Karwa Chauth 29: Exact Sargi Timings, Evening Puja Muhurat, and Moonrise Schedule
The auspicious festival of Karwa Chauth will be observed across India on Thursday, October 29, 2026, marking one of the most revered and spiritually significant fasts for married Hindu women and brides-to-be praying for the health, prosperity, and longevity of their life partners. The observance follows the traditional Udaya Tithi of the Kartik month's Krishna Paksha Chaturthi, a sacred lunar phase that formally commences at 1:06 AM past midnight on October 28 and concludes at 10:09 PM on October 29. Dedicated to absolute devotion and marital harmony, the day involves observing a rigorous sunrise-to-moonrise Nirjala (waterless) fast that begins before dawn with the intake of the auspicious Sargi meal and culminates only after offering formal prayers (Arghya) to the moon at night.
Brahma Muhurta Sargi Window: 4:54 AM to 5:45 AM Pre-Dawn Timetable
The holy rituals of Karwa Chauth begin in the quiet hours before dawn during the Brahma Muhurta, the designated auspicious period for consuming the traditional Sargi. On Thursday, October 29, 2026, women observing the fast can partake in their pre-fast meal within the window of 4:54 AM to 5:45 AM, concluding the intake well before sunrise to take the solemn vow (Sankalp) of the day-long Nirjala fast. Traditionally gifted by the mother-in-law to her daughter-in-law as a token of blessing and maternal affection, the Sargi platter comprises nutrient-dense, sustained-energy food items including seasonal fruits, rich dry fruits, traditional mathri, milk sweets, and hydrating beverages like buttermilk, alongside sixteen adornment items (Solah Shringar) such as sindoor, bindi, mehendi, and traditional apparel.
Auspicious Evening Puja Muhurat: 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM Rituals and Vrat Katha
Devotees will have a highly auspicious twilight window of 1 hour and 18 minutes to perform the core religious rituals of the festival. According to the Hindu Vedic calendar, the designated Karwa Chauth evening Puja Muhurat begins at 5:38 PM and extends until 6:56 PM on October 29. During this sacred timeframe, women assemble to invoke the divine blessings of Goddess Parvati (Gauri), Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kartikeya, adorning the ceremonial altar with an earthen pot (Karwa) symbolizing prosperity and abundance. The gathering includes the recitation of the legendary Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha, singing devotional hymns, and performing the customary circular exchange of puja thalis (Feris), reinforcing communal bonds of sisterhood, shared devotion, and domestic well-being.
Moonrise Time at 8:17 PM: Chandra Darshan, Arghya, and Fast-Breaking Traditions
The culmination of the day-long waterless fast occurs with the sighting of the moon (Chandra Darshan), with astronomical forecasts predicting an estimated national baseline moonrise time of 8:17 PM on the evening of October 29. Women break their rigorous fast following a time-honored sequence: viewing the radiant moon through a traditional brass or steel sieve (Chhalni) illuminated by a lit earthen lamp (Diya), offering sacred water (Arghya) while reciting lunar mantras, and subsequently looking at their husbands through the same sieve. The husband then offers the woman her first sip of water and a sweet from his hands, formally marking the completion of the ritual. Because moonrise timings vary across geographical locations—rising earlier in eastern cities and slightly later in western metropolitan belts like Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, and Bengaluru—fasting women are advised to verify their specific local city schedules to ensure precise ritual observance.
