Karwa Chauth 2026: Date, Moonrise Time by City, Puja Muhurat and Vrat Vidhi

On Karwa Chauth, the whole day quietly bends toward one moment: the moon clearing the horizon. Plans are made around it, phones are checked for it, and balconies fill with people craning for a glimpse. And every year, the same worry follows: the time on one website says 8:12, another says 8:17, and my cousin in Mumbai says 9:00. Which one is right?

Karwa Chauth 2026 falls on Thursday, 29 October. The Karwa Chauth 2026 moonrise time is about 8:12 to 8:17 PM in Delhi and about 8:56 to 9:02 PM in Mumbai, and the Delhi puja muhurat is 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM. Moonrise differs in every city, so use your own city's time, and the guide below shows you how.

Karwa Chauth 2026 Date and Chaturthi Tithi

Karwa Chauth is observed on the Chaturthi of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik, and the fast is tied to the moon, so the date depends on whether Chaturthi is in force at moonrise. In Delhi, the Chaturthi tithi runs from about 1:07 AM to 10:10 PM on 29 October. That covers the evening moonrise, which is why Karwa Chauth falls on Thursday, 29 October across India.

Karwa Chauth 2026 Moonrise Time by City

The fast ends only after the moon is seen, so your city's moonrise is the time that matters. These are approximate IST times for 29 October from published panchangs, and they can differ by a few minutes between sources:

Delhi: about 8:12 to 8:17 PM

Mumbai: about 8:56 to 9:02 PM

Kolkata: about 7:42 to 7:48 PM

Chennai: about 8:44 PM

Bengaluru: about 8:55 PM

Jaipur: about 8:28 PM

For exact timings in your location, use HiAstro's city Panchang pages: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Noida. Clouds, buildings and haze can delay the actual sighting by several minutes, so many families wait for a clear view before breaking the fast.

Karwa Chauth 2026 Puja Muhurat

The evening puja and the Karwa Chauth katha are done in the window after sunset and before moonrise. In Delhi, the muhurat is 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM. In other cities it begins at local sunset: roughly 5:01 PM to 6:17 PM in Kolkata and 6:06 PM to 7:22 PM in Mumbai. Moonrise, not the puja, marks the end of the fast.

Sargi Time: When to Eat Before the Fast

Sargi is the pre-dawn meal traditionally prepared by the mother-in-law, with fruit, dry fruits, sweets, and something to sustain the day. It is eaten before sunrise, so most families eat in the hour or two before dawn. Sunrise on 29 October is about 6:31 AM in Delhi, 6:37 AM in Mumbai and 5:39 AM in Kolkata.

Karwa Chauth Vrat Vidhi: Step by Step

- Rise early and eat sargi before sunrise, then take the vrat sankalp (a quiet resolve to keep the fast).

- Fast through the day. The traditional fast is nirjala, without food or water, though modern practice varies.

- Dress and adorn in the traditional way, with mehndi and the shringar many women enjoy as part of the day.

- Gather for the evening puja in the muhurat, with the Karwa (clay or metal pot), a diya, and the thali.

- Listen to or read the Karwa Chauth katha, the story of Veervati, and pass the thali around the circle of women.

Wait for moonrise. Offer arghya (water) to the moon.

See the moon through a sieve (chalni), then look at your husband's face through it.

Break the fast. The husband offers water and the first bite, and the day ends with a family meal.

Customs differ by region and family. In Maharashtra, for instance, the same Chaturthi is commonly observed as Sankashti Chaturthi. And in many modern households, husbands fast alongside their wives.

Karwa Chauth 2026 in the USA, Canada and Abroad

For diaspora families, the date depends on the local tithi and moonrise. Several calendars list Wednesday, 28 October 2026 for the USA and Canada, because Chaturthi is in force at moonrise on that evening in North American time zones. In the Gulf, Singapore and Australia, the Indian date of 29 October generally holds. In the UK and parts of Europe, the tithi and moonrise overlap awkwardly, so many communities follow the date announced by their local temple or community Panchang. Always use your own local moonrise, not an Indian city's time, and consider connecting with family over a video call if you are far from home.

A Balanced Note on Fasting Safely

A day without food or water is demanding, and nobody should feel they must push their health for the sake of tradition. Pregnant women, people with diabetes, blood pressure issues or other conditions, those on regular medication, and older adults should consult a doctor before fasting, and a modified fast with water, juice or fruit is widely accepted by priests. Keep the sargi nourishing, break the fast gently with something light, and listen to your body. Devotion isn't measured by how much discomfort you endure.

Plan Your Karwa Chauth With Guidance

If you'd like to understand how this day lines up with your own chart, or what your Moon and Venus placements say about your relationship, speak with an astrologer on HiAstro for personal guidance before Karwa Chauth 2026, and check your Karwa Chauth 2026 moonrise time on your city's Panchang page.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is Karwa Chauth 2026? Karwa Chauth 2026 is on Thursday, 29 October in India. Several calendars list Wednesday, 28 October for the USA and Canada.

2. What is the Karwa Chauth 2026 moonrise time in Delhi? About 8:12 to 8:17 PM on 29 October, depending on the source. Moonrise in Mumbai is about 8:56 to 9:02 PM and in Kolkata about 7:42 to 7:48 PM.

3. What is the Karwa Chauth puja muhurat in 2026? In Delhi, the puja muhurat is 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM. In other cities it starts at local sunset.

4. When should sargi be eaten on Karwa Chauth? Before sunrise, usually in the hour or two before dawn. Sunrise is about 6:31 AM in Delhi on 29 October.

5. When can we break the Karwa Chauth fast? After you see the moon and offer arghya, usually with a chalni and the husband offering water and the first bite. Wait for a clear sighting rather than the printed time.

6. Can we drink water during Karwa Chauth? The traditional fast is nirjala, but many women modify it for health reasons, and priests widely accept this. Follow your family custom and your doctor's advice.

7. What if the moon isn't visible because of clouds? Many families wait a short while past the printed moonrise time, then break the fast once they are confident the moon has risen, often by confirming with family or a trusted Panchang.