Summary
- Date: Karwa Chauth 2026 falls on Thursday, 29 October 2026.
- What it is: A 1 day fast in which married women pray for their husband's long life, health and a happy marriage. The fast runs from sunrise til you see the moon.
- Day plan in one line: Wake before sunrise, eat sargi, take the sankalp (vow), fast throughout the day, dress up (shringar) in the evening, perform maa Gauri-Ganesh and Karwa Mata pooja with the katha, offer water to the moon, and break the fast with water and a sweet from your husband.
- Who can keep it: Married women, and also engaged or unmarried girls and men in many families. There is no strict rule against it.
- If you cannot do the full fast: Illness, pregnancy and old age are valid reasons for a gentler version. Your health comes before the vrat. Q25 of this guide explains how.
- Puja timings (Delhi): Evening puja muhurat is about 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM and moonrise is about 8:17 PM. Moonrise is different in every city, so see our tithi and muhurat guide.
- A special puja this Karwa Chauth: Devpunya is conducting a Maa Baglamukhi puja at Maa Baglamukhi Dham near Ujjain on 29 October, in your name and gotra, with full video. Details and booking here.
Want to take part in the Maa Baglamukhi Puja this Karwa Chauth? A pandit performs the puja at Maa Baglamukhi dham near ujjain on 29 October 2026 with a sankalp in your name and gotra. You get the full video, and prasad is delivered to your home. Book the Maa Baglamukhi Puja →
Part 1: The Basics
Q1. What is Karwa Chauth?
Karwa Chauth is a one-day fast that married Hindu women keep for the long life and well being of their husbands. It is celebrated mostly in Northern India, in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, and today by families across the country and abroad.
The name has 2 parts. Karwa (or karak) is a small earthen pot with a spout, used to offer water to the moon. Chauth means the 4th day of the lunar fortnight. The festival falls on the Chaturthi (fourth) tithi of the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) in the month of Kartik.
Q2. When is Karwa Chauth in 2026?
Karwa Chauth 2026 is on Thursday, 29 October 2026. The Chaturthi tithi begins around 1:06 AM on 29 October and ends around 10:09 PM till night, so it is active all day and at moonrise. seeing the moon is what ends the fast, so a day on which the tithi is active during moonrise is the correct day.
One or two websites list 28 October. That does not match the panchang: on the evening of 28 October the tithi is still Tritiya. Full timings are in our tithi and muhurat guide.
Q3. Why is Karwa Chauth celebrated?
Because of a belief that a wife's prayer, devotion and discipline can bring blessings of long life, health and harmony to her husband and the marriage. The tradition draws on several stories, including those of Queen veeravati, karva,savitri and draupadi. We tell them all in our complete story of Karwa Chauth.
It is also a day of sisterhood and celebration. Women dress up, apply mehndi, gather in groups to hear the katha, and exchange gifts. Many say this social side is what makes the festival feel special.
Want your Karwa Chauth prayers to go one step further? Devpunya's Maa Baglamukhi Puja on 29 October is done in your name and gotra, with a full video. Book the Maa Baglamukhi Puja →
Q4. When did Karwa Chauth start?
No one can name an exact year. The vrat is described in folk traditions and in the Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha, passed down for centuries. Several explanations are given:
- The festival is linked to the stories of Veeravati, karva and savitri, which are very old.
- One popular theory says that in the past, when daughters married far from home, women made a "friend for life" (kangan sakhi or dharam behen) relationship during the wedding, and karwa Chauth was a day to honour that bond.
- Another says that the festival fell at the start of the wheat sowing season, and the karwa was the pot used to store grain.
- A third says that wives of soldiers prayed on this day for their safe return.
These are traditional explanations, not historical records, so treat them as stories that help us understand why the day matters.
Q5. Is Karwa Chauth mentioned in the Vedas or Puranas?
The Karwa Chauth katha is told in Puranic tradition and in the vrat-katha literature of North India, but it is not a Vedic ritual. Its roots are in the vrat (fasting) tradition and in regional custom. This is why you will see small differences between families in how it is done. Follow the tradition of your own family and your elders.
