Written by the Vandanam editorial team, with inputs from our panel of verified Vedic pandits. Last updated September 2026. Times are for New Delhi — moonrise varies by city, so check your local time on the day.
Karva Chauth 2026 falls on Thursday, 29 October. Married women keep a nirjala fast from sunrise to moonrise for the long life and well-being of their husbands, perform the Karva Chauth puja and hear the vrat katha in the evening, and break the fast after sighting the moon. In Delhi the moon is expected to rise at about 8:17 PM.
Karva Chauth 2026 timings (New Delhi)
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| Date | Thursday, 29 October 2026 |
| Fasting period | ~6:31 AM to moonrise |
| Puja muhurat | ~5:38 PM – 6:56 PM |
| Moonrise | ~8:17 PM |
The day, step by step
- Sargi (before sunrise) — a pre-dawn meal traditionally given by the mother-in-law: fruit, dry fruits, mathri, pheni or sevaiyan, and water. Eat before sunrise; the fast begins after.
- Nirjala fast through the day — no food or water. Women usually dress in bridal or festive red, apply mehendi and do solah shringar.
- Evening puja (in the muhurat) — women gather, place the karva (earthen or metal pot) filled with water, offer roli, akshat, diya and sweets to Karva Mata, Gauri, Ganesha and Shiva-Parvati.
- Vrat katha — the story of Veeravati (and sometimes Karva and Satyavan-Savitri) is read or recited, passing the thalis around the circle (the “pheri”).
- Moonrise — the woman sights the moon through a sieve (channi), offers arghya (water) to the moon, then looks at her husband through the sieve.
- Breaking the fast — the husband offers her the first sip of water and first bite of food.
Karva Chauth puja samagri
- Karva (earthen or brass pot) with lid, and a second karva if exchanging
- Puja thali: roli, kumkum, haldi, akshat (rice), diya, incense, cotton wicks, ghee
- Sieve (channi) for sighting the moon
- Lota of water for the arghya
- Picture or idol of Karva Mata / Gauri-Shiva, and a printed Karva Chauth katha
- Sweets and mathri for bhog, fruit
- Solah shringar items: sindoor, bindi, bangles, mehendi, red chunri
- Baya (gifts) for the mother-in-law: clothes, sweets, dry fruits, money
Can a pandit do the Karva Chauth katha?
Yes — many families, and many housing societies in Delhi NCR, invite a pandit to lead the evening puja and recite the katha for a group of women. It helps when women are observing the vrat for the first time or when no elder is available to guide the vidhi. The pandit brings the puja samagri, leads the sankalp and pheri, and times the moon arghya.
Frequently asked questions
What is the date of Karva Chauth in 2026?
Karva Chauth 2026 is on Thursday, 29 October.
What time will the moon rise on Karva Chauth 2026 in Delhi?
Around 8:17 PM in New Delhi. Other NCR cities are within a minute or two; cloud cover can delay sighting.
What if the moon is not visible because of clouds?
Traditionally the fast is broken at the calculated moonrise time after offering arghya in the direction of the moon; many families also wait a short while for it to appear. Follow your family’s custom.
Can unmarried women keep the Karva Chauth fast?
Yes, many engaged or unmarried women keep it for a future spouse. Some traditions allow them to break the fast on seeing the stars instead of the moon.
Can we book a pandit for a society Karva Chauth puja?
Yes. Vandanam arranges a pandit to lead the katha and puja for individual families or for a group in your society or community hall.
Book a pandit for Karva Chauth
Vandanam arranges verified pandits to lead the Karva Chauth puja and katha at home or for a group across Delhi NCR, with samagri included. Message us on WhatsApp at +91 87964 76233, or see the Karva Chauth Puja page. For the rest of the festive season, see our Diwali 2026 muhurat guide.