Karwa Chauth falls on Thursday, October 29, 2026. Across north and west India, married women, and increasingly many couples together, will keep a fast from sunrise and break it after seeing the moon in the evening. If you are planning the day, the two times most people search for are the evening puja window and the moonrise.
Karwa Chauth 2026: timings at a glance (New Delhi)
- Date: Thursday, October 29, 2026
- Fasting time: about 6:31 AM to 8:17 PM
- Puja muhurat: 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM
- Moonrise: around 8:17 PM
- Chaturthi tithi: begins about 1:06 AM and ends about 10:09 PM on October 29
These times are for New Delhi, as listed by Drik Panchang and other almanacs. Moonrise varies by city by several minutes, and clouds can delay the sighting, so check a local panchang or your family priest for your city.
Sargi: the pre-dawn meal
The day begins before sunrise with sargi, a meal traditionally prepared by the mother-in-law. It usually includes dry fruits, fruit, sweets such as pheni, and something light like paratha. The idea is simple: eat enough before dawn to get through a long day without food or water. Doctors often suggest adding water-rich fruit and avoiding very salty or fried food at sargi so the fast is easier.
How the evening puja is done
- Women gather, often in groups, in the evening wearing festive clothes and mehendi.
- A karwa (earthen pot) with water, a diya, sweets and the puja thali are arranged.
- The Karwa Chauth katha (story) is read, and thalis are passed around in a circle.
- After moonrise, the moon is seen through a sieve, water is offered, and the fast is broken with water and food from the husband’s hands.
Customs differ between families and regions, from Punjab and Haryana to Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, so follow what your family does.
The business side of the festival
Karwa Chauth is also a busy day for markets. Demand for mehendi artists, beauty salons, sarees, bangles, jewellery and sweets peaks in the week before, and many brands run festive offers. With Diwali on November 8 and Dhanteras on November 6, the festival also marks the start of the busiest shopping fortnight of the year.
Health tips for a long fast
- People with diabetes, low blood pressure, pregnancy or other health conditions should talk to a doctor before a waterless fast.
- Rest in the afternoon and avoid heavy physical work.
- Break the fast gently with water, then light food, rather than a heavy meal straight away.
Quick answers
When is Karwa Chauth 2026? Thursday, October 29, 2026.
What is the moonrise time on Karwa Chauth 2026? Around 8:17 PM in New Delhi. Other cities differ by a few minutes.
What is the Karwa Chauth puja muhurat? 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM in New Delhi.
Can unmarried women keep the Karwa Chauth fast? Many do, often for a future partner, though customs vary by family.
Karwa Chauth 2026 chand kab niklega? Delhi mein chandrodaya lagbhag raat 8:17 baje hoga. Apne shehar ka samay local panchang se dekhein.
What time should sargi be eaten on Karwa Chauth 2026? Before sunrise, ideally finishing before about 6:30 AM in Delhi, when the fast begins.
Questions to think about
- More husbands now fast alongside their wives. Is the festival becoming a celebration of partnership rather than duty?
- How should traditions like a full-day waterless fast adapt for people with health conditions?
- Has the commercial side of Karwa Chauth helped small businesses, or mostly big brands?
Sources: Drik Panchang and other almanacs for New Delhi timings, as reported by Vedantu, IGP and redBus. Check local timings for your city.
