About Karwa Chauth
Falls on Krishna Paksha Chaturthi of Kartik month. Women fast without food or water, dress in bridal finery, and break the fast after sighting the moon and viewing their husband's face through a sieve.
Significance
Karwa Chauth is a votive fast where a wife prays for her husband's long life and well-being, and has become a broader celebration of marital devotion in North Indian households.
History & story
The fast's origins are linked to folk tales of Queen Veervati and Karva, women whose unwavering devotion and fasting are said to have saved their husbands' lives — stories recited during the evening katha.
Muhurat (2026)
Puja muhurat is evening pre-moonrise; sargi consumed pre-dawn. Moonrise time varies by city.
Rituals & observances
- ◆Sargi (pre-dawn meal)
- ◆Nirjala fast (no water)
- ◆Evening katha and puja
- ◆Moon sighting through sieve
Regional variations
North India primarily — Punjab, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan.
Karwa Chauth — every year
The date shifts each year on the Gregorian calendar because it follows the Hindu lunar-solar cycle.