Karwa Chauth Vrat Puja 2026 is one of the most cherished festivals of North Indian married women, observed on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, on the Chaturthi tithi of Krishna Paksha in the Kartik month. The festival is a day-long nirjala fast kept by wives for the long life, health and prosperity of their husbands, ending only after the moon is sighted and the evening arghya is offered. The most magical part of the day is the evening puja, when women gather in a circle, dress as brides, place a brass Ganesh, Shiva-Parivar and Lakshmi idol in the centre, and listen to the timeless Karwa Chauth vrat katha. Discover handcrafted puja essentials at aagambrass.com/catalog.php and make your Karwa Chauth thali and altar truly divine.
The festival is celebrated in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi and Gujarat, with subtle regional variations in the vrat katha and Sargi items. For more festival insights and brass puja decor ideas, browse the Deshna Wholesale blog.
Karwa Chauth 2026 Date, Puja Muhurat And Moonrise
In 2026, Karwa Chauth will be observed on Wednesday, October 28. According to Drik Panchang, the Chaturthi tithi begins at 12:36 PM on October 28 and ends at 09:39 AM on October 29. The puja muhurat window runs from 06:14 PM to 07:33 PM, with a duration of about 1 hour and 19 minutes. The fasting window — the Upavasa kaal — extends from 07:28 AM to 08:07 PM, after which the moon rises and the fast is broken. As always, exact timings vary by city, so consult your local panchang.
The day coincides with Sankashti Chaturthi, a vrat dedicated to Lord Ganesha, which gives the festival an added spiritual flavour. Many women therefore begin their day with a prayer to Ganesha to remove obstacles and ensure a smooth, blessed fast for their husbands.
What Goes In A Traditional Sargi Thali
The Sargi is the pre-dawn meal gifted by the mother-in-law to her daughter-in-law, and it is the literal fuel that powers the long fast ahead. A traditional Sargi thali includes:
- Feni or seviyan (vermicelli with milk and dry fruits)
- Whole fruits — apple, banana, orange, pomegranate
- Dry fruits — almonds, cashews, pistachios, raisins, dates
- Mathri, samosa or light parathas with ghee
- A diya with cotton wick, a brass kalash and a small Karwa (earthen pot)
- Sindoor, kohl, mehndi, dupatta, bangles, a bindi and a hair accessory
- Fresh coconut, mishri and an image of Goddess Parvati
Many families today also include a small picture of the spouse, a chunni and a personalised note. Sargi is consumed before sunrise, ideally while listening to a short Karwa Chauth song or shloka. The Sargi thali is presented in a decorated brass thali or a brass paleng, which itself becomes a treasured family heirloom.
Morning And Daytime Rituals On Karwa Chauth
Karwa Chauth day begins well before sunrise. The mother-in-law wakes first, prepares the Sargi thali, and offers it to the daughter-in-law with her blessings. After a bath, the daughter-in-law wears her bridal or festive clothes — often red, maroon or pink — and adorns herself with sindoor, bindi, bangles, mehndi, and jewellery. Some communities also perform a small Ganesh puja at the home temple before sunrise, as the day is also a Sankashti Chaturthi.
Throughout the day, the vratis observe a strict nirjala fast, avoiding even a drop of water. They do not cut hair or nails, do not use sharp objects, and many keep a chunni or dupatta on their head as a sign of respect. Many women visit a temple or a community gathering in the afternoon where a brass Ganesh, Shiva, Parvati, Lakshmi or Kartikeya idol is installed for the Karwa Chauth puja.
Evening Puja Vidhi: How The Karwa Chauth Puja Is Done
Just before sunset, the women gather in a circle around a beautifully decorated thali. At the centre, a brass Shiva-Parivar murti, a brass Ganesh and a brass Lakshmi idol are placed, along with a karwa filled with water, a sieve (chhalni), a diya, sindoor, rice, sweets, flowers, supari and paan. The face of the idol is covered with a red or orange dupatti, and a flower garland is draped on the idol.
The puja begins with the women touching the feet of elder women and the eldest woman of the group telling the Karwa Chauth vrat katha, which is the story of Veeravati. The katha is sometimes the story of Satyavan and Savitri, depending on regional tradition. After the katha, a short Ganesh puja, a Shiva puja and a Parvati puja are performed, with aarti, sandalwood paste, kumkum and flowers offered to each murti. The women then stand in a circle and pass the Karwa and sieve clockwise seven times while singing the traditional Karwa Chauth Mahima song.
Offering Arghya To The Moon
Once the moon rises, the fasting woman steps onto the terrace or into the courtyard with her husband. She looks at the moon through the sieve, then looks at her husband's face through the same sieve, and offers water arghya to the moon. The husband then gives her the first sip of water and the first morsel of food, symbolising his care and her devotion. Some families also offer a small portion of the prasad to the moon and to the brass Shiv Parivar murti before breaking the fast.
