Quick answer
- Karwa Chauth 2026
- Thursday, 29 October 2026
- Tithi
- Kartik Krishna ChaturthiAswayuja Krishna Chaturthi (amanta)
- Fast
- Sunrise to moonrise, traditionally nirjala
- Observed for
- The husband’s long life and a happy marriage
- Sargi
- Thu, 29 Oct · Before sunrise 04:55 AM – 06:31 AM
- Moonrise & arghya
- Thu, 29 Oct · Moonrise 08:17 PM
What is it? A fast from sunrise to moonrise kept by married women — and increasingly by couples — for a long and happy married life.
Why is it observed? Women pray to Goddess Gauri for the long life of their husbands; the karwa (clay pot) and the sighting of the moon are at its heart.
How is it observed? Sargi before dawn, a fast through the day, the evening puja with the katha, and breaking the fast after offering arghya to the moon.
Karwa Chauth 2026 date & muhurat
| Chaturthi tithi begins | Thu, 29 Oct, 01:07 AM |
|---|---|
| Chaturthi tithi ends | Thu, 29 Oct, 10:11 PM |
| Sunrise | 06:31 AM |
| Fasting time | 06:31 AM – 08:17 PMFrom sunrise until the moon is sighted. |
| Sunset | 05:38 PM |
| Moonrise | 08:17 PMWatch the eastern sky; hills or buildings can delay the first sighting by a few minutes. |
Day by day
- Thu, 29 Oct
Sargi · Before sunrise 04:55 AM – 06:31 AM
A pre-dawn meal, traditionally given by the mother-in-law, eaten before the fast begins.
- Thu, 29 Oct
Karwa Chauth puja · Sunset 05:38 PM
Evening puja of Gauri, Shiva, Ganesha and Kartikeya with the karwa (clay pot); women gather to hear the katha.
- Thu, 29 Oct
Moonrise & arghya · Moonrise 08:17 PM
Arghya to the moon; the moon and then the husband are seen through a sieve, and the fast is broken.
Why is Karwa Chauth observed?
Religious
Goddess Gauri (Parvati), who won Shiva through her devotion, is worshipped as the giver of lasting married happiness, along with Shiva, Ganesha and Kartikeya.
For the family
The mother-in-law’s sargi and the baya (gifts) returned to her tie the vrat to the bond between two generations of women in a family.
The karwa
The karwa — a small clay pot with a spout — represents the water of life. Karwas are exchanged between women during the puja.
Cultural
Mehendi, new clothes and the evening gathering of women with their puja thalis make it one of the most festive vrats of North India.
The story of Veeravati
Characters: Veeravati, the only sister of seven brothers, Her brothers, Her husband, the king, Goddess Parvati
Veeravati was the only sister of seven loving brothers. After her marriage to a king, she came to her parents’ home for her first Karwa Chauth and kept the fast from sunrise.
By evening she was faint with hunger and thirst, and her brothers could not bear to see her suffer. They lit a fire behind a tree on a hill and held a sieve before it, so that it glowed like the rising moon.
Believing the moon had risen, Veeravati offered arghya and broke her fast. At once news came that her husband was gravely ill.
Grief-stricken, she prayed through the night. Goddess Parvati appeared and told her that her fast had been broken before moonrise, and that she must keep the vrat with full devotion.
Veeravati cared for her husband for a year and kept every vrat faithfully. On the next Karwa Chauth she fasted until the true moon rose, and by the goddess’s grace her husband was restored to health.
Message: A vow kept with patience and sincerity carries its own strength; shortcuts, however kindly meant, undo it.
Karwa Chauth puja vidhi
Before the puja
- 1Eat the sargi before sunrise.
- 2Take the sankalp for the fast after bathing.
- 3Prepare the puja thali: karwa, diya, sieve, roli, rice, sweets and water.
During the puja
- 1In the evening, dress in festive clothes (many wear red) and draw or place an image of Gauri with Shiva, Ganesha and Kartikeya.
- 2Place the karwa filled with water, with a lamp and sweets, before the goddess.
- 3Worship Gauri, Shiva and Ganesha with roli, akshat, flowers and sweets.
- 4Sit with other women to hear the Karwa Chauth katha, passing the thalis around the circle (feri) as the songs are sung.
- 5Exchange karwas and offer the baya (gifts and sweets) to the mother-in-law or an elder.
After the puja
- 1When the moon rises, offer arghya from the karwa.
- 2Look at the moon through a sieve, then at your husband.
- 3Take the first sip of water and a bite of sweet from your husband’s hand to break the fast.
