Karva Chauth falls on the fourth day of the dark half of Aso by the Gujarati calendar, eleven days before Diwali. It is a festival of the north that Gujarat's cities have taken up in the last generation: married women fast from sunrise without water, dress in their wedding finery, and break the fast only after seeing the Moon. The moonrise time