Karwa Chauth 2026: Moon Rose at 8:17 PM as Millions Broke Their Fast; Muhurat and Rituals Explained
Married women across north India kept the nirjala fast on Thursday. Here is a look at the timings, rituals and why the festival trended across the country.
Karwa Chauth was observed on Thursday, 29 October 2026, with married women across north and west India keeping a day-long fast for the long life and well-being of their husbands. Searches for “chand nikalne ka time” and “moonrise today” topped Google Trends in India as families waited for the moon to break the fast.
Key timings
According to the panchang timings published for the day, the Chaturthi tithi began at 1:06 am on 29 October and continued till about 10 pm that night. The fasting window ran from around 6:31 am to the moonrise at 8:17 pm. The evening puja muhurat was from 5:38 pm to 6:56 pm. Moonrise varies by a few minutes from city to city, so devotees were advised to follow local timings.
The day also coincided with Sankashti Shri Ganesh Chaturthi.
The rituals
The fast, known in many homes as a nirjala vrat, is kept without food or water from sunrise. Women dress in festive attire, apply mehendi and gather in the evening to hear the Karwa Chauth katha. Prayers are offered to Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, Kartikeya and Karwa Mata, with an earthen pot, or karwa, at the centre of the puja.
Once the moon appears, women look at it through a sieve, offer water (arghya), and then see their husband’s face before taking the first sip of water and morsel of food from his hands. The festival is also called Karak Chaturthi.
A changing tradition
In recent years, the festival has also taken on a more modern shape, with many husbands choosing to fast alongside their wives, and couples sharing the moment on social media. Health experts advise those with medical conditions, pregnant women and the elderly to consult a doctor before keeping a strict waterless fast.
Featured image: A full moon over the sea at night. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (source).
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