Karwa Chauth 2026: Date, Moonrise, Sargi, Vrat Vidhi and Katha
Karwa Chauth 2026 is observed on Thursday, 29 October 2026. Here is a complete guide to the date, tithi, sargi, puja thali, vrat vidhi and the vrat katha.
Karwa Chauth 2026 is observed on Thursday, 29 October 2026. Here is a complete guide to the date, tithi, sargi, puja thali, vrat vidhi and the vrat katha.
Quick answer: Karwa Chauth 2026 falls on Thursday, 29 October 2026. The fast is kept through the day from sunrise and is traditionally broken only after sighting the moon and offering arghya. It is observed on the Chaturthi tithi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik.
Karwa Chauth is one of the most cherished vrats in North and North-West India, observed on the fourth day (Chaturthi) of the waning fortnight (Krishna Paksha) in the month of Kartik. In 2026, Karwa Chauth falls on Thursday, 29 October 2026. Traditionally kept by married women for the long life and wellbeing of their husbands, the vrat is today observed in many ways across families, and this guide walks you through the date, tithi, sargi, puja thali, vrat vidhi and the katha.
Karwa Chauth 2026: Quick Facts
- FestivalKarwa Chauth (Karwa Chauth / Karva Chauth)
- DateThursday, 29 October 2026
- TithiKartik Krishna Paksha Chaturthi
- Vrat typeNirjala vrat (traditionally without food or water) from sunrise to moonrise
- Vrat breaks afterSighting the moon and offering arghya
- RegionNorth & North-West India and the diaspora
- Deities honouredShiva, Parvati, Ganesha, Kartikeya and the Moon (Chandra)
Date and Tithi: When Is Karwa Chauth 2026?
Karwa Chauth 2026 is observed on Thursday, 29 October 2026. Because a tithi begins and ends at specific moments rather than at midnight, the Chaturthi tithi window will start on one clock day and end on the next; most panchangs align the observance with the day on which the Chaturthi tithi prevails at moonrise. If your family or temple panchang lists a slightly different reckoning, follow the practice you have kept in your household — neither reckoning is being ruled correct or incorrect here.
What Is Sargi?
Sargi is the pre-dawn meal eaten before the fast begins. In many families it is lovingly prepared and given by the mother-in-law (or an elder) to the one keeping the vrat, and it is eaten before sunrise so that the nirjala fast can be observed through the day. Sargi commonly includes fruits, dry fruits, sweets and light foods, though every household has its own customary items.
Anyone with a medical condition, who is pregnant, breastfeeding, elderly or on regular medication should consult a doctor before keeping a nirjala (waterless) fast, and adapt the observance to their health. This article does not offer medical advice.
Karwa Chauth Puja Thali: What to Keep Ready
- A karwa (earthen or metal pot with a spout) filled with water
- A diya (lamp) and cotton wicks
- Roli, chawal (rice) and a kalava/mauli thread
- Fruits, sweets and dry fruits for the offering
- A sieve or chalni for viewing the moon and, in many families, the husband
- Water in a lota for offering arghya to the moon
- The Karwa Chauth vrat katha book or a printout
- Bangles, bindi and shringar items, as per family custom
Karwa Chauth Vrat Vidhi: Step by Step
- Wake before dawn and eat sargi before sunrise; then take a sankalp (resolve) to keep the vrat.
- Bathe and wear clean or festive clothes; many observe shringar as per family tradition.
- Through the day, keep the nirjala fast, avoiding food and water until moonrise, unless your health requires otherwise.
- In the evening, gather for the puja, often in a group with neighbours and family, and prepare the puja thali.
- Light the diya, offer roli, chawal, fruits and sweets, and remember Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha and Kartikeya.
- Listen to or read the Karwa Chauth vrat katha and pass the thali in the customary circle (thali pheri) if your family does so.
- When the moon rises, view it through a sieve, offer arghya (water) to the moon and then look at your husband through the sieve as per tradition.
- Break the fast by taking water and food, traditionally offered by the husband or an elder, and seek blessings from elders.
The Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha
Several vrat kathas are associated with Karwa Chauth. The best-known tells of a devoted young woman whose seven brothers, unable to bear her hunger, created the illusion of a risen moon (often by holding a lamp behind a tree or a sieve) so she would break her fast early. Having broken the vrat before the true moonrise, she faced hardship, and only through renewed devotion, patience and the grace invoked by the vrat was wellbeing restored. The Mahabharata also recalls Draupadi keeping a similar vow on the counsel of Krishna. These narratives are shared as tradition and are meant to inspire devotion and steadfastness, not to promise any specific outcome.
Who Observes Karwa Chauth and How
Traditionally, married women keep Karwa Chauth for the long life and wellbeing of their husbands. Contemporary practice is broader: in many families unmarried women observe it with the moon or a star, some husbands now fast alongside their wives, and observance varies widely by community and household. There is a range of traditional views on who may keep the vrat and how strictly; rather than exclude or prescribe, this guide encourages you to follow the practice of your own family and temple.
Regional Variations
| Region / Community | How It Is Observed |
|---|---|
| Punjab | Sargi from the mother-in-law is central; elaborate morning rituals and evening group puja with the katha. |
| Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand | Puja of a clay or wall image of Gauri and Ganesha is common, with the karwa and sieve rituals at moonrise. |
| Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh | Festive shringar, community gatherings and the thali pheri circle are prominent. |
| Delhi NCR & urban centres | Group pujas in colonies and apartments; many couples observe it together in contemporary style. |
| Diaspora | Timing is adjusted to local moonrise; families gather at homes or temples, often with a shared katha reading. |
Mantras and Aarti
During the puja, families remember Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha and Kartikeya, and many recite the traditional Gauri and Ganesha invocations along with an aarti to Parvati. Longer stotras such as the Shiva or Gauri stutis are recited by those who know them; here they are described rather than reproduced. Use only traditional, public-domain prayer texts your family follows, and avoid film songs or modern copyrighted bhajans during the ritual.
Moonrise, Health and Safety
The moment of moonrise differs from city to city, so the time you break the fast will not match another city's; confirm your local moonrise for 29 October 2026 with a reliable city-specific panchang or your temple, and treat any circulated clock time as something to verify. [VERIFY] The nirjala vrat is also demanding: anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding, elderly, diabetic, on medication or otherwise unwell should consult a doctor and adapt or set aside the fast as advised. Your health comes first.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Karwa Chauth in 2026?
Karwa Chauth 2026 falls on Thursday, 29 October 2026, observed on the Chaturthi tithi of Kartik Krishna Paksha.
What time is moonrise on Karwa Chauth 2026?
The moonrise time varies by city and panchang, so there is no single time. Confirm your local moonrise for 29 October 2026 with a city-specific panchang or your temple. [VERIFY]
What is sargi in Karwa Chauth?
Sargi is the pre-dawn meal eaten before sunrise, often given by the mother-in-law, that sustains the observer before the nirjala fast begins.
How is the Karwa Chauth fast broken?
Traditionally the fast is broken after the moon rises: the observer offers arghya (water) to the moon, views the moon and husband through a sieve, and then takes water and food.
Who can observe Karwa Chauth?
Traditionally married women observe it for their husbands, but practice now varies widely, with some unmarried women and some husbands also fasting. Follow your family and temple custom.
Is it safe to keep a nirjala fast?
For most healthy adults it is a personal choice, but anyone pregnant, breastfeeding, elderly, on medication or with a medical condition should consult a doctor and adapt the fast.
What should be in the Karwa Chauth puja thali?
A karwa filled with water, a diya, roli, rice, a sieve, fruits, sweets, water for arghya, the vrat katha and shringar items, as per family custom.
What is the story behind Karwa Chauth?
The best-known katha tells of a woman whose brothers tricked her into breaking her fast early, and how renewed devotion restored wellbeing. The Mahabharata also recalls Draupadi's similar vow. These are shared as tradition.
