Karwa Chauth 2026 falls on Thursday, 29 October 2026. In New Delhi, the evening puja muhurat is from 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM, and the moon is expected to rise at about 8:17 PM. The fast is broken only after the moon is sighted and the arghya is offered.
What Is Karwa Chauth?
Karwa Chauth is a one-day vrat kept mainly by married Hindu women in North India. They fast from sunrise until moonrise, praying for the long life, health and well-being of their husbands and for a happy married life. The name comes from “karwa”, the small earthen pot with a spout used in the puja, and “chauth”, which means the fourth lunar day.
The festival is most widely observed in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu. The rituals centre on Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Kartikeya and the Moon.
Why Is Karwa Chauth on 29 October and Not 28 October?
Karwa Chauth is kept on the day the Chaturthi tithi of the dark fortnight is present at moonrise. In 2026, Chaturthi begins at 1:06 AM on 29 October and ends at 10:09 PM the same night. Moonrise at about 8:17 PM falls well inside that window, so the fast is observed on Thursday, 29 October.
You may see 28 October on a few websites. That date generally applies to the USA and Canada, where the tithi timing falls a day earlier in local time. If you live outside India, check a panchang set to your own city.
Karwa Chauth 2026 Puja Muhurat
The evening puja is done in the hour or so before moonrise. For New Delhi, the best window is 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM. Women usually gather at home or with neighbours, set up the puja thali, place the karwa, and listen to the Karwa Chauth katha together.
The muhurat shifts a little with your city’s sunset. If you live elsewhere, start the puja around sunset and finish it before the moon appears.
Sargi: The Pre-Dawn Meal
Sargi is a meal that a woman traditionally receives from her mother-in-law and eats before sunrise on Karwa Chauth morning. It usually includes fruit, dry fruits, sweets, mathri, paratha or other light foods, and plenty of water, since the fast that follows is dry.
Eat sargi before local sunrise. In Delhi, sunrise is around 6:31 AM, so the pre-dawn hours before that are the right time. After sargi, you take the sankalp (vow) to keep the fast for the day.
Karwa Chauth 2026 Moonrise Time
The fast ends only after the moon is seen, so moonrise matters more than any fixed clock time. In New Delhi, the moon is expected at about 8:17 PM on 29 October 2026. Published figures for Delhi vary by a few minutes between panchangs, and other cities can differ by 15 to 45 minutes. Cities in the west, such as Mumbai, see the moon later than Delhi, while cities in the east, such as Kolkata, see it earlier.
Two practical tips. First, look up your own city’s moonrise a few days ahead. Second, remember that tall buildings, trees or clouds may delay when you can actually see the moon, even after the official moonrise time.
Karwa Chauth Puja Samagri (Items Needed)
- Karwa (earthen or brass pot with a spout) and a lid
- Puja thali with roli, rice grains (akshat), and a diya
- Water, sweets and fruits
- Flowers and incense sticks
- Sieve (chalni) for viewing the moon
- Pictures or idols of Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha and Kartikeya
- Karwa Chauth katha book
- Sargi items, mehndi, bangles and sindoor for the festive shringar
Karwa Chauth Puja Vidhi: Step by Step
- Wake up before sunrise, bathe, and eat sargi.
- Take the sankalp to observe the vrat until moonrise.
- Spend the day in prayer. Many women apply mehndi and prepare for the evening.
- In the evening, dress in your festive clothes and set up the puja space.
- Fill the karwa with water, place it on the thali along with the diya, roli and rice, and light the lamp.
- Worship Lord Ganesha first, then Shiva, Parvati and Kartikeya.
- Sit together with the other women, listen to or read the Karwa Chauth katha, and pass the thalis round in a circle (this exchange is called pheri).
- When the moon rises, see it through the sieve, offer arghya with water, and pray for your husband’s long life.
- Look at your husband through the same sieve. He offers you water and a sweet, and you end the fast.
- Take blessings from elders, then have a light meal.
The Story Behind the Vrat
Many legends are told, and the most popular is the story of Veervati. She was the only sister of seven brothers and kept her first Karwa Chauth at her parents’ home after marriage. By evening she was weak with hunger and thirst. Her brothers, unable to see her suffer, created the appearance of a moon with a light behind a tree and told her it was time to eat. She broke her fast. Soon after, news came that her husband had fallen gravely ill. Heartbroken, Veervati realised her mistake, and in many versions of the story she spent a year performing the vrat with full devotion and prayer. Her husband was restored to health. The story is told to stress sincerity and faith in the vrat. Versions differ between regions and families.
Significance of Karwa Chauth
For many families, the day is about more than a fast. It marks affection, patience and the bond between husband and wife. Women dress up, exchange gifts, share sweets with friends and neighbours, and strengthen community ties. In recent years, many husbands also join their wives in fasting as a sign of partnership. In some regions, unmarried women also keep the vrat while praying for a good life partner. Practices vary by family and region, so follow your own family tradition.
Health and Safety Tips for the Fast
The traditional Karwa Chauth fast is nirjala, meaning without food or water, and it lasts well over twelve hours. If you have diabetes, blood pressure problems, a heart or kidney condition, or you are pregnant, breastfeeding or recovering from illness, please speak to your doctor before deciding how to observe it. Many families allow water, fruit or milk in such cases, and religious opinion holds that your health comes first.
A few simple tips:
- Drink enough water and eat a balanced sargi so you stay energised.
- Avoid heavy, oily food at sargi, as it can make you thirsty during the day.
- Break the fast slowly with water, a sweet and then a light meal.
- Avoid strenuous work through the afternoon.
FAQs
Q: When is Karwa Chauth in 2026?
A: Thursday, 29 October 2026 in India.
Q: What is the Karwa Chauth puja muhurat in 2026?
A: In New Delhi, 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM.
Q: What time is moonrise on Karwa Chauth 2026?
A: About 8:17 PM in New Delhi. Other cities can differ by 15 to 45 minutes.
Q: When does the Chaturthi tithi begin and end?
A: It begins at 1:06 AM on 29 October and ends at 10:09 PM the same day.
Q: What time should I eat sargi?
A: Before sunrise. In Delhi, sunrise is about 6:31 AM.
Q: Can unmarried girls keep Karwa Chauth?
A: In some communities, yes, while praying for a good life partner. In others the vrat is kept only by married women. Follow your family tradition.
Q: Can husbands fast on Karwa Chauth?
A: Many couples now fast together. This is a personal and family choice.
Q: Can I drink water during the fast?
A: The traditional vrat is without water. If you cannot manage that for health reasons, speak to your doctor and your family elders about a modified fast.
Q: Is Karwa Chauth on a different day in the USA?
A: Many panchangs list 28 October (Wednesday) for the USA and Canada because of the local tithi timing. Check a panchang for your city.
Conclusion
Karwa Chauth 2026 is on Thursday, 29 October, with the evening puja between 5:38 PM and 6:56 PM and moonrise around 8:17 PM in New Delhi. Check your own city’s moonrise time, prepare your sargi and puja thali in advance, and follow the customs of your family. The festival arrives just before Diwali, so it also marks the beginning of the festive season.