Karva Chauth, one of the most cherished festivals in North Indian culture, falls on Thursday, 29 October 2026. Observed on the Krishna Paksha Chaturthi (fourth day of the waning moon) in the Hindu month of Kartik, the day is dedicated to marital bond, longevity and prosperity.
Primarily celebrated by married Hindu women in states such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi, the festival has also spread to other regions and is observed by some communities in Nepal. Unmarried women sometimes keep the fast seeking a suitable life partner, while a growing number of couples observe it together as a shared expression of love and care.
The day begins before sunrise with Sargi a nourishing pre-dawn meal of fruits, dry fruits, sweets and light savoury items traditionally prepared or sent by the mother-in-law. After this, women take a sankalp (vow) and observe a strict nirjala vrat a waterless and foodless fast that lasts until moonrise. During the day they apply mehendi, dress in bridal colours (often red), wear jewellery, sindoor and bangles, and gather with other women to listen to the Karva Chauth katha (traditional stories of devotion).
In the evening, puja is performed during Pradosh kaal. Women offer prayers to Goddess Parvati (Gauri), Lord Shiva and the Moon, pass decorated thalis or karvas (earthen pots) in a circle, and wait for the moon. Once the moon appears, they view it through a sieve (chalni), offer arghya (water libation), then look at their husband’s face through the same sieve. The husband then offers the first sip of water and bite of food, formally breaking the fast.
More than a ritual of abstinence, Karva Chauth celebrates patience, faith and the enduring strength of marital partnership. In 2026, as families gather under the October moon, the festival continues to weave tradition with contemporary expressions of love.