Karwa Chauth puja samagri
Essential
| Item | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Karwa (clay or metal pot with spout) | 1–2 | Arghya and puja |
| Sieve (channi) | 1 | To view the moon and husband |
| Puja thali with diya | 1 | Puja and aarti |
| Roli, sindoor, akshat and mauli | A little of each | Puja |
| Water and a lota | 1 | Arghya to the moon |
| Sweets, mathri and fruit | As needed | Naivedya and baya |
Optional
| Item | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Image or calendar of Karwa Mata / Gauri | — | Worship |
| Gifts for the mother-in-law (baya) | — | Offered after the puja |
Traditional / regional
| Item | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Sargi foods — pheni, dry fruits, fruit, mathri | — | Pre-dawn meal in Punjabi families |
Karwa Chauth vrat rules
Before the vrat
- Eat the sargi before sunrise; include water, fruit and something that sustains you.
During the vrat
- Traditionally no food or water from sunrise until the moon is sighted.
- Rest, pray and join the evening puja; avoid strenuous work.
- Avoid sharp objects and sewing, in families that keep this custom.
Breaking the vrat
- Break the fast only after seeing the moon and offering arghya.
- Start with water, then a light meal.
Pregnant women, those with diabetes or other conditions often keep the vrat with water, milk or fruit. If clouds hide the moon, families follow the local moonrise time or their pandit’s advice.
Do's and don'ts
✅ Do
- Eat the sargi before sunrise.
- Wear festive clothes and apply mehendi if you like.
- Hear the complete katha.
- Offer arghya to the moon before breaking the fast.
❌ Avoid
- Break the fast before moonrise.
- Quarrel or speak harshly.
- Push through dizziness or illness — health comes first.
Karwa Chauth mantras
Sankalp
मम सुखसौभाग्य पुत्रपौत्रादि सुस्थिर श्री प्राप्तये करक चतुर्थी व्रतमहं करिष्ये।
తెలుగు లిపిలో
మమ సుఖసౌభాగ్య పుత్రపౌత్రాది సుస్థిర శ్రీ ప్రాప్తయే కరక చతుర్థీ వ్రతమహం కరిష్యే।
mama sukhasaubhāgya putrapautrādi susthira śrī prāptaye karaka caturthī vratamahaṃ kariṣye|
Meaning: For lasting happiness, good fortune, children, grandchildren and prosperity, I shall keep the Karak Chaturthi vrat.
Gauri mantra
ॐ शिवायै नमः
తెలుగు లిపిలో
ఓం శివాయై నమః
oṃ śivāyai namaḥ
Meaning: Salutations to Shivaa (Parvati).
Shiva mantra
ॐ नमः शिवाय
తెలుగు లిపిలో
ఓం నమః శివాయ
oṃ namaḥ śivāya
Meaning: Salutations to Shiva.
Karwa Chauth across India
Punjab and Haryana
The mother-in-law’s sargi, women gathering in a circle to pass their thalis (feri) while singing, and baya for the mother-in-law.
Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh
Gauri is shaped from clay or drawn on the wall; the karwa is filled with water or grain.
Telugu states
Atla Taddi, on Ashwin Krishna Tritiya just before, is a similar fast until moonrise, broken with atlu (dosas) offered to Gauri.
Perform Karwa Chauth puja with Rutviju
A verified pandit can guide your Karwa Chauth puja at home, or perform a puja in your name at a temple.
Sources & method
- Regional vrat katha traditions of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
- Karak Chaturthi as described in North Indian vrat collections.
Dates and muhurtams on this page are calculated for Delhi from the positions of the Sun and Moon (Lahiri ayanamsa, IST). Printed panchangams can differ by a minute or two, and a few festivals are kept on different days in different traditions — follow your family's panchangam and pandit where they differ.
Frequently asked questions
When is Karwa Chauth 2026?
Karwa Chauth 2026 is on Thursday, 29 October 2026. Kartik Krishna Chaturthi (Aswayuja Krishna Chaturthi in the amanta calendar) runs from Thu, 29 Oct, 01:07 AM to Thu, 29 Oct, 10:11 PM, IST, as calculated for Delhi.
Is the Karwa Chauth date the same in every city?
Usually, but not always. Sunrise, sunset and moonrise differ from city to city, and the festival is kept on the day its tithi prevails at the right time of day, so the muhurtams — and occasionally the date — can change. Choose your city above to see local timings.
What time is moonrise on Karwa Chauth?
It depends on your city — the table above shows the calculated moonrise. Hills, buildings or haze can delay the first sighting by a few minutes.
What if the moon is not visible?
Many families break the fast at the calculated moonrise time, or offer arghya towards the moon’s direction or to an image of the moon. Follow your family’s custom or your pandit’s advice.
Can unmarried women keep Karwa Chauth?
Traditionally it is kept by married women, but many engaged or unmarried women keep it for a good life partner, often breaking the fast at the sight of stars.