"Karwa Chauth 2026: Date, Moonrise Time and Puja Muhurat for India and the USA"

Karwa Chauth is a fast observed by many married Hindu women in northern and western India, tied to the moon's rising on the Chaturthi tithi. The key question each year is the date and the moonrise time for your city. This guide gives the best-supported answer and flags the conflict between sources.

Karwa Chauth 2026 date: October 28 or October 29?

Two sources checked say October 29 for India. Vedpanchang's Delhi page lists Thursday, October 29, 2026, and its Pune page gives the same date. Aza Fashions also gives Thursday, October 29 with Delhi-based timings.

SmartPuja, however, says Wednesday, October 28. HinduTone, citing Drik Panchang, gives October 28 for US cities and October 29 for India. Its explanation is that Karwa Chauth depends on the Chaturthi tithi at moonrise, and US evenings fall many hours after India's. We follow the Indian date of October 29 and advise you to confirm locally.

Moonrise times to know

Moonrise changes by city and decides when the fast ends.

HinduTone says its figures are astronomical values checked against the US Naval Observatory, and that Drik Panchang and many apps list moonrise four to seven minutes later. Moonrise can differ by more than an hour across India, and trees or buildings can delay when you actually see the moon.

Puja muhurat

Aza Fashions lists the puja muhurat as about 5:38 PM to 6:57 PM, and SmartPuja gives 5:39 PM to 6:56 PM for a similar window. These are Delhi-based and are best read as roughly 5:40 PM to 6:55 PM. Aza notes that some sources extend the window to about 8:09 PM. Check your own city before you plan.

How the fast works

The fast begins at sunrise and ends when the moon is sighted. SmartPuja describes it as a nirjala, or waterless, fast, preceded by a pre-dawn meal called sargi. Aza Fashions lists the fast as running from about 6:31 AM to about 8:17 PM in Delhi.

The evening ritual

SmartPuja describes women dressing in bridal attire, performing the puja and listening to the katha in the evening. They then view the moon through a sieve, offer arghya and break the fast after seeing their husband. Practices vary by family and region, so follow your own tradition.

Fasting and health

A waterless fast is demanding. Anyone who is pregnant, ill or on medication should consult a doctor, and many families observe a modified fast. We offer this as general caution and not as medical advice.

Why dates differ by country

Karwa Chauth is not fixed to a calendar date. The lunar calendar and local moonrise mean the observance can fall on different dates in different time zones. HinduTone notes that Canada observes it on October 28 and the UK follows India's October 29. Clocks matter too: US daylight time continues until Sunday, November 1.

The days around it

Karwa Chauth comes in the run-up to Diwali, which our guide covers separately. See our Diwali 2026 calendar. Earlier festivals this month include Sharad Purnima and Valmiki Jayanti.

Reading a panchang for your city

A panchang lists the sunrise, the Chaturthi tithi timings and the moonrise for a chosen place. Three things matter for Karwa Chauth. First, the tithi must be running at moonrise on the day you observe. Second, the moonrise time sets when the fast can end. Third, the puja window normally sits in the evening before moonrise.

If two panchangs disagree, compare the city and the calculation method each uses, since small differences in coordinates and rounding can shift the moonrise by several minutes. Where a family has its own tradition or a temple publishes a local timetable, many people follow that. We cannot settle a religious question for you, so we report what the sources say and where they differ.

Planning the day

• Morning: eat the sargi before sunrise if your tradition includes it.
• Afternoon: gather puja items and decide where you will watch for the moon.
• Evening: begin the puja in the muhurat window, then watch for the moon from about 8:00 PM in Delhi.
• Night: break the fast after sighting the moon, following your family's custom.

Practical checklist

• Confirm the date and moonrise for your city on a panchang you trust.
• Note that Aza and Vedpanchang give Delhi moonrise at about 8:12 to 8:18 PM.
• Prepare for the sargi before sunrise.
• Keep a backup plan if clouds hide the moon, and follow your family's guidance.

Frequently asked questions

Is Karwa Chauth on October 28 or 29, 2026?

October 29 in India on the sources we checked, and October 28 in the USA and Canada. One Indian site lists October 28, so verify locally.

What time is moonrise in Delhi?

Vedpanchang lists 8:12 PM, and Aza Fashions says about 8:18 PM.

Is Karwa Chauth a public holiday?

We found no source listing it as a national public holiday.

Conclusion

Karwa Chauth 2026 is Thursday, October 29 in India, with moonrise around 8:12 PM in Delhi. For the wider calendar, see our October 28 overview.