Karwa Chauth 2026 on October 28 or 29? Know the Correct Vrat Date, Puja Muhurat and Moonrise Time
Every year the same doubt surfaces a few days before Karwa Chauth. This year it has spread wider than usual, with Wednesday and Thursday both being suggested in households across North India.
The Rule That Decides the Date
Karwa Chauth is not fixed by sunrise tithi alone. The vrat is a Chandrodaya Vyapini observance, which means the Chaturthi of Kartik Krishna Paksha must be present at the moment the Moon rises. The fast is broken by worshipping the Moon, so the tithi has to stand at that hour.In 2026, Chaturthi begins at 1:06 AM on Thursday, 29 October and continues until 10:09 PM the same night. On Wednesday evening the Moon rises during Tritiya. That rules out 28 October completely for India. On Thursday, Chaturthi holds from before dawn till well after moonrise, and this makes it the only correct day for the vrat.Indian families settled in the United States and Canada are the exception. Because of the time difference, Chaturthi reaches moonrise there on Wednesday, 28 October, and they should fast that day. In the UK the observance stays on Thursday along with India.
Vrat Timing and Puja Muhurat
The fast begins at sunrise, which falls at 6:31 AM in Delhi NCR on 29 October. Sargi should be completed before this hour. Most women keep a nirjala vrat, taking neither food nor water until the Moon has received its arghya.The Puja Muhurat for Delhi NCR runs from 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM. This window of 1 hour 17 minutes falls in the auspicious Pradosh period after sunset. Karva Mata is worshipped along with Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha and Kartikeya. Since Chaturthi is Ganesha’s own tithi, his worship at the start of the puja carries special value this evening.During the muhurat, the earthen karwa is filled with water, the diya is lit and the vrat katha of Veervati is heard. Women observing the fast together exchange their karwas in a circle, a custom that reflects shared blessings for married life.
Moonrise Time on 29 October
In Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad, the Moon will rise at about 8:17 PM. Moonrise depends on latitude and longitude, so other cities will see it earlier or later.Eastern cities such as Kolkata and Patna get it sooner, while western cities like Mumbai and Ahmedabad wait longer. The gap can stretch to around 45 minutes, so women outside NCR should check the local Panchang for their own city.On a hazy October night the Moon may take a few extra minutes to become visible above rooftops. But the ritual should be completed only after actual darshan. Breaking the fast on a calculated time without seeing the Moon is against tradition.
Sargi and the Closing Rites
Sargi is the meal given by the mother-in-law before dawn, carrying her blessings for the daughter-in-law’s married life. It should be light and nourishing. Dry fruits, a sweet made with milk, fresh fruit and plenty of water are the right choice. Fried and salty food leads to thirst through the day and is best avoided.After moonrise, the wife views the Moon through a chalni and offers water from the karwa as arghya. She then sees her husband’s face through the same sieve. The husband gives her the first sip of water and a bite of sweet, and the vrat is complete.The Moon governs the mind and emotional bond in Vedic astrology. So offering prayers to Chandra on this night is believed to bring calm, mutual understanding and long life to the couple.
