Karwa Chauth 2026: Moonrise Time in Your City

Karwa Chauth falls on Thursday, 29 October 2026 (date and tithi timings). Married women keep a nirjala fast, without food or water, from sunrise until they sight the moon at night, praying for their husband's long life and well-being.

When the fast ends

The fast is broken only after the moon has risen and been seen, so the time is different in every city. In New Delhi the moon rises shortly after 8:15 pm; the table above gives the time for each Indian city. Times are for the moment the moon crosses the horizon, so allow a few minutes more for it to clear buildings or haze.

How the date is set

Karwa Chauth is the Chaturthi (fourth day) of the dark fortnight of Kartika in the purnimanta calendar used in North India. In the amanta calendar followed in Gujarat, Maharashtra and South India the same day falls in the month of Ashwin; only the month's name differs, and the fast is kept on the same day everywhere.

The evening puja

In the evening, women worship Shiva and his family, among them Ganesh, with a karwa: the earthen pot from which water is offered to the moon. After moonrise they look at the moon, traditionally through a sieve, make the offering, and then break the fast.

What to recite

• Karva Chauth Vrat Katha: the story of Veeravati and her seven brothers, read or heard at the puja
• Karva Chauth Puja Vidhi: the steps of the evening puja
• Jai Ganesh Deva, the Ganesh aarti
• Om Jai Shiv Omkara, the Shiv aarti
• Parvati Mata Aarti

The next fast

Ahoi Ashtami, kept by mothers for their children, follows on 1 November 2026.