Karwa Chauth 2026: October 31, Moonrise Timing and Puja Vidhi
Karwa Chauth 2026 falls on October 31, 2026 (Saturday). Married women observe a sunrise-to-moonrise fast for the long life of their husbands. This guide covers the puja vidhi, moonrise timings by city, and the astrological significance of Kartik Krishna Chaturthi.
Karwa Chauth 2026 puja vidhi (step by step)
The Karwa Chauth fast is observed by married Hindu women from sunrise to moonrise, without food or water (nirjala vrat). The ritual follows a specific sequence:
| Step | Timing | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Sargi (pre-dawn meal) | Before sunrise (Brahma Muhurta) | Mother-in-law offers sargi: a tray of sweets, fruits, dry fruits, mathri and karwa (a clay pot). Eat and drink before sunrise; fast begins at sunrise. |
| Day-long fast | Sunrise to moonrise | Nirjala vrat: no food or water. Some traditions allow water from the sargi only. |
| Evening puja assembly | 1-2 hours before moonrise | Women gather in a group wearing traditional dress and jewellery; Karwa Chauth Katha (story) is told; moon is awaited. |
| Moon sighting and Arghya | At moonrise | Sight the Moon through a sieve (chalni); husband's face seen through sieve, then directly. Water offered to Moon. Husband gives first morsel of food and water to wife. |
| Fast broken | After Moon sighting | Wife drinks water and eats sweets given by husband; fast is complete. |
Karwa Chauth 2026 moonrise time by city
Moonrise time on October 31, 2026 will vary by city. These are approximate times based on the Kartik Krishna Chaturthi Moon position; verify with your local panchang for the exact moonrise:
| City | Approx moonrise (Oct 31, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Delhi / NCR | ~8:05 PM |
| Mumbai | ~8:25 PM |
| Jaipur | ~8:10 PM |
| Chandigarh | ~8:00 PM |
| Lucknow | ~7:55 PM |
| Bengaluru | ~8:40 PM |
| Ahmedabad | ~8:20 PM |
| Kolkata | ~7:35 PM |
Moonrise times are approximate estimates. Actual times can vary by 5-15 minutes. Always verify with your city's panchang or a local astrologer.
Karwa Chauth and Vedic astrology
Kartik Krishna Chaturthi is the tithi of Karwa Chauth. In Jyotish, Chaturthi is the tithi of Ganesha (the 4th lunar day is associated with Vinayaka). The Moon at this point is in its waning phase (Krishna Paksha), and the ritual of praying for the Moon to rise and then directing that Moon energy toward the husband's longevity reflects the classical Jyotish understanding of the Moon as the karak (significator) of mind, health and marriage stability in the natal chart. In 2026, the Moon on October 31 is in an interesting position relative to Jupiter's exaltation in Cancer earlier in the year.
Frequently asked questions
Karwa Chauth 2026 kab hai?
Karwa Chauth 2026 October 31, 2026 (Shanivaar) ko hai. Yeh Kartik Krishna Chaturthi hai. Is din sunrise se moonrise tak nirjala vrat rakha jaata hai. Moonrise Delhi mein lagbhag raat 8 baje hoga. Apni city ke liye exact moonrise time apni local panchang ya Vyom Vaani astrologer se confirm karein.
When is Karwa Chauth 2026?
Karwa Chauth 2026 is on October 31, 2026 (Saturday). This is Kartik Krishna Chaturthi. Married women observe a nirjala (without water) fast from sunrise to moonrise on this day. The moonrise in Delhi is approximately 8:05 PM on October 31. The fast is broken after sighting the Moon through a sieve and the husband offers water and food.
Karwa Chauth 2026 mein chand kab niklega? (moonrise time)
October 31, 2026 ko Chand (Moon) ka uda lagbhag: Delhi mein ~8:05 PM, Mumbai mein ~8:25 PM, Kolkata mein ~7:35 PM, Bengaluru mein ~8:40 PM. Yeh approximate times hain. Exact moonrise time apni city ki local panchang ya panchang website se verify zaroor karein.
Karwa Chauth 2026 puja vidhi: sargi ka time kya hai?
Karwa Chauth 2026 sargi October 31, 2026 ko sunrise se pehle (Brahma Muhurta mein, lagbhag 4:30-5:30 AM) khani chahiye. Delhi mein October 31 ko sunrise lagbhag 6:25 AM hoga. Sargi mein mathri, sweets, fruits, dry fruits, juice aur karwa (clay pot with water) hota hai jo saas (mother-in-law) deti hai.
Is Karwa Chauth only for married women?
Traditionally, Karwa Chauth is observed by married Hindu women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. In some modern families, husbands also fast alongside their wives as a gesture of mutual love. Newly engaged women in some traditions also observe the fast for their future husband. The vrat is rooted in the wish for the husband's health and longevity, linked to the Moon's role as a karaka of vitality in Vedic astrology.
Need the exact Karwa Chauth 2026 moonrise time for your city, or want to check if any planetary positions in your chart need attention before observing the fast? A Vyom Vaani astrologer is on WhatsApp.
What is the story behind Karwa Chauth?
The most popular Karwa Chauth narrative is the story of Veervati, a princess who fasted for her husband's long life but broke her fast early by the light of a sieve-filtered reflection mistaken for the Moon, and her husband fell ill. She then fasted correctly the following year and restored his health. Other stories include Satyavan and Savitri, and Draupadi keeping the fast for the Pandavas. The common thread is a wife's devotion acting as a protective shield for her husband's longevity and wellbeing.
Can women use vermilion (sindoor) patterns for Karwa Chauth rituals even if they are not Hindu?
The rituals of Karwa Chauth are rooted in Hindu tradition, but in contemporary India and the diaspora, the festival has also been adopted by women of other backgrounds who find meaning in the intention of love and devotion for their partners. The core act, the fast and moonrise viewing with a decorated sieve (chalni), is the ritual; accompanying elements like sindoor, bindi, and bangles are traditional but not universally required. The interpretation varies by family and regional practice.
What are the things a woman should keep in her Karwa Chauth thali?
A traditional Karwa Chauth thali contains: a karwa (small clay or metal pot filled with water), a diya (earthen lamp), roli and akshat (vermilion and rice grains), incense sticks, sweets, a small puri or mathri, bangles, a small mirror, mehendi, and a chalni (sieve or colander for the Moon-viewing ritual). The karwa pot is often decorated and given to the mother-in-law after the moonrise viewing, symbolizing the bond between the women of the family.
Are there regional variations of Karwa Chauth outside North India?
Karwa Chauth is primarily a North Indian (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, Delhi) festival. Similar vrat traditions exist in other regions under different names: Vat Savitri Puja in Maharashtra and Gujarat, where women fast for husbands near the full moon of Jyeshtha month; Tiruvathira in Kerala; and Atla Taddi in Andhra Pradesh. The common thread across these regional variations is a wife's fast for her husband's longevity, tied to the Moon's observation.