Part 2: Who Can Keep the Vrat
Q6. Can an unmarried girl keep the Karwa Chauth vrat?
Yes. Many unmarried and engaged girls keep Karwa Chauth, praying for a good life partner or for the well-being of their fiancé. There is no scripture that forbids it. A few points to know:
- Some families and communities ask unmarried girls to break the fast after seeing the stars and not the moon, or to follow the same rule as married women. Ask an elder in your family.
- You do not have to do the full shringar, and you do not have to be given sargi by a mother-in-law. Your mother can give you sargi.
- Nobody should force a girl to fast. It should be your choice.
Q7. Can married men keep the Karwa Chauth vrat?
Yes. There is no rule that stops a husband from fasting. Many husbands now fast along with their wives, either all day or until the moon appears. In some families men keep the fast as a way to support their wives, who may find it hard.
It is a good thing to do if you do it with sincerity, but it should be a choice and not a competition.
Q8. If the husband keeps the vrat, does it increase the wife's life too?
Traditional belief says the fast is an offering of devotion and that devotion brings blessings. By that same belief, a husband's fast for his wife's well-being is also a sincere prayer. But there is no scripture that gives a "formula" for how many years of life each fast adds, and no way to measure it. Please be wary of anyone who promises exact results.
The more useful way to think about it: when both partners fast for each other, the day becomes a shared promise of care. That is something a marriage benefits from.
Q9. Can a woman keep Karwa Chauth during pregnancy or periods?
Pregnancy: Doctors generally advise pregnant women not to fast without water and food, because dehydration and low blood sugar can be dangerous. Traditional texts also allow pregnant women, the sick and the elderly to keep a lighter fast. A pregnant woman can have fruit, milk and water and still do the puja, hear the katha and offer water to the moon with a full heart. Please speak to your doctor.
Periods: Practices differ between families. Many allow the fast to continue, with someone else (a family member) touching the puja items and doing the aarti, while you pray, listen to the katha and look at the moon. Others have different customs. Follow your family's guidance.
A prayer is stronger when it is offered with full intent. While you keep the fast at home, you can also have a puja performed in your name by a pandit at a sacred temple, with a video of the full ritual. This Karwa Chauth, the Maa Baglamukhi Puja is available on 29 October. See the Maa Baglamukhi Puja details and book →
Part 3: Before the Day
Q10. What should I do on the first Karwa Chauth after marriage?
The first Karwa Chauth is special in most families. Common customs include:
- Sargi from the mother-in-law. She gives the bride a thali of food, sweets, dry fruits, a saree or suit and shringar items, eaten before sunrise.
- Baya from the maika. The bride's parents send a baya: clothes, sweets, fruits, dry fruits and gifts for her and the in-laws.
- Bridal-style shringar. Many brides wear red or maroon (often their wedding lehenga or saree), and full jewellery.
- Blessings. Touch the feet of your mother-in-law and elders to take blessings, both in the morning and after the puja.
- New puja items. A new karwa, thali and a set of fresh shringar items.
If you live far from your in-laws or parents, a phone or video call and a small gift are just as meaningful.
Q11. What should I buy and prepare a day or two before?
Make a checklist early so that you are not rushing on the morning of the fast:
- Shringar: red saree or lehenga, bangles, bindi, sindoor, mehndi, alta, jewellery.
- Sargi: fruits, dry fruits, a sweet, sevaiyan or paratha, coconut water.
- Puja thali: see the list in Q16.
- Mehndi: many women apply it on the evening before, called Chand Raat in some families.
- Katha book or the katha on your phone.
Q12. What should I do the evening before?
- Apply mehndi.
- Take a light, nourishing dinner with plenty of water.
- Arrange the puja thali and keep the sargi ready.
- Set an alarm for before sunrise.
- Sleep early. A good night's rest makes the next day easier.
Part 4: The Day of the Fast
Prefer to have a pandit do a puja for you at a sacred temple? Browse online pujas with a sankalp in your name and a video of the ritual. Explore more online pujas with video proof →
Q13. What should I do as soon as I wake up on Karwa Chauth?
