Karva Chauth is the fast of the married — kept on the fourth day of Kartik's dark fortnight, from sunrise to moonrise, traditionally by wives for the long life of their husbands, and in many modern homes by both partners for each other. The day is named for the karva, the small earthen pot used in the evening ritual.

Its structure is a day-long arc with two fixed points: sargi — the pre-dawn meal, traditionally sent by the mother-in-law — before the fast begins, and the moonrise, when the moon is viewed (customarily through a sieve), arghya is offered, and the fast is broken by the spouse's hand.

Key facts

• Dates: October 29th, 2026
• Ruling deities: Shiva, Parvati, Moon
• Fasting: nirjala — Complete fast until moonrise
• Regional names: Karva Chauth (north), Karva Chauth (south)

How it is observed

• Sargi before dawn: the fasting person eats the pre-dawn meal — fruits, sweets, pheni — after which the nirjala (waterless) fast begins with sunrise.
• The evening gathering: women sit in a circle for the Karva Chauth katha, passing the karva as the story of the vrat is told; the thali is decorated for the moonrise.
• Moonrise: the moon is sighted — through a sieve or dupatta by custom — arghya (water) is offered to it, the spouse is viewed next, and the fast is broken with water and the first morsel from their hand.
• The vrat is strongest in North and Northwest India; elsewhere the tradition keeps other marital vrats — the tradition has many forms of the same prayer.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Vivah: The Vedic Wedding — Saptapadi, Agni Sakshi, and the Eight Classical Forms
• Finding the Right Muhurat: How to Pick Auspicious Timing for Any Life Event
• Moonrise time in your city — today's Panchang
• Vivah muhurat guide 2026

Plan Karva Chauth with Purohit Ji

Purohit Ji grounds the observance in your own city and Panchang — timings, vidhi, and what to prepare, answered for your home rather than in general.