The festival of Karwa Chauth is one of the most significant Hindu festivals in India. Majorly celebrated by married women for their husbands’ long life and prosperity, the festival is set to take place on 29 October, 2026. The festival is characterized by observing a fast that typically begins at sunrise and continues until the Moon is sighted in the evening.
If you’re observing Karwa Chauth this year, knowing your city’s moonrise time is essential, as the timing varies across India. Women in Mumbai will have to wait longer for the Moon to rise than those in Delhi. From the expected Karwa Chauth 2026 moonrise time to the festival’s significance and traditional rituals, here’s everything you need to know about Karwa Chauth 2026.
Karwa Chauth 2026: Significance, Rituals & Moonrise Time
About The Festival Of Karwa Chauth
Karwa Chauth is a traditional Hindu festival observed primarily in North India, particularly in states such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The festival falls on the fourth day of the waning lunar phase during the Hindu month of Kartik.
The word Karwa refers to the earthen pot traditionally used to offer water to the Moon, while Chauth means the fourth day. The festival brings together family members and encourages community celebrations. Women dress up in traditional attire, apply mehendi, exchange festive gifts and gather with friends and family. Although the festival is traditionally associated with married women praying for their husbands, observances and personal interpretations can vary between families and communities. The fast is generally broken after the Moon is sighted and prayers are offered.
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What Is The Significance Of Karwa Chauth?
The festival of Karwa Chauth holds great cultural and religious significance. The festival symbolizes love, commitment, devotion, and the well-being of one’s family.
The Moon plays a major role in the festive celebrations. In Hindu traditions, Chandra Dev, or the Moon God, is worshipped, and devotees offer arghya, a ritual offering of water, after sighting the Moon. The earthen karwa used during the puja represents an important part of the festival’s customs.
Traditionally, married women observe a day-long fast to pray for their husbands’ longevity. In many households, the festival is also an occasion to celebrate the bond between spouses and bring families together. Karwa Chauth is also associated with traditional stories about devotion, faith and the power of prayer.
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Key Rituals Of The Karwa Chauth Festival
Here are some of the key rituals of the Karwa Chauth 2026 festival.
The Sargi: The day of Karwa Chauth begins with sargi, a pre-dawn meal traditionally prepared by the mother-in-law. It includes fruits, sweets, and a few foods to provide nourishment before the fast begins.
After sunrise, women begin their fast, refraining from consuming food and in some instances, even water. Many women spend the day preparing for the evening celebration. They apply mehendi to each other, choose festive outfits, and offer prayers.
Women mostly dress up in red sarees to symbolize divinity, prosperity, and purity. They gather to perform the Karwa Chauth festivities, typically involving the recitation of the vrat katha. Once the moon rises, women look at it traditionally through a sieve, offer arghya using water from the karwa. Many women also look at their husbands through the sieve as part of the ritual.
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Karwa Chauth 2026: What Is The Moonrise Time In Mumbai And Delhi?
Now that we know about the significance of the Karwa Chauth festival, let’s take a look at the moonrise time. As per Drik Panchang, the Karwa Chauth 2026 moonrise time in Delhi will be at 8:17 PM. Noida and Gurgaon will have the timings at 8:16 PM and 8:13 PM, quite close to Delhi’s.
The Drik Panchang says that the moon rise timing in Mumbai is set for 9 PM. The Karwa Chauth moonrise time for Kolkata, as per Drik Panchang, is set for 7:47 PM and for Bangalore, it is set for 8:51 PM.
In Jaipur, the Karwa Chauth moonrise time is set for 8:23 PM whereas that for Lucknow is at 8:02 PM. In Patna, it is at around 7:48 PM, Bhopal is at 8:26 PM, whereas for Nagpur, it is 8:25 PM.
Note: All the information used in the blog has been taken from verified sources
Summing Up
In this article, we’ve given you details on the Karwa Chauth 2026 moonrise time across many cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, and more. We’ve also shared with you the significance and rituals.
