On Karwa Chauth night, a North Indian house goes quiet in a particular way. The mehndi is dry and glistening, the thali is ready, and someone keeps running to the balcony for a quick look at the sky, even though everyone knows it’s too soon. Then a voice yells from the terrace, “Chaand nikal aaya!” and everyone races upstairs together.
If you’re keeping the fast this year, or you’re the one preparing the sargi and holding the thali, here’s what you really need to know for Karwa Chauth 2026: the date, the puja window, what happens through the day, and the moonrise time in your city.
When is Karwa Chauth 2026?
In India, Karwa Chauth falls on Thursday, 29 October 2026, on the Chaturthi of Kartik Krishna Paksha. Some sites list it as 28 October, which is wrong for India: the Chaturthi tithi that decides the vrat begins after midnight on the 29th and lasts through the evening. So you’ll be fasting on Thursday.
Key Timings for 2026 (New Delhi)
| What | Time |
|---|---|
| Chaturthi tithi begins | 1:06 AM, 29 October |
| Chaturthi tithi ends | 10:09 PM, 29 October |
| Brahma muhurat (for sargi) | 4:55 AM to 5:43 AM |
| Fast begins (sunrise) | 6:31 AM |
| Karwa Chauth puja muhurat | 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM (1 hour 17 minutes) |
| Moonrise | 8:17 PM |
| Total fast duration | 13 hours 46 minutes |
These times shift by a few minutes from city to city, so use the moonrise table below for your own terrace.
What the Fast Is Actually For
Married women keep a nirjala fast, with no food and no water from sunrise until the moon is seen, praying for their husband’s long life and a prosperous family. Today it’s common for unmarried girls to keep it too, in the hope of a good life partner, and more and more husbands fast alongside their wives. It’s a beautiful tradition, and one of the most visible ways we show love.
Sargi, While It’s Still Dark
The day begins before the rest of the family is up. Sargi is eaten before sunrise and is usually prepared by the mother-in-law. Here’s what you’ll typically find on the plate:
- Dry fruits: almonds, cashews, dates
- Fresh fruit
- Pheniyan or sevaiyan cooked in milk
- Mathri, or a light paratha
- Coconut water or a glass of milk
One tip people often forget: go easy on salt and fried food. Salt makes you thirsty, and a long nirjala fast doesn’t need that extra burden. Soaked almonds, a banana and coconut water will keep you going far better than a heavy paratha.
Along with the food, there’s usually a new saree or suit, bangles, sindoor and a bindi. The plate is only half of it; the other half is feeling loved before the long day begins.
Puja Samagri: Set It Out the Day Before
Once the mehndi is done and family starts arriving, evening comes fast. Keep these ready on Wednesday:
- A karwa, a clay or metal pot with a spout
- A chhalni, the sieve you’ll look through
- Puja thali with roli, rice (akshat), sindoor, kumkum and haldi
- A diya, ghee and cotton wicks
- Incense sticks and camphor
- Flowers and a garland
- Mathri, sweets or kheer for the bhog
- Karwa Chauth calendar or a picture of Mata Gauri
- A lota of water for arghya to the moon
- Shringar: bangles, bindi, mehndi, red chunari
How the Evening Puja Goes
Women dress in bridal red, or in the outfit they wore on their wedding day, and sit together in a circle with fresh mehndi on their hands. Neighbours, co-sisters, sometimes half the colony.
- An idol or picture of Lord Shiva, Mata Parvati (Gauri), Lord Ganesha and Kartikeya is placed on a raised platform.
- The diya is lit, and roli, rice, flowers and sweets are offered.
- Someone reads the Karwa Chauth vrat katha, usually the story of Queen Veeravati and her seven brothers.
- The thalis are passed around the circle seven times to old pheri songs. Kids love this part, and the circle always gets a little chaotic here!
- Everyone touches the elders’ feet and takes their blessings.
Try to finish within the puja muhurat. In Delhi, that’s 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM.
The Chhalni Moment
Then you wait. Out come the phones. Someone insists they can see a glow behind the next building. Once the moon rises:
- Look at the moon through the chhalni, with the diya in the thali.
- Offer arghya (water from the karwa or lota) and say a short prayer.
- Look at your husband’s face through the same chhalni.
- He gives you your first sip of water and first bite of food, and your fast is complete.
If clouds hide the moon, many families break the fast at the published moonrise time after praying facing east. Others call a relative in a city where the sky is clear. Do what your family does; nobody needs to stand on the balcony till midnight.
Moonrise Time on Karwa Chauth 2026, City Wise
All times are for 29 October 2026, local time, as per Drik Panchang. The moon may take another 10 to 20 minutes to clear buildings and trees, so don’t worry if it’s 8:17 and the sky still looks empty. Other panchangs may differ by a minute or two.
| City | Puja Muhurat | Moonrise |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM | 8:17 PM |
| Noida / Ghaziabad | 5:38 PM to 6:55 PM | 8:16 PM |
| Gurugram | 5:39 PM to 6:57 PM | 8:18 PM |
| Chandigarh | 5:38 PM to 6:55 PM | 8:12 PM |
| Amritsar | 5:44 PM to 7:02 PM | 8:18 PM |
| Ludhiana | 5:41 PM to 6:59 PM | 8:16 PM |
| Jammu | 5:43 PM to 7:01 PM | 8:14 PM |
| Shimla | 5:36 PM to 6:54 PM | 8:10 PM |
| Dehradun | 5:33 PM to 6:51 PM | 8:08 PM |
| Jaipur | 5:46 PM to 7:03 PM | 8:28 PM |
| Agra | 5:37 PM to 6:54 PM | 8:18 PM |
| Lucknow | 5:26 PM to 6:43 PM | 8:06 PM |
| Kanpur | 5:29 PM to 6:45 PM | 8:10 PM |
| Prayagraj | 5:24 PM to 6:40 PM | 8:06 PM |
| Varanasi | 5:19 PM to 6:36 PM | 8:02 PM |
| Patna | 5:10 PM to 6:27 PM | 7:52 PM |
| Bhopal | 5:44 PM to 7:00 PM | 8:31 PM |
| Indore | 5:51 PM to 7:07 PM | 8:39 PM |
Moonrise comes later as you go west: in Mumbai it’s around 9:00 PM, while in Kolkata it’s about 7:47 PM. If your city isn’t listed, check your local panchang a day in advance.
A Few Honest Tips
- Rest in the afternoon. You’ll be standing on a terrace around 8 PM, fully dressed up, so save your energy.
- Wear something comfortable. A heavy lehenga after nearly fourteen hours without water is a test you don’t need.
- Ease into the first bite. A sip of water, then a piece of fruit or a date, then the big dinner. Your stomach has been quiet all day.
- Check with your doctor first if you’re pregnant, diabetic or on medication. Many women keep a phalahari (fruit and water) fast instead, and it’s every bit as sincere.
FAQs
Is Karwa Chauth on 28 or 29 October 2026?
It’s on Thursday, 29 October 2026, in India. The Chaturthi tithi begins after midnight on the 29th.
What time is moonrise in Delhi on Karwa Chauth 2026?
8:17 PM. Give it a few extra minutes to rise above the rooftops.
Can unmarried girls keep the fast?
Yes. Many do, for a good life partner, often as a phalahari fast.
What if clouds hide the moon?
Many families offer arghya facing east and break the fast at the official moonrise time.