times, to appreciate her efforts, husbands in return show gratitude by planning dates, keeping fast for her, and surprising her with thoughtful gifts and gestures. Thus, it becomes one of the days between a couple where both appreciate each other's efforts, making it a day for love and devotion.
Importance of discipline
Karwa Chauth is a day when women fast all day, and the fast begins before sunrise. Thus, abstaining from food and water the whole day teaches the value of discipline and commitment. It shows that if you can make thoughtful choices for one day, it is still possible to do so for a lifetime and give your body time to refresh and rejuvenate.
Strengthens Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law Bond
Karwa Chauth is not only a day that deepens the bond between husband and wife. It is also a day that strengthens the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. The fast begins when the mother-in-law offers sargi, and it ends when the daughter-in-law, as a gift of gratitude, offers Bayna. It, in turn, strengthens their bond and fosters deep love and respect.
Community Bonding and Sisterhood
Karwa Chauth is a day when all women gather for the evening puja and dress in bold colours such as red, pink, and maroon. They listen to vrat katha all together and rotate their karwas. It, in turn, becomes a day that fosters bonding among all women; women show gratitude, giggle, and dedicate the day to enjoying and praying for their husbands, despite fasting.
The Karwa Chauth puja samagri can vary according to family and regional traditions. However, if you want to know the basic arrangements for doing the puja, here are some of the items you would essentially need.
The Karwa Chauth Puja Vidhi varies as per locality and family traditions. However, here are some common steps to follow while performing the Karwa Chauth puja.
To perform the Karwa Chauth puja vidhi, you should wake up before sunrise. Upon waking, take a bath, put on clean clothes, and begin the fast by having Sargi, a meal gifted by the mother-in-law to her daughter-in-law.
After you have woken up and consumed sargi, it is time to prepare the puja space. Clean the area where you want to perform puja in the evening. Place the idols of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and Lord Shiva.
After you have prepared the puja space and it is all set, it is time to perform the Karwa Chauth puja. Know the timings of the puja muhurat and worship Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and Lord Ganesha. Afterwards, offer flowers, sweets, roli, and other items as per your family tradition.
After, you perform Karwa Chauth puja and listen to Vrat Katha. You can also read it. Reading it helps you to understand the cosmic purpose of this day. Also, when many women listen to this vrat katha together, it boosts mental strength and resilience.
In some traditions, the Karwa ritual involves exchanging karwas while reciting prayers. So, after you listen to the vrat katha, you perform this ritual. For it, keep the karwa decorated and perform the ritual as per your family traditions.
After you do the puja and rituals, it is now time to wait for the moonrise. The timing of the moonrise depends on the location and the local panchang. It is important to note that specific timings for a city won’t apply to all areas.
Once the Moon appears, offer arghya or water to the Moon. It is done while praying to God to maintain the health of the husband and family.
After you offer the water to the Moon, it is now time to see your husband through the sieve by lighting a diya.
When the wife prays to the Moon and looks at her husband through it, he offers her water or a bite of any sweet. It is the time when the fast gets broken. Also, this ritual depends on the family's customs and traditions.
The Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha is an important part of the rituals observed throughout the day. It is a traditional step and a popular story that is considered important,, as it warns you against breaking vrat rules, highlights the importance of community gathering, teaches devotion and discipline, and helps you seek the blessings of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. One of the popular stories for Karva Chauth is that of Veeravati. Get to know the exact story and its moral, which each lady should imbibe.
Veeravati was deeply loved by her seven brothers. After her marriage, she observed Karwa Chauth, a fast for her husband. However, on that day, she felt weak because she had not eaten anything since morning.
She was very dedicated and devoted to observing the fast with all rituals and discipline, regardless of whether it affected her health. To save Veeravati from such a situation, her brother created a false Moon-like light by using a fire or another arrangement. He told Veeravati that the moon had risen and now she could break her fast.
She believed him and broke the fast by trusting her brother. As soon as she took her first bite, a bad incident happened: her husband lost his life. She wept until Goddess Parvati appeared and explained the tragedy to her. She begged for forgiveness and spent the entire year keeping the fast with strict discipline and rituals. The deities listened to her and revived her husband to life.
The story highlights the importance of faith, devotion, patience, and following the vrat according to tradition. Also, note that the details of this story can vary across different regions, families, or locations.
Want to know the exact vrat rules for observing Karwa Chauth? If so, here are some common steps you can follow. However, remember that these can vary by location, region, community, and household traditions passed down in your family over time.
Before sunrise, consume sargi. Traditionally, sunrise is the time to eat sargi. As you consume it, your fast begins.
Karwa Chauth is traditionally observed as nirjala, meaning abstaining from food and water until sunrise. So, typically, after eating at sunrise, there is no scope to consume anything the entire day if you are performing a Nirjala fast.
Before going to do evening puja, wives generally get dressed in bright colours such as red, pink, and orange. One night before, she also applies henna on her hands. Wearing traditional bangles, sindoor, and bindi is also part of 16 (soolah) shringar.
In the evening during Karwa Chauth, perform the puja by worshipping Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and Lord Ganesh. Also, it is important to listen to Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha.
Once you do the puja in the evening, it is time to wait for the moon to offer arghya. Once you see the moon and offer water to it, you can traditionally break the fast, along with completing all the rituals as per customs and traditions.
Once the moon appears, you can break the fast. Traditionally, the wife sees the first moon, then her husband with the sieve, by keeping a lighted diya. She prays to the moon for her husband’s long life, and then her husband makes her break the fast by offering her a sip of water.
After her husband makes her drink water, she touches the feet of her husband and her mother-in-law and seeks their blessings. Afterwards, she can eat whatever she wants, according to her preferences. It basically depends upon the customs and traditions your family has followed for years.
A. Karwa Chauth in 2026 is on Thursday, October 29, 2026. It falls on Krishna Paksha Chaturthi. This day's puja muhurat is from 5:38 P.M. to 6:56 P.M. For the moonrise time, it's best to verify it with the local panchang.
A. Yes, unmarried girls can keep Karwa Chauth. It is believed that worshipping Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati would help them to secure a loving, caring, and understanding partner in future.
A. Ladies or girls observing Karwa Chauth should avoid black and white colours. Along with it, dull shades such as grey, brown, or pastels should be avoided.
A. The rules for fasting in Karwa Chauth start before sunrise. It is the time when you should eat sargi, which generally includes dry fruits, nuts, or whole grains. After one consumes sargi, the fast begins; it is nirjala, meaning no food or water for the entire day. After moonrise, you can drink water and eat vrat food according to family traditions and customs passed down for years.
A. On the day of Karwa Chauth, if you are observing a fast, it is recommended to not argue or get involved in heated arguments. Other than that, wearing black or white, donating white items, using scissors, or cutting nails is considered inauspicious.