Follow this routine:
- Wake up before sunrise, ideally during Brahma Muhurta, the last part of the night.
- Bathe and put on clean clothes.
- Pray briefly to your family deity, Lord Ganesh and Lord Shiva-Parvati.
- Eat sargi before sunrise (see Q15).
- Take the sankalp, the vow to keep the fast (see Q14).
- Drink plenty of water before sunrise if you plan a nirjala fast.
Q14. How do I take the sankalp? What mantra should I say?
After sargi, sit before the diya or the deity, hold water in your right palm, and say in your own words: "Today is Karwa Chauth. I am keeping this vrat for the long life and good health of my husband and the well-being of my family. Please give me strength to complete it."
The traditional Sanskrit sankalp is:
मम सुख सौभाग्य पुत्र पौत्रादि स्थिर सम्पत्ति प्राप्तये करकचतुर्थी व्रतमहं करिष्ये। Mama sukha saubhagya putra pautradi sthira sampatti praptaye karaka-chaturthi vratam aham karishye.
If you do not know Sanskrit, the sincere sankalp in your own language is enough.
Q15. What is sargi, and what should I eat?
Sargi is the meal eaten before sunrise on Karwa Chauth, after which you do not eat until the moon rises. It is traditionally given by the mother-in-law. It is the only meal of the day, so choose it for lasting energy:
- Good choices: fruit, dry fruits, coconut water, curd, sevaiyan with milk, a paratha, a light sweet and plenty of water.
- Avoid: very oily, salty and spicy food, which make you thirsty. Also avoid too much tea or coffee, which dehydrate you.
- Tip: Drink water slowly in the last 20 minutes before sunrise.
Q16. What do I need for the evening puja?
A basic Karwa Chauth puja thali has:
- Karwa (earthen pots) with lids, filled with water
- Picture or idol of Karwa Mata, Gauri, Shiva, Ganesh (or a clay or cow-dung figure)
- Diya, ghee, incense, camphor
- Roli (kumkum), turmeric, rice (akshat), sindoor
- Flowers and fruits
- Sweets and mathri
- A sieve (chhalni) and a lamp for seeing the moon and your husband
- Shringar items for the offering: bangles, bindi, ribbon, mehndi
- A small cloth or dupatta
- The katha book
- A glass of water and a sweet for breaking the fast
Q17. What are the steps of the Karwa Chauth puja vidhi?
Do the puja in the evening during the muhurat (Delhi: 5:38 to 6:56 PM).
- Shringar. Dress up in your finest (see Q21).
- Set up the puja space. Clean the place, place the idols or pictures facing east or north, and keep the thali ready.
- Light the diya and incense.
- Ganesh puja first. Offer flowers and rice with "ॐ गं गणपतये नमः।"
- Gauri-Shiva puja. Offer roli, rice, flowers, sindoor and bangles to Mata Gauri (Parvati) and Shiva.
- Karwa Mata puja. Tie a thread (mauli) around the karwa, apply roli and rice, and fill it with water.
- Katha. Gather with the other women and listen to or read the Karwa Chauth katha (see our full story).
- Pheri. Pass the thali around the circle seven times in the pheri ritual, singing the traditional song, "Veero kudiye karwa le, sarv suhagan karwa le."
- Aarti. Do the aarti of Gauri-Shiva-Ganesh.
- Blessings. Touch the feet of your mother-in-law or elder women and give them a gift (baya).
Q18. What mantras should I chant during the puja?
- Ganesh: ॐ गं गणपतये नमः।
- Shiva: ॐ नमः शिवाय।
- Gauri (Parvati) for saubhagya: ॐ नमः शिवायै शर्वाण्यै सौभाग्यं सन्ततिं शुभाम्। प्रयच्छ भक्तियुक्तानां नारीणां हरवल्लभे॥
- Karwa Mata: simply bow and say "Karwa Mata ko pranam" (there is no fixed Sanskrit mantra; the katha is the main prayer)
You can chant each one 11 or 21 times. Sincerity matters more than perfect pronunciation.
Q19. Which mantra should I chant for my husband's long life?
