Karwa Chauth 2026: Delhi Date, Puja Muhurat, Moonrise and Vrat Katha

Karwa Chauth 2026 in New Delhi falls on Thursday, 29 October. This article follows Drik Panchang’s New Delhi calculation, not a generic India-wide timetable. All times below are Indian Standard Time (IST).

Verified Delhi timings

Date: Thursday, 29 October 2026. Krishna Chaturthi begins: 29 October at 01:06 AM. Krishna Chaturthi ends: 29 October at 10:09 PM. Evening puja muhurat: 05:38–06:56 PM (1 hour 18 minutes). Calculated moonrise: 08:17 PM. The lunar month is Kartika in the Purnimanta calendar and Ashwina in the Amanta calendar. These names refer to the same observance here, not different festival dates.

Why do some calendars mention 28 October?

A civil date alone does not determine a lunar observance. For the cited Delhi calculation, Chaturthi starts after midnight at 01:06 on 29 October; the evening of 28 October is before that start. Chaturthi is present at moonrise on 29 October, so the Delhi observance is on the 29th. Without seeing a particular conflicting calendar, its reason cannot be established: location, time zone, calculation convention or an editorial error may be involved. Do not apply an overseas date or another city’s moonrise to Delhi.

Drik’s festival and daily Panchang pages agree on the Delhi tithi end and 08:17 PM moonrise. An independent calculator, RealPanchang, agrees on 29 October but lists slightly different clock values, including 08:12 PM moonrise. We retain one explicitly named Delhi source rather than averaging incompatible calculations. Calculated moonrise is not a guarantee of visibility: clouds, terrain and the local horizon affect when the Moon can be seen. Other cities need their own Panchang.

Sargi: who gives it and what may be included?

In many Punjabi and North Indian families, a mother-in-law gives or prepares sargi for her daughter-in-law, often with blessings and customary gifts. When she is absent, another elder or the family may arrange it; this is a family custom, not a universal eligibility rule. Sargi is eaten before sunrise. A customary selection may include pheni or seviyan, fruit, a few nuts, milk or curd, a modest sweet and roti or another light home-cooked dish. Choose food suitable to your health and household practice; no specific food or expensive gift is mandatory. Clothes, bangles or other gifts may accompany sargi but are not meal requirements.

Simple puja method

1. Before sunrise, prepare according to family tradition, take sargi if observed and make a calm sankalp. Nirjala fasting is traditional in some households, not safe for everyone. 2. Keep a clean puja place and a karwa or water vessel, diya, flowers, roli/kumkum, rice and a modest offering. Use a sieve only where it is customary. 3. During the Delhi evening puja window, worship Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha and Kartikeya as followed in your family. Offer flowers, light a diya safely and listen to or read the vrat katha. Karwa exchange and offerings to an elder vary by region. 4. At actual moon sighting, offer water as arghya to the Moon according to your custom and pray with gratitude. Viewing the Moon and then one’s spouse through a sieve is a regional practice, not a compulsory rule for every household. 5. Break the fast according to family practice, usually with water and then a gentle meal. Stop fasting and seek medical advice if unwell. Pregnant or breastfeeding people, those with diabetes or other medical conditions, or those taking medicines should seek professional guidance and choose a safe alternative; ritual observance must not override care.

Veervati’s story

The original Hindi retelling below recounts a traditional story about a sister and seven brothers, a false moon signal, repentance and renewed devotion. It is folklore with regional variants, not evidence that missing a ritual harms a spouse. Its useful reflection is patience, honest guidance and care for one another, not fear or a guarantee of longevity.

Frequently asked questions

Is Delhi Karwa Chauth on 28 or 29 October 2026? On Thursday, 29 October, according to the cited Delhi Panchang. Can I use Delhi moonrise in another city? No. Use a calculation for your actual city and consider local visibility. Is 08:17 PM the puja muhurat? No. Evening puja is 05:38–06:56 PM; 08:17 PM is the calculated moonrise for the later moon offering. What if the Moon is hidden by clouds? Calculated rise and visible sighting are different. Seek guidance from your family’s priest or elders rather than pretending the Moon is visible; prioritize health. Must my mother-in-law provide sargi? It is a widespread custom, not a universal requirement. Families adapt respectfully. Must everyone keep a waterless fast? No. Health needs come first; discuss a safe observance with a healthcare professional and your family. Does the vrat guarantee a spouse’s longevity? No. This is a traditional devotional observance, not a medical or predictive guarantee.