Common North Indian household practice
Karva Chauth · Fast, puja and moonrise
A companion from sargi before dawn to the moonrise arghya: what to prepare, the Gauri puja, the katha, and each text with its meaning.
WHEN
Thursday, 29 October 2026
The date is for India (Drik Panchang, Gurugram). Outside India it can differ by a day. Moonrise differs from city to city by many minutes, so check your own city on the day.
- Thu 29 OctKarva Chauth · also Vakratunda Sankashti Chaturthi
- Sun 1 NovAhoi Ashtami
Source: Drik Panchang, Karwa Chauth 2026, location shown as Gurugram (checked 14 October 2026)
Choosing the time
The fast runs from before sunrise until the moon rises. The evening puja is usually done after sunset and before moonrise, often with other women of the family or neighbourhood. Moonrise times vary by city, so use one trusted panchang for your own city.
Find moonrise for your city on Drik Panchang ↗Add this date to Google Calendar ↗ · All festival dates
Karva Chauth falls on the fourth day (Chaturthi) of the waning moon in Kartika in the purnimanta calendar of North India; in the amanta calendar the same day is in Ashvin.
AT A GLANCE
What you need
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
What to gather
For the puja
The puja plate
Before sunrise
HOW IT IS ARRANGED
The puja place, labelled
1234567- Karva Chauth picture करवा चौथ का चित्र
- Karva pots करवा
- Flowers and garland फूल और माला
- Lota and spoon लोटा और आचमनी
- Sweets and fruit मिठाई और फल
- Roli, haldi, akshat, mauli रोली, हल्दी, अक्षत, मौली
- Sieve and lamp छलनी और दीपक
One common arrangement; families differ. Follow your family’s practice.
Safety
A fast without water is demanding. Anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding, unwell, diabetic, on regular medication or elderly should speak to a doctor and keep a lighter fast with water or fruit; many families accept this as part of the tradition. Keep lamps away from saris and dupattas.
AT A GLANCE
8 steps
Quick mode keeps the essentials. Full mode adds the Sanskrit sankalpa and the prayer to Gauri.
Open the companion →One festival, many traditions
Karva Chauth is kept mainly in North and North-West India and by many families abroad. Traditionally married women fast for the long life and well-being of their husbands and families; in many homes today husbands fast too, and some unmarried women keep the fast. Sargi, the karva exchange, the songs sung while passing the thalis and the exact puja differ from region to region and family to family. Follow your family's way.