As the Hindu calendar ushers in the auspicious month of Kartik, married women across northern India are preparing for one of the year’s most cherished traditions: Karwa Chauth. This ancient festival, marked by a rigorous fast observed without food or water, symbolizes unwavering devotion to husbands and has sparked a timely debate this year over its exact date October 9 or 10?
Falling on the fourth day of the waning moon phase in Kartik, also known as Karak Chaturthi, the observance carries profound cultural weight. Devout Hindu wives embark on a “nirjala vrat” from sunrise, abstaining entirely until moonrise, in hopes of ensuring their spouses’ health, prosperity, and longevity. The ritual culminates poignantly: women gaze at the moon’s reflection through a sieve before seeking the same view of their husbands’ faces, breaking the fast only then.
Confusion has swirled online and in households due to the Chaturthi tithi’s unusual span across two civil dates. According to traditional panchangs, the Krishna Paksha Chaturthi commences on Thursday, October 9, at 10:54 PM and concludes on Friday, October 10, at 7:38 PM. As the fast aligns with the day the tithi predominates, the consensus from major almanacs points firmly to October 10 for celebrations.
On that Friday, the fast begins at 6:19 AM and extends until moonrise at 8:13 PM. The ideal puja muhurat, a window for rituals invoking Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, and Karwa Mata, runs from 5:57 PM to 7:11 PM perfect for evening ceremonies amid rising anticipation.
| Event | Date and Time |
|---|---|
| Karwa Chauth | Friday, October 10 |
| Karwa Chauth Puja Muhurat | 5:57 PM to 7:11 PM |
| Karwa Chauth Fast Time | 6:19 AM to 8:13 PM |
| Karwa Chauth Moonrise Time | 8:13 PM |
| Chaturthi Tithi Begins | 10:54 PM, Thursday, October 9 |
| Chaturthi Tithi Ends | 7:38 PM, Friday, October 10 |
Rooted in legend, the practice draws from Goddess Parvati’s own fast to secure Lord Shiva as her eternal partner, a tale that inspires wives to seek marital harmony and familial blessings. Predominantly observed in states like Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan, it fosters bonds of love and community through shared vigils and festive gatherings.
With preparations underway sarees adorned, karwas filled, and sieves polished this Karwa Chauth promises to blend timeless rituals with modern queries, reminding all of the enduring power of faith and partnership.