Karva Chauth करवा चौथ
Falls on Kartik Krishna Chaturthi · usually October–November
Karva Chauth is celebrated on Kartik Krishna Chaturthi, usually in October–November. It is a day of marital love and devotion; the fast is kept from sunrise until the moon is sighted at night.
Karva Chauth at a glance
| Falls on | Kartik Krishna Chaturthi |
| Usual month | October–November |
| Category | Family |
The story behind Karva Chauth
Karva Chauth is a fast kept by married women for the long life and well-being of their husbands, rooted in stories of devoted wives such as Veeravati and Savitri whose steadfastness protected their husbands.
Significance of Karva Chauth
It is a day of marital love and devotion; the fast is kept from sunrise until the moon is sighted at night.
How Karva Chauth is celebrated
- Pre-dawn sargi (a meal from the mother-in-law) before beginning the fast
- A strict nirjala (waterless) fast through the day
- Evening puja in a group, hearing the Karva Chauth katha
- Sighting the moon through a sieve, then seeing the husband’s face and breaking the fast
Regional variations
Most prominent in North and North-West India — Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh.
Festive foods of Karva Chauth
Traditional dishes prepared for Karva Chauth include sargi (fenia, dry fruits, fruit) before dawn; feni, mathri and a festive dinner after moonrise.
Quick tips
- Eat a nourishing sargi before sunrise
- Prepare the puja thali and note the local moonrise time
Choosing the muhurat on Karva Chauth
Karva Chauth falls on Kartik Krishna Chaturthi. To choose an auspicious time on the day, open the muhurat planner for your city and check the day's choghadiya and the Rahu Kaal to avoid. For the exact date this year, see the panchang calendar, and for weddings or a housewarming near this festival, confirm the muhurat with a qualified pandit.
Hindu festival dates follow the lunar calendar and vary each year; regional traditions can differ by a day. For the exact date this year, confirm with your local panchang or pandit.
Common questions
When is Karva Chauth celebrated?
Karva Chauth falls on Kartik Krishna Chaturthi in the Hindu lunar calendar, usually in October–November. The exact Gregorian date changes each year — confirm with your local panchang or the panchang calendar.
Why is Karva Chauth celebrated?
Karva Chauth is a fast kept by married women for the long life and well-being of their husbands, rooted in stories of devoted wives such as Veeravati and Savitri whose steadfastness protected their husbands.
How is Karva Chauth observed?
Common observances include Pre-dawn sargi (a meal from the mother-in-law) before beginning the fast; A strict nirjala (waterless) fast through the day; Evening puja in a group, hearing the Karva Chauth katha; Sighting the moon through a sieve, then seeing the husband’s face and breaking the fast.
How is Karva Chauth celebrated in different regions?
Most prominent in North and North-West India — Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh.
What foods are made for Karva Chauth?
Traditional dishes include sargi (fenia, dry fruits, fruit) before dawn; feni, mathri and a festive dinner after moonrise.