Brass Shiv Parivar And Ganesh For Karwa Chauth Puja
The choice of a brass Shiv Parivar or brass Ganesh-Lakshmi murti for the Karwa Chauth evening puja is deeply symbolic. Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, has been used in Indian temple rituals for centuries because of its acoustic purity, ability to hold the vibrations of mantras and natural resistance to corrosion. A finely crafted brass Shiva-Parivar murti — with Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Ganesh and Kartikeya — is considered the most auspicious centrepiece for the Karwa Chauth puja, as it represents the ideal family the vratis invoke for their own household. our trusted brand, based in Khatauli, specialises in handcrafted brass puja murtis of all sizes, including the iconic brass Shiv Parivar set. To browse or place a wholesale order, visit aagambrass.com/catalog.php or reach out via the contact page.
One often overlooked part of the Karwa Chauth evening puja is the ganesh puja at the start of the gathering. Since the day coincides with Sankashti Chaturthi, many vratis begin with a brief Ganesh puja — applying sandalwood tilak to a brass Ganesh idol, offering durva grass, modaks or boondi ladoo, and chanting the Ganesh mantra Om Gan Ganapataye Namah. This small opening removes obstacles, ensures the vrat completes without interruption, and sets the devotional tone for the long katha and aarti that follow. The brass Ganesh idol is then placed to the right of the main brass Shiv Parivar murti, completing the divine family at the centre of the thali.
Another quietly beautiful ritual is the karwa dÄn (donation of the karwa pot) at the end of the puja. After the vrat katha and the moon arghya, the karwa filled with water is traditionally given away to a Brahmin woman, an elderly woman in the family, or a woman who has just begun her married life. This symbolic passing on of abundance and grace is a touching reminder that the blessings of the vrat are meant to be shared, not hoarded. In many modern households, the karwa is gifted to a domestic helper, a neighbour or a sister-in-law, extending the spirit of Karwa Chauth into a wider circle of women who all share the same prayer for the long life of their loved ones.
One often overlooked part of the Karwa Chauth evening puja is the ganesh puja at the start of the gathering. Since the day coincides with Sankashti Chaturthi, many vratis begin with a brief Ganesh puja — applying sandalwood tilak to a brass Ganesh idol, offering durva grass, modaks or boondi ladoo, and chanting the Ganesh mantra Om Gan Ganapataye Namah. This small opening removes obstacles, ensures the vrat completes without interruption, and sets the devotional tone for the long katha and aarti that follow. The brass Ganesh idol is then placed to the right of the main brass Shiv Parivar murti, completing the divine family at the centre of the thali.
Another quietly beautiful ritual is the karwa daan (donation of the karwa pot) at the end of the puja. After the vrat katha and the moon arghya, the karwa filled with water is traditionally given away to a Brahmin woman, an elderly woman in the family, or a woman who has just begun her married life. This symbolic passing on of abundance and grace is a touching reminder that the blessings of the vrat are meant to be shared, not hoarded. In many modern households, the karwa is gifted to a domestic helper, a neighbour or a sister-in-law, extending the spirit of Karwa Chauth into a wider circle of women who all share the same prayer for the long life of their loved ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is Karwa Chauth 2026?
A: Karwa Chauth 2026 falls on Wednesday, October 28. The puja muhurat is around 06:14 PM to 07:33 PM, with the moonrise expected around 08:07 PM (timings vary by city).
Q: What is the right way to keep the Karwa Chauth fast?
A: The fast is kept nirjala (without food or water) from sunrise to moonrise. The day begins with a Sargi thali consumed before sunrise, and the fast is broken only after offering water arghya to the moon and looking at the husband through a sieve.
Q: Which idols are ideal for the Karwa Chauth puja?
A: A brass Shiva-Parivar murti, a brass Ganesh idol, and a brass Lakshmi murti are most commonly used. A small brass kalash and brass diya also add to the sanctity of the puja.
Q: Can unmarried girls keep the Karwa Chauth fast?
A: The fast is traditionally observed by married women for the well-being of their husbands. In modern times, unmarried girls sometimes keep it for a desired life partner or for the well-being of a brother or parent.
Q: What is the difference between Karwa Chauth and Sankashti Chaturthi?
A: Karwa Chauth is a fast for the husband's long life, kept by married women. Sankashti Chaturthi is a vrat dedicated to Lord Ganesha, observed by both men and women on the Chaturthi of Krishna Paksha. In 2026 the two fall on the same day.
Conclusion: Karwa Chauth 2026 is a day that beautifully blends devotion, family, fasting, and the timeless bond between husband and wife. By preparing the Sargi thali with care, setting up a brass Shiv Parivar murti, listening to the vrat katha with reverence, and offering the moon arghya with love, you can turn this vrat into a deeply spiritual celebration of marital harmony. Let the blessings of Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh and Lakshmi shower your home with peace and togetherness.
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