Married women fast for husband's long life.
Karva Chauth is a festival of love and devotion, when married women keep a fast for the long life and wellbeing of their husbands. The day takes its name from "Karva", the earthen pot used in the worship, and "Chauth", the fourth day after the full moon. Old stories, like that of the devoted Veervati and of Queen Savitri who won back her husband’s life from Yama, carry the same message: the strength of a wife’s love and prayer.
Before dawn, women eat the sargi, a meal often sent with love by the mother in law. Then they keep a strict nirjala fast through the day, taking neither food nor water. In the evening they dress in fine clothes, gather to worship Karva Mata along with Gauri and Ganesh, and listen to the Karva Chauth katha. The fast is broken only at night, after the moon has risen: the woman views the moon through a sieve, then looks at her husband, and finally takes water and food from his hands. Once a mainly North Indian festival, Karva Chauth is now lovingly observed in many Gujarati homes too.
Karva Chauth 2026 is on Thursday, 29 October 2026. The fast is kept from dawn and broken at night after the moon rises.
The fast is broken after the moon is sighted, so moonrise time matters most on this day. It varies by city, so check the 29 October Panchang for the exact moonrise time for your location.
Sargi is the pre-dawn meal eaten before the fast begins, traditionally sent with love by the mother in law. It gives the woman strength for the long nirjala fast ahead.