Karwa Chauth 2026 falls on Thursday, 29 October 2026 in India. This guide covers the Delhi puja muhurat, Sargi time, moonrise by city, the full ritual order, four traditional legends and wishes you can share today. Timings follow Drik Panchang figures reported by several Indian publishers and were cross checked on 29 October 2026.
Quick answer
- Date: Thursday, 29 October 2026 (India and UK). Wednesday, 28 October 2026 (USA and Canada).
- Puja muhurat (Delhi): 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM
- Fasting time: 6:31 AM until moonrise
- Moonrise (Delhi): about 8:17 PM
- Chaturthi tithi: 1:06 AM to 10:09 PM on 29 October
What Is Karwa Chauth?
Karwa Chauth is a North Indian Hindu festival in which married women fast from sunrise until moonrise to pray for their husband’s long life and health. Karwa is the small earthen pot used in the puja, and Chauth means the fourth day. It falls on Krishna Paksha Chaturthi in the month of Kartik, so it lands in October or November. It is also called Karak Chaturthi.
The festival is strongest in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Many women keep the nirjala vrat, which means no food and no water until they see the moon.
Why Is Karwa Chauth Celebrated?
Several beliefs and customs explain the festival:
- Prayer for the husband: The fast is offered for a spouse’s long life, health and a lasting marriage.
- Safe return: One popular belief says women fasted while their husbands were away at war or on long journeys.
- Harvest season: The festival arrives after the kharif harvest, when wheat sowing begins, so it became a time for gatherings and gifts.
- Friendship among women: Brides once built close bonds with women in their new village, often by exchanging karwas.
- Devotion to the divine family: The puja honours Gaura Mata (Parvati), Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha.
When Is Karwa Chauth 2026?
Karwa Chauth 2026 is on Thursday, 29 October 2026 in India. The Chaturthi tithi runs from 1:06 AM to 10:09 PM that day, so the fast, puja and moonrise all happen on the 29th.
Some calendars listed 28 October, which caused confusion. For India, 29 October is correct. Panchang calculators for North America place the festival on Wednesday, 28 October because they use the local day and moonrise. The UK follows India. If you live abroad, use a panchang built for your city.
Karwa Chauth 2026 Date and Time
These timings are for New Delhi (IST), based on Drik Panchang data.
| Detail | Timing |
| Day and date | Thursday, 29 October 2026 |
| Tithi | Kartik Krishna Paksha Chaturthi |
| Chaturthi begins | 1:06 AM, 29 October |
| Chaturthi ends | 10:09 PM, 29 October |
| Fasting time | 6:31 AM to 8:17 PM |
| Puja muhurat | 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM |
| Moonrise | 8:17 PM |
| Also observed | Sankashti Ganesh Chaturthi |
The fast ends when you see the moon, not at a fixed clock time. Because Sankashti Chaturthi falls on the same day, many families add an extra prayer to Ganesha.
Karwa Chauth 2026 India Time
The day follows one simple order across India, shifted slightly by city.
- Before 6:31 AM: Eat Sargi and take the vow to fast.
- Daytime: Rest, avoid heavy work and keep the thali ready.
- Afternoon: Dress in festive clothes and gather for the katha.
- 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM: Perform the evening puja.
- About 8:17 PM: Offer arghya to the moon and break the fast in Delhi.
Delhi sunset is at 5:38 PM, which is why the puja window opens then. Other cities shift by a few minutes, and moonrise differs more, so check the city table below.
Related Post: Udupi Sri Krishna Temple (Temple Timings, History, Entry Fee, Seva, Dress Code, Distance, Accommodation & Contact)
Karwa Chauth 2026 Puja Time
The puja muhurat in New Delhi is 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM on 29 October. Finish the katha and thali pheri inside this window, then wait for moonrise.
Puja thali checklist
- Karwa filled with water
- Diya, roli, kumkum and rice
- Sweets, matthi and flowers
- Channi (sieve)
- Vrat katha book and an image of Gaura Mata, Shiva and Ganesha
Puja steps
- Clean the puja space and place the images or idols.
- Fill the karwa, light the diya and apply roli and kumkum.
- Offer rice, flowers and sweets.
- Listen to or read the vrat katha.
- Pass the thalis around the circle with traditional songs, if your family follows thali pheri.
Customs differ by family and region, so follow your elders or your pandit where they say otherwise.
Karwa Chauth 2026 Sargi Time
Eat Sargi before sunrise on 29 October. In Delhi sunrise is at 6:31 AM, and many families eat about two hours earlier, near 4:30 AM, so the meal is unhurried.
Sargi is the pre dawn thali that a mother in law traditionally gives her daughter in law. It is especially common in Punjabi homes. Typical items are:
- Fruit and dry fruits
- Sweets and mathri
- Milk and curd
- Feni and light snacks
Keep the meal sattvik. Heavy, oily or spicy food can make thirst worse later in the day. Drink plenty of water before the fast begins. If you are pregnant, nursing, diabetic or unwell, speak to your doctor first. The nirjala fast is a personal choice, and many families allow adjustments.
Karwa Chauth 2026 Moonrise Time
Moonrise in New Delhi on 29 October 2026 is about 8:17 PM. Cities in the east see the moon earlier, and cities in the west and south see it later.
| City in India | Moonrise |
| Kolkata | 7:47 PM |
| Lucknow | 8:06 PM |
| Chandigarh | 8:12 PM |
| Noida | 8:16 PM |
| New Delhi | 8:17 PM |
| Jaipur | 8:28 PM |
| Hyderabad | 8:41 PM |
| Chennai | 8:44 PM |
| Bengaluru | 8:55 PM |
| Pune | 8:58 PM |
| Mumbai | 9:00 PM |
Outside India, the local time and date change:
| City abroad | Date | Moonrise |
| New York | 28 October | 7:29 PM |
| Chicago | 28 October | 7:21 PM |
| Los Angeles | 28 October | 7:58 PM |
| Toronto | 28 October | 7:39 PM |
| London | 29 October | 6:22 PM (GMT) |
Apps and panchangs can differ by a few minutes, and some sites show Delhi as 8:12 PM or 8:18 PM. If clouds or buildings hide the moon, many families wait a little and then follow the calculated time. Ask your elders about your own custom.