The most widely used mantra is the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra to Lord Shiva:
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्। उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्॥
You can also chant "ॐ नमः शिवाय" and the Gauri mantra from Q18. Chant them while holding your husband's name in your mind. Even 11 repetitions with devotion are fine, so do not feel pressured to chant 108 times if you are weak from the fast.
Praying for your family's well-being on Karwa Chauth? Maa Baglamukhi is worshipped for removing obstacles and protection from negative energies. Devpunya will do a Maa Baglamukhi Mirchi Havan and Sarva Karya Siddhi Mahayagya on 29 October at Maa Baglamukhi Dham near Ujjain in your name. Take part in the Maa Baglamukhi Puja →
Q20. What mantra can I chant in the morning?
Start the day calmly with:
- Karadarshan: कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः करमध्ये सरस्वती। करमूले तु गोविन्दः प्रभाते करदर्शनम्॥ (Look at your palms and say this on waking.)
- Ganesh: ॐ गं गणपतये नमः।
- Shiva-Parvati: ॐ नमः शिवाय, or "ॐ गौरी शंकराय नमः।"
Then, after your sankalp, say the mantras from Q18 and Q19 whenever you sit in prayer during the day.
Q21. What is the shringar process, and what should I wear?
Karwa Chauth is a day to dress as a suhagan (a married woman). The traditional shringar is called solah shringar, or the sixteen adornments:
- Sindoor
- Bindi
- Maang tikka
- Kajal
- Nath (nose ring)
- Earrings
- Necklace / mangalsutra
- Bangles
- Mehndi
- Armlet (baajuband)
- Waist belt (kamarband)
- Rings
- Anklets (payal)
- Toe rings (bichhiya)
- Gajra (flowers in the hair)
- Alta and perfume
What to wear: Red, maroon, pink, orange, yellow or green sarees, lehengas or suits are traditional signs of luck. Many families avoid black and white on this day. Wear whatever you love in a festive colour. You do not need heavy jewellery to do the puja correctly.
When to dress: Do your full shringar in the evening before the puja, not in the morning, because you will be in the puja thali for several hours.
Explore more online pujas with video proof. On Devpunya you can book pujas at sacred temples across India, with a sankalp in your name and a video of the complete ritual. Explore online pujas →
Part 5: Rules and the Fast Itself
Q22. Do I stop eating from 12 noon, or from sunrise?
Neither of those. The traditional Karwa Chauth fast begins at sunrise, after the pre-dawn sargi, and ends when you see the moon in the evening. There is no "after 12 noon" rule. It is not a half-day fast.
Some families keep a gentler, phalahar version (fruit and milk allowed). Others are strict nirjala (no food and no water). Do whichever your family follows, or whichever your health allows.
Q23. What are the main rules to follow during the vrat?
Most families follow these:
- Wake up before sunrise and eat sargi before sunrise.
- No food (and, in the strict version, no water) from sunrise until the moon is seen.
- Bathe and wear clean clothes, and dress up for the puja.
- Do the puja in the evening and listen to the katha.
- Do not sleep in the daytime, if you can avoid it.
- Do not argue or get angry. Try to keep your mind calm, kind and prayerful.
- Offer water to the moon (arghya) only after moonrise.
- Break the fast with water and a sweet from your husband (or the person you are fasting for).
Cannot visit a temple today? Make a devotional offering at a temple in your name. Explore Chadhava →
Q24. What rules should I not break?
There are a few that matter most:
- Do not eat or drink after sunrise and before moonrise if you are keeping the traditional fast.
- Do not break the fast before seeing the moon or before its listed time.
- Do not skip the sankalp. The sankalp is the vow that makes it a vrat.
- Do not use harsh words or anger. The mind matters as much as the stomach in a fast.
- Do not break the fast with tamasic food (onion, garlic, meat, alcohol). Break it with a sweet, water and a sattvic meal.
Beyond these, some families follow other customs (not sewing or cutting with a knife, not waking a sleeping person, not touching the sieve before time). These are traditions, not scriptural rules, so follow your family and do not worry if yours is different.
