Karva Chauth 2026 and 2027: date, muhurat and meaning
Quick answer
Karva Chauth 2027 falls on Monday, 18 October 2027 (Delhi). Karva Chauth is a fast kept on the fourth day of the waning moon of Kartik, when married women go without food or water from sunrise until moonrise, praying for their husbands' long life.
Key takeaways
- 2026: Thursday, 29 October 2026
- 2027: Monday, 18 October 2027
- Each year's section explains which rule gave the date and how the muhurat was cut to the tithi.
- All times are for Delhi; abroad the tithi follows local time, so the date can differ by a day.
What is Karva Chauth?
Karva Chauth is especially loved in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. 'Karva' is the small clay pot used to offer water to the moon, and 'chauth' means the fourth lunar day. In the purnimanta calendar of North India it falls in Kartik; in the amanta calendar the same day is called Ashwin Krishna Chaturthi. The fast is an expression of devotion and togetherness in marriage.
Several stories are told during the evening katha, the ritual storytelling. The best known is of Queen Veeravati, whose loving brothers could not bear to see her hungry and lit a lamp behind a tree to make it look as if the moon had risen. She broke her fast early and misfortune struck her husband, but her devotion over the following year restored him. Tales of a faithful woman named Karva and of Savitri are also told.
How Karva Chauth is observed
In Punjabi homes, before dawn, the mother-in-law gives her daughter-in-law sargi, a plate of vermicelli, dry fruits, fruit, sweets and items of adornment. After eating it, the woman begins a fast without food or water. Through the day she has mehndi (henna) applied, and by evening dresses in her finest, often her wedding outfit. Women gather to hear the katha, passing their decorated thalis around a circle in rhythm with traditional songs.
When the moon rises, she views it through a sieve with a lamp, then looks at her husband's face through the same sieve, offers water to the moon from the karva and breaks the fast with a sip of water and a bite from his hand. In Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, the bride's family sends gifts called baya. Many husbands now fast too, and in the US, Canada and the UK women host community kathas and watch for the moon together.
Karva Chauth 2026: date and muhurat (Delhi)
Thursday, 29 October 2026
Chaturthi (Krishna Paksha) is present at moonrise on this day.
- Tithi
- 29 Oct, 1:07 AM – 29 Oct, 10:10 PM
- Fast: sunrise to moonrise
- 6:31 AM – 8:17 PM
- Moonrise
- 8:17 PM
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:31 AM / 5:39 PM
- Rahu kaal (this day)
- 1:28 PM – 2:52 PM
The decisive moment for Karva Chauth is moonrise. The fast is kept on the day when Krishna Paksha Chaturthi, the fourth lunar day of the waning fortnight, is running at the time the moon rises, because the observance is only complete once water is offered to the moon. The early evening after sunset is the usual time for the katha and puja. Moonrise differs from city to city, so always check the local time rather than one published for another place.
Karva Chauth 2027: date and muhurat (Delhi)
Monday, 18 October 2027
Chaturthi (Krishna Paksha) is present at moonrise on this day.
- Tithi
- 18 Oct, 5:51 PM – 19 Oct, 4:42 PM
- Fast: sunrise to moonrise
- 6:23 AM – 7:35 PM
- Moonrise
- 7:35 PM
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:23 AM / 5:49 PM
- Rahu kaal (this day)
- 7:49 AM – 9:15 AM
Karva Chauth wishes
May your bond shine as brightly as tonight's moon and grow stronger with every Karva Chauth. Warm wishes to you both.Send this on WhatsApp
More wishes will be added here soon.
Related festivals and lists
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the moonrise time on Karva Chauth in my city?
Moonrise depends on where you are, so a time published for Delhi will be wrong for Mumbai, London or Houston. This page gives Delhi's moonrise; Shubhkal's city pages show today's moonrise for 20 Indian cities, and a local panchang gives it for the festival day elsewhere. Remember that the listed time is when the moon clears a flat horizon; hills, tall buildings or haze can delay the moment you actually see it by several minutes.
Can unmarried women keep the Karva Chauth fast?
Yes. Many unmarried women, especially those who are engaged, keep the fast for their future husband or simply out of devotion. Some families allow them a gentler version, such as drinking water or breaking the fast on seeing the stars instead of the moon. The sargi and sieve rituals are traditionally for married women, so it is best to follow your own family's guidance.
What should be eaten in sargi?
Sargi is eaten before sunrise and is meant to sustain you through a long day. Typical items include pheni or vermicelli soaked in sweetened milk, almonds, cashews and other dry fruits, coconut, fresh fruit, mathri and a sweet. Some women add coconut water or a glass of lassi. Many prefer to go easy on very salty or fried food so that thirst is less troublesome later.
What if the moon is not visible because of clouds?
When clouds hide the moon, many families wait until the listed moonrise time has passed and then offer water in the moon's direction before breaking the fast. Some phone relatives in a nearby city to confirm a sighting. In certain homes the fast is broken after worshipping the crescent moon on an image of Lord Shiva. Follow the practice your family accepts.
Can husbands keep the Karva Chauth fast too?
Yes, and more and more do. Traditionally the fast is kept by wives, but many husbands now fast alongside them as a gesture of love and partnership. A husband can keep a waterless fast or a lighter one with fruit and water, and the couple breaks the fast together after the moonrise rituals. Many families see this as a welcome change that fits the spirit of the day.
How can pregnant women observe Karva Chauth?
The fast is about devotion, not hardship, and many families say so clearly. Pregnant, elderly or unwell women often keep a lighter fast, taking water, milk, fruit or juice during the day, and still join fully in the sargi, katha and moonrise rituals. Anyone unsure about fasting during pregnancy should talk to their doctor. The love behind the observance matters more than strictness.