Karwa Chauth 2026 Date: October 28 or 29? Check confirmed date in India, USA, UK and Canada, sargi, puja muhurat and moonrise time

Karwa Chauth 2026 will be celebrated on Thursday, October 29, in India, clearing up the confusion over whether the festival falls on October 28 or 29. Married Hindu women traditionally observe a day-long fast for the health, well-being and longevity of their husbands, breaking it after sighting the Moon in the evening. The confusion stems from the timing of the Chaturthi tithi, the fourth day of the Krishna Paksha in the Hindu lunar calendar. According to Drik Panchang, the relevant tithi begins in the early hours of October 29 and continues into the night. Therefore, October 29 is the date for observing Karwa Chauth in India.

However, Indian families living in the US and Canada will observe the festival on October 28 because of the difference in time zones and local lunar timings. Here is everything you need to know about Karwa Chauth 2026, including the date, Sargi timing, evening puja muhurat and expected Moonrise time.

Karwa Chauth 2026: Confirmed Date and Timings

Karwa Chauth falls on October 29 this year. The following timings are based on the published Panchang for India and may vary slightly by city.

• Karwa Chauth date: Thursday, October 29, 2026
• Chaturthi tithi begins: 1:06 AM on October 29
• Chaturthi tithi ends: 10:09 PM on October 29
• Puja muhurat: Check the city-specific Panchang
• Moonrise: Varies by location; check the local timing before breaking the fast

The Chaturthi tithi is the lunar period associated with the festival. Its timing, along with the local Moonrise, helps determine the appropriate day and schedule for the rituals

Karwa Chauth 2026 date UK

Karwa Chauth 2026 in the UK will be observed on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, a day before the festival in India. The difference is due to time zones and local Panchang calculations, which can affect the date and timing of Hindu festivals overseas. Moonrise in London is expected at approximately 6:31 PM on Thursday, October 29, 2026, local time

Karwa Chauth 2026 Date in the USA

Karwa Chauth 2026 will be observed on Wednesday, October 28, in the United States. The puja muhurat and Moonrise time vary across cities, including New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Women observing the fast should check the local Panchang for their city before planning the rituals. Moonrise in New York is expected at approximately 7:35 PM on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, local time.

Karwa Chauth 2026 Date in Canada

Karwa Chauth 2026 will fall on Wednesday, October 28, in Canada, while the festival will be observed on October 29 in India. Hindu communities in cities such as Toronto, Brampton, Vancouver and Calgary will mark the occasion with the traditional fast, evening puja and Moon-sighting rituals. Since Moonrise timings differ across Canada, women should check the local Panchang to confirm when to perform the puja and break their fast. For reference, Moonrise in Toronto is expected at around 7:45 PM, while Vancouver's is around 7:18 PM local time.

Karwa Chauth 2026: When Should You Eat Sargi?

Sargi is the pre-dawn meal traditionally eaten before beginning the Karwa Chauth fast. In many families, a mother-in-law prepares or gives Sargi to her daughter-in-law, although customs differ from household to household. The meal may include fruits, dry fruits, sweets, savoury food and other items that help women prepare for the day ahead.

Women traditionally eat Sargi before sunrise and begin the fast afterwards. Those observing the traditional nirjala vrat avoid both food and water until they complete the evening rituals and sight the Moon.

Sargi should be eaten before sunrise on Thursday, October 29 in India. Women in UK, US and Canada should eat Sargi on October 28.

Karwa Chauth 2026 Moonrise Time

Moonrise is one of the most anticipated moments of Karwa Chauth. Women traditionally look at the Moon through a sieve, offer water to it and pray before breaking their fast. The Moon does not rise at exactly the same time across India. The timing can differ between Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Lucknow, Bengaluru and other cities.

For example, the published Mumbai Panchang lists Moonrise at approximately 8:56 PM on October 29. The timing for Delhi and other cities should be checked separately. Families should confirm their local Moonrise time before planning the evening rituals. Cloud cover can also delay the actual sighting, even when the astronomical Moonrise has occurred.

Karwa Chauth Rituals: What Happens During the Festival?

Karwa Chauth preparations often begin days before the festival, with women shopping for traditional outfits, applying mehendi and arranging the items required for the puja.

The day generally follows a familiar sequence:

1. Sargi before sunrise: Women eat the pre-dawn meal before starting the fast.
2. Day-long fast: Women observe the vrat according to their family traditions.
3. Evening puja: They worship Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha and listen to the Vrat Katha.
4. Moon sighting: Women wait for the Moon to appear and perform the customary offering.
5. Breaking the fast: They break their fast after the Moon-related rituals, often with water and food offered by their husbands.

Practices can differ across communities and families. Some households follow additional rituals or use different regional customs.