Karwa Chauth 2026
Karwa Chauth 2026: moonrise time, puja muhurat and vidhi
Karwa Chauth falls on Thursday, 29 October 2026. Here is the moonrise time for your city, the puja muhurat, and how the fast and puja are done.
Moonrise in New Delhi in
Karwa Chauth 2026 date, moonrise and muhurat
Timings for New Delhi (IST). Moonrise is a calculated time for a flat horizon; you may see the moon a few minutes later.
Karwa Chauth 2026 moonrise time in your city
| City | Moonrise on 29 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|
| Delhi / NCR | 8:17 PM |
| Kolkata | 7:47 PM |
| Lucknow | 8:06 PM |
| Chandigarh | 8:12 PM |
| Jaipur | 8:28 PM |
| Indore | 8:39 PM |
| Hyderabad | 8:41 PM |
| Chennai | 8:44 PM |
| Ahmedabad | 8:52 PM |
| Bengaluru | 8:55 PM |
| Pune | 8:58 PM |
| Mumbai | 9:00 PM |
Eastern cities see the moon first and western cities last, because the moon rises earlier further east. The gap between Kolkata and Mumbai is more than an hour.
Why Karwa Chauth is kept
Karwa Chauth falls on Chaturthi of Kartik Krishna Paksha (in the purnimanta calendar). Married women fast from sunrise to moonrise without food or water for the long life and wellbeing of their husbands; many unmarried women and, increasingly, husbands also keep the fast. "Karwa" is the clay pot used to offer water to the moon, and "Chauth" means the fourth day. The story of Queen Veeravati, whose brothers tricked her into breaking the fast early, is read during the evening puja.
Karwa Chauth puja vidhi
- Sargi: before dawn, eat the sargi given by the mother-in-law: fruits, dry fruits, sweets, mathri and a light meal.
- Fast: from sunrise, keep a nirjala fast (no food or water) or a phalahari fast if health needs it.
- Evening puja: dressed in bridal or festive clothes, women gather with a thali of a karwa filled with water, diya, roli, rice, sweets and a sieve (chhalni). A picture of Gauri, Shiva, Ganesh and Kartikeya is worshipped.
- Katha and thali exchange: the Karwa Chauth katha is heard and thalis are passed around the circle seven times while singing.
- Moon puja: after moonrise, look at the moon through the sieve, offer water (arghya) from the karwa, then look at the husband through the sieve.
- Breaking the fast: the husband offers the first sip of water and a bite of sweet.
Fasting safely
A full day without water is demanding. Pregnant women, people with diabetes, low blood pressure or other conditions, and anyone on regular medicine should talk to their doctor and may choose a fast with water or fruit. Eat a balanced sargi with protein and fibre rather than only sweets.
Frequently asked questions
When is Karwa Chauth in 2026?
Karwa Chauth is on Thursday, 29 October 2026. Chaturthi tithi begins at 1:06 AM and ends at 10:09 PM on the same day.
What is the moonrise time on Karwa Chauth 2026?
Moonrise in New Delhi is expected at 8:17 PM. It is around 7:47 PM in Kolkata, 8:28 PM in Jaipur, 8:55 PM in Bengaluru and 9:00 PM in Mumbai. Clouds or buildings can delay the moment you actually see the moon.
What is the Karwa Chauth puja muhurat 2026?
The puja muhurat in New Delhi is 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM. The fast (upavasa) runs from 6:31 AM to moonrise at 8:17 PM, about 13 hours 46 minutes.
What time should Sargi be eaten?
Sargi is eaten before sunrise, usually between about 4:00 AM and 5:30 AM, so that the fast can begin at sunrise (6:31 AM in Delhi).
Can the fast be broken if the moon is not visible?
If clouds hide the moon, many families break the fast after the published moonrise time by looking towards the moon's direction, or follow the advice of their elders or priest.
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Last updated: 2 October 2026