Q25. What if I feel dizzy or cannot keep the fast? What is the minimum I can do?
Your health matters more than the fast, and the tradition recognises this. If you feel faint, weak, or have a medical condition (low blood pressure, pregnancy, a long illness, medication that needs food), do not push through it. Here is a ladder of options from strictest to gentlest:
- Sip water, if you were keeping nirjala. It is a small adjustment, and most elders accept it for weakness.
- Switch to phalahar. Have fruit, coconut water, milk or juice. Many pandits say this still counts as the vrat when taken with sincere intent, especially for the sick, the pregnant and the elderly.
- Eat something small and keep the rest of the vrat. Do the sankalp, evening puja, katha and moon offering as usual.
- Break the fast early if you must, with water and a little to eat, then still sit for the puja and the katha.
- If you cannot fast at all, keep the day with prayer. Do the sankalp, the puja and the chants, and offer arghya to the moon. Devotion is the heart of the vrat. You can also donate food or clothes.
Please speak to a doctor if you have a medical condition. Nobody should be ashamed of choosing health.
Q26. What if I feel weak in the afternoon? Any tips?
- Sit in a cool, quiet place and rest.
- Rinse your mouth with water if you are strict nirjala (do not swallow).
- Keep busy but not exhausted: avoid housework at peak heat.
- Listen to bhajans, chant mantras softly or read the katha.
- Do your sargi well. A good sargi makes the day much easier.
- If you feel faint, sit down immediately and break the fast with water. Do not wait.
Part 6: Breaking the Fast
Q27. How do I break the Karwa Chauth fast?
- Wait for moonrise. Check your city's time (see our table). Moonrise is later in the west (Mumbai) than in the east (Kolkata).
- See the moon through a sieve (chhalni), holding a lit diya behind the sieve.
- Offer arghya. Pour water from the karwa towards the moon while chanting "ॐ सोमाय नमः" or "ॐ चन्द्राय नमः". Pray for your husband's long life and your family's happiness.
- Turn to look at your husband through the same sieve.
- Touch his feet to take his blessings.
- He gives you water and a sweet. He holds the glass to your lips and you take your first sip, then a bite of sweet.
- Then eat a proper meal, starting with something light and sattvic.
Q28. What if the sky is cloudy and I cannot see the moon?
It happens often. Use the listed moonrise time for your city. Many families wait 20 to 30 minutes after the listed time, then offer arghya facing the direction where the moon should be, and break the fast. Others look at the moon on a phone, or use a live moonrise stream. This is accepted by most families as long as it is done with faith. Do not wait for hours: your health matters.
Far from home or family this Karwa Chauth? You can still join a temple puja from wherever you are. Maa Baglamukhi Puja, 29 October 2026. Join the Maa Baglamukhi Puja →
Q29. What if my husband is away? Can we do it on a video call?
Yes. This is very common today, and it is accepted by most pandits and families. The steps:
- Do all the day's vrat and puja at home.
- At moonrise, offer arghya to the moon yourself.
- Video-call your husband. Look at his face on the screen through a sieve, or just look at him.
- He can say a prayer, bless you and "offer" you water on camera. You then take the water and a sweet yourself.
- If a family member is nearby (mother-in-law, sister-in-law, a friend), she can give you the water and sweet with his blessing.
What matters is your sankalp and your intent. The distance does not stop the vrat.
Part 7: Maa Baglamukhi and Karwa Chauth
Q30. Why is there a Maa Baglamukhi puja on Karwa Chauth?
Karwa Chauth is a day of devotion, and many devotees choose to offer extra prayers on festival days. To be clear: Maa Baglamukhi worship is not a required part of the traditional Karwa Chauth vidhi. It is an additional puja that people choose to book, to seek the blessings of the Goddess along with their vrat.
In 2026, Karwa Chauth falls on a Thursday. In Hindu tradition, Thursday is associated with Guru (Brihaspati), and yellow is the colour linked to both Brihaspati and Maa Baglamukhi, who is also called Pitambara Devi. Many devotees see this as an auspicious day for her worship. Read more in our blog on the Maa Baglamukhi puja on Karwa Chauth.
