Karwa Chauth is one of North India's most heartfelt festivals — married women observe a nirjala vrat (fast without food or water) from sunrise to moonrise, praying for their husband's long life and wellbeing. It falls roughly two weeks after Navratri and ten days before Diwali, sitting at the heart of the autumn festival season.
Karwa Chauth 2026: Date and Timing
- Date (India): Thursday, 29 October 2026
- Date (US & Canada): Wednesday, 28 October 2026 — because the Chaturthi tithi coincides with moonrise a day earlier in those time zones
- Puja Muhurat: Approximately 5:38 PM – 6:56 PM
- Moonrise: Roughly 8:00–8:14 PM, varying by city
The fast is broken only after moon-sighting, so always confirm your city's exact moonrise time on the day itself — a cloudy sky can shift things by several minutes.
Brass Floral Meenakari Pooja Thali (10 Inch)
German Silver Pooja Thali Set with Ghungroo (12 Inch)
The Day, Step by Step
- Sargi (pre-dawn): A meal prepared by the mother-in-law — fruits, dry fruits, sweets, and a light main dish — eaten before sunrise to sustain the day-long fast.
- Morning: A bath, festive attire, and solah shringar (the sixteen traditional adornments) — mehendi, bangles, sindoor, and more.
- Evening puja: Women gather to hear the Karwa Chauth katha — most often the story of Veeravati — and prepare the puja thali with a diya, sweets, water, and a sieve for moon-viewing.
- Moonrise: The moon is viewed through the sieve, followed by the husband's face through the same sieve, then arghya (water offering) is made to the moon.
- Breaking the fast: The husband offers his wife water or juice first, followed by a full meal together.
Exquisite White & Gold Shiv Parvati Idol
Shiv Parvati Ganesh Murti - Silver Plated (5 Inch)
Where the Name and Tradition Come From
"Karwa" is the small earthen pot central to the puja; "Chauth" means the fourth day. Two origin theories are widely told alongside the mythology: that it began as a harvest-season prayer (large earthen pots for storing wheat were also called karwas), and that it started with women praying for husbands away at war to return safely. Its best-known legend is of Queen Veeravati, whose brothers created a false moonrise to end her suffering — and whose husband's life was lost as a result, a cautionary reminder that the fast's power lies in its sincerity, not just its form. The story of Draupadi observing the fast for Arjuna, on Krishna's advice, is also widely told.
Diya Holder Peacock Urli Bowl (Set of 3)
Brass Horizontal Swastika Symbol Diya (Set of 2)
Conclusion
Karwa Chauth 2026 falls on 29 October in India and 28 October for NRIs in North America — both correct, just calculated against different local moonrises. Whichever date applies to you, the heart of the day stays the same: a fast held not out of obligation, but devotion, ending the moment the moon appears.
