Karwa Chauth 2026

When Is Karwa Chauth in 2026?

In 2026, Karwa Chauth falls on November 1. The observance lasts 1 day. Because Karwa Chauth follows a 4th day (Krishna Chaturthi) of Kartik month (Hindu lunar calendar); married women fast from sunrise to moonrise, the exact Gregorian date shifts each year. The fast is broken at moonrise, which varies significantly by latitude and longitude within India; women in different cities break their fast minutes to over an hour apart. The Chaturthi tithi date can also shift by a day between panchangams. Since Karwa Chauth's date changes from year to year, here are the dates for the next five years so you can plan ahead: Year Date 2026 November 1 2027 October 22 2028 October 10 2029 October 29 2030 October 19

What Time Does Karwa Chauth Start in Your Time Zone?

Karwa Chauth falls on the fourth day (chaturthi) of the dark fortnight of Kartik in the Hindu lunisolar calendar. In 2026, Karwa Chauth falls on November 2. The fast is timed to moonrise — the breaking of the fast depends on the actual moonrise time, which varies enormously by location. In 2026, moonrise on November 2 in major Indian cities falls between 8:00 PM (in northern cities like Delhi) and 8:30 PM (in southern cities like Chennai). The dependence on actual moonrise makes Karwa Chauth one of the most location-dependent Hindu festivals. A woman in Delhi might break her fast at 8:00 PM, while a woman in Mumbai breaks hers at 8:30 PM — the same festival, observed at different clock times in different cities. When clouds obscure the moon (a common occurrence in November), communities may delay the fast-breaking until the moon becomes visible, sometimes well past the predicted moonrise time. Diaspora Hindu communities, particularly in the United States and Canada, observe the festival with adjusted timings based on local moonrise calculations provided by Hindu temples and almanacs. The table below shows the observance date for Karwa Chauth in major time zones around the world: Location Observance Date Time Zone New York, USA November 1 EST/EDT (UTC-5/-4) London, UK November 1 GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1) New Delhi, India November 1 IST (UTC+5:30) Sydney, Australia November 1 AEST/AEDT (UTC+10/+11) Dubai, UAE November 1 GST (UTC+4)

The Story Behind Karwa Chauth

Karwa Chauth is a Hindu festival observed by married women in North India, who fast from sunrise to moonrise for the long life and well-being of their husbands. The festival falls on the fourth day (chaturthi) of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Kartik (October-November), about nine days before Diwali. The name comes from "karwa" (a clay pot, used in the rituals) and "chauth" (fourth, referring to the lunar day). The mythology of Karwa Chauth centers on the story of Queen Veeravati, told in the Mahabharata. Veeravati was the only sister of seven loving brothers, and on her first Karwa Chauth as a married woman, she was visiting her parents' home. Her fast was severe, and as the day wore on, she grew weak and pale. Her brothers, unable to bear her suffering, created a false image of the moon by placing a lamp behind a sieve in a distant tree, tricking her into breaking her fast. As soon as she did, news arrived that her husband, the king, had died. Devastated, she rushed to his body and resolved to fast again. Her devotion moved the goddess Parvati, who appeared to her and told her that if she observed the fast again with full devotion, her husband would be revived. Veeravati did so, and her husband was restored to life. Another legend connects Karwa Chauth to the story of Savitri, who is said to have rescued her husband Satyavan from Yama, the god of death, through her devotion and cleverness. The festival is also associated with the story of Draupadi, who is said to have observed the fast for her husbands (the Pandavas) when Arjuna was on a difficult pilgrimage. The underlying theme is the wife's devotion and the belief that her spiritual merit can protect and prolong her husband's life.

How Karwa Chauth Is Celebrated

The Karwa Chauth fast is one of the strictest in Hindu tradition. Married women (and some unmarried women who observe the fast in hope of finding a good husband) eat nothing and drink no water from sunrise until moonrise — a complete fast that can last 14-16 hours, depending on the time of year and location. The day begins before dawn with a pre-fast meal called sargi, traditionally sent by the mother-in-law, which the woman eats before the sun rises. The fast then begins at sunrise. During the day, women gather for community pujas, often at a friend's home or at a temple. The puja centers on the karwa — a small clay pot filled with water — and on the story of Veeravati, which is passed around the circle of women and read aloud. Women dress in festive clothing — typically red or pink saris or salwar kameez, with bridal-style jewelry and henna-decorated hands. Bindi (the forehead mark), sindoor (vermilion in the hair parting), and bangles are all worn — symbols of married status in Hindu tradition. When the moon rises, women gather on rooftops or in courtyards with their karwa and a sieve (chhalni). They look at the moon through the sieve, then at their husband through the same sieve, and offer water to the moon from the karwa. The husband then offers his wife the first sip of water and the first bite of food, breaking her fast. The wife touches her husband's feet and seeks his blessing. The evening concludes with a festive meal shared with family. The first Karwa Chauth after a woman's marriage is especially significant — it is called the "big Karwa Chauth" and is celebrated with particular elaborateness, with the bride's mother sending a basket of gifts (sargi) to the daughter's new home. Why Does Karwa Chauth Move Every Year? Karwa Chauth is fixed on the chaturthi of the dark fortnight of Kartik in the Hindu lunisolar calendar. The calendar's leap-month system keeps the festival anchored in late October or November. The astronomical anchor is the moon four days after the full moon of Kartik — meaning the festival falls when the moon is in its waning crescent phase, with moonrise occurring relatively late in the evening.

Calendar Calculation

4th day (Krishna Chaturthi) of Kartik month (Hindu lunar calendar); married women fast from sunrise to moonrise

Did You Know? Karwa Chauth Facts & Trivia

Karwa Chauth is one of the strictest fasts in Hindu tradition. Married women (and some unmarried women) eat nothing and drink no water from sunrise until moonrise — a complete fast that can last 14-16 hours, depending on the time of year and location. The fast is broken only when the moon is sighted. The most popular Karwa Chauth legend tells of Queen Veeravati, whose fast was broken when her brothers tricked her with a false image of the moon. Her husband died immediately, but her devotion moved the goddess Parvati, who told her that if she observed the fast again with full devotion, her husband would be revived. When the moon rises, women gather on rooftops or in courtyards with their karwa (a clay pot) and a sieve (chhalni). They look at the moon through the sieve, then at their husband through the same sieve, and offer water to the moon from the karwa. The husband then offers his wife the first sip of water and the first bite of food. The first Karwa Chauth after a woman's marriage is called the "big Karwa Chauth" and is celebrated with particular elaborateness. The bride's mother sends a basket of gifts (sargi) to the daughter's new home, and the bride wears bridal-style jewelry and henna-decorated hands.