Q31. What are the benefits of doing Maa Baglamukhi puja on Karwa Chauth?
Devotees pray to Maa Baglamukhi for:
- Removal of obstacles in life and marriage
- Protection from negative energies
- Strength to face challenges and difficult situations
- Success in your efforts, including career and legal matters
- Peace and confidence in the family
These are matters of faith and personal belief and are not guaranteed results. We explain what the puja includes in our Baglamukhi guide.
Q32. What is included in Devpunya's Maa Baglamukhi puja?
The puja is the Mata Baglamukhi Mirchi Havan & Sarva Karya Siddhi Mahayagya, held at Maa Baglamukhi Dham near Ujjain on 29 October 2026. Booking includes:
- The full puja performed by a pandit
- A sankalp taken in your name and gotra
- An HD video of the ceremony, sent on WhatsApp and email
- A digital certificate
- Prasad delivered to your home (within India)
- A refund if the puja is not performed as promised
Can't travel to a temple on Karwa Chauth? You don't have to. Book the Maa Baglamukhi Puja from home. Our pandit takes the sankalp in your name and gotra, and you receive the full video of the puja. Book the Maa Baglamukhi Puja →
Q33. How can I offer something to a temple on Karwa Chauth without going there?
You can offer a chadhava (a devotional offering) at a temple online, in your name. It is a good option when you are fasting and cannot travel, or if you live far from a temple.
Offer a chadhava at a temple, in your name. Explore the range of chadhavas on Devpunya. Explore Chadhava →
Part 8: Additional Things to Keep in Mind
Q34. What are some additional tips to make the day smooth?
- Hydrate the day before and during sargi.
- Plan your evening: have the thali, shringar items and katha ready by 4 PM.
- Check the moonrise time for your city on the morning of the fast.
- Keep a glass of water and a sweet next to the puja for breaking the fast.
- Look after the elders, the sick and children in your house who may be fasting.
- Make it a family occasion. Let your husband, in-laws and children take part, by helping with the puja, singing or giving you a break.
- Avoid scrolling for hours and keep your mind calm and prayerful.
Doing the puja alone this year? Add the blessings of a temple puja, performed for you by a pandit. Explore online pujas →
Q35. Can I do the puja alone if I am living away from family?
Yes. Set up a small puja corner, do the sankalp, light the diya, read the katha, offer arghya and break the fast as above. Join your family or friends on a video call for the katha. Karwa Chauth is as much about the intention as the audience.
Q36. Is it okay to keep the fast if my husband and I are not in a good phase?
Yes. Many people find that praying for the relationship helps them reflect and reset. But a vrat should not be a substitute for honest conversation. If there are serious problems in the marriage, talk to your partner, a family member or a counsellor as well.
Q37. Can I do a udyapan (conclusion) of Karwa Chauth?
Some families keep Karwa Chauth for a fixed number of years, often 12 or 16, and then do a udyapan (a closing ritual) with a puja, a feast for married women, and gifts of shringar items. If you want to do this, ask a pandit or an elder in your family to guide you. If you are not sure, you can continue the vrat as usual.
Quick Checklist for 29 October 2026
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Night before | Mehndi, light dinner, set the thali and alarm |
| Before sunrise | Bath, sargi, sankalp |
| Daytime | Fast, rest, light chanting |
| About 5:00 PM | Shringar and thali ready |
| Delhi: 5:38 to 6:56 PM | Karwa Chauth puja and katha |
| Delhi: about 8:17 PM | Moonrise: arghya, sieve, break the fast |
Timings are for Delhi. Please check your city: see our tithi and muhurat guide.
This Karwa Chauth, add a blessing to your vrat. The Maa Baglamukhi Puja at Maa Baglamukhi Dham near Ujjain takes place on 29 October 2026. You get the full video. Book the Maa Baglamukhi Puja →
Looking for more? Explore more online pujas with video proof → · Explore Chadhava →
Karwa Chauth practices vary from family to family and region to region. Follow the tradition of your own family. For health matters, consult your doctor.