Karwa Chauth Traditions and Rituals
Rituals begin before sunrise and end after moonrise. Most North Indian families follow this order:
- Sargi: Eat the pre dawn meal and take the vow.
- Nirjala fast: Stay without food and water until moonrise, unless your family or health requires a change.
- Shringar: Wear red or bright clothes, bangles, sindoor and jewellery. Mehendi is applied a day earlier.
- Baya: Sweets, clothes and fruit are gifted, often sent by the bride’s parents and shared with the mother in law. Practice varies.
- Evening puja: Worship Gaura Mata, Shiva and Ganesha and hear the katha.
- Arghya: When the moon appears, look at it through the channi and offer water from the karwa.
- Breaking the fast: Look at your husband through the same sieve. He offers the first sip of water and a sweet, and the family eats together.
Karwa Chauth 2026 Katha: History and Legends
The exact origin of Karwa Chauth is unknown. Several stories explain it, and families usually hear one of them during the evening puja.
Queen Veeravati and the False Moon
Veeravati kept her first Karwa Chauth at her parents’ home. Her seven brothers saw her weak with hunger and placed a lamp behind a sieve, so it looked like the moon. She broke her fast early, and soon news came that her husband had died. Goddess Parvati told her to repeat the fast with full devotion. She did, and her husband returned to life. The lesson is to wait for the real moon.
Karwa’s Devotion to Her Husband
Karwa’s husband was bathing in a river when a crocodile seized him. She bound the crocodile with cotton thread and asked Yama, the god of death, to punish it. When Yama hesitated, she threatened to curse him. Yama punished the crocodile and blessed her husband with a long life. The story shows the strength of a wife’s faith.
Satyavan Death and Savitri’s Wish
Savitri followed Yama after he took Satyavan’s life, and she refused to turn back. Yama offered her one boon. She asked to be a mother to Satyavan’s children, a wish that needed her husband alive. Yama kept his word and returned Satyavan. This tale is mostly linked with Vat Savitri, though some traditions connect it to Karwa Chauth too.
Draupadi’s Fast for the Pandavas
While Arjuna was away in the mountains for penance, the other Pandavas met many troubles. Draupadi asked Lord Krishna for help. He told her about the fast Goddess Parvati once kept for Lord Shiva. Draupadi observed it, and the Pandavas’ difficulties were resolved, according to the legend.
Karwa Chauth 2026 Wishes
Share these short messages on WhatsApp, Instagram or a card:
- Happy Karwa Chauth! May your love shine as bright as tonight’s moon.
- Wishing you a day of faith, a sweet evening and a lifetime of togetherness.
- To my partner in every season, happy Karwa Chauth and thank you for walking beside me.
- May Gaura Mata bless your home with health, peace and joy.
- To my wife, your fast is a gift I never take for granted. Happy Karwa Chauth.
- For my mother in law, thank you for the Sargi, the blessings and the love.
Karva Chauth 2026 Quotes
Here are five original lines for captions and status updates:
- “Love is patient, and so is the moon that waits behind the clouds.”
- “A fast kept with love needs no words, only a glance through the sieve.”
- “Faith turns a single evening into a promise for life.”
- “Every Karwa Chauth thali holds a small prayer for tomorrow.”
- “The moon rises for everyone, but tonight it rises for the two of you.”
Karwa Chauth 2026 FAQs
What is the date of Karwa Chauth 2026?
Karwa Chauth 2026 is on Thursday, 29 October 2026 in India and the UK, and Wednesday, 28 October in the USA and Canada.
What is the Karwa Chauth 2026 puja time?
The Delhi puja muhurat is 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM on 29 October. Other cities shift by a few minutes.
What time is moonrise on Karwa Chauth 2026?
Moonrise in New Delhi is about 8:17 PM, and in Mumbai about 9:00 PM. Check your own city’s time.
Can unmarried women keep the Karwa Chauth fast?
Yes. Many unmarried women fast to pray for a good life partner, though some rituals can differ.
Can husbands keep the Karwa Chauth fast?
Yes. Some husbands fast with their wives as a sign of partnership. It is a personal choice.
Is the Karwa Chauth fast compulsory?
No. Women who are pregnant, nursing or unwell may adjust or skip the nirjala fast.
Why is a channi used to see the moon?
It is a tradition. Many believe the sieve filters out negativity so only blessings reach the couple.
Conclusion
Karwa Chauth 2026 on 29 October brings faith, family and moonlight into one day. Eat Sargi before 6:31 AM, hold the puja between 5:38 PM and 6:56 PM, and look for the moon near 8:17 PM in Delhi, adjusting for your city. Keep your thali ready, follow your family’s customs and look after your health. Wishing you a blessed and joyful Karwa Chauth.
Wei Zhang is the admin of Magazinereflex.com, a travel-focused website dedicated to exploring destinations, sharing travel tips, and inspiring memorable adventures. With a passion for discovering new places and learning about different cultures, Wei Zhang aims to provide readers with helpful travel guides, destination insights, and practical advice to make their journeys more enjoyable. His goal is to inspire travelers to explore the world with confidence and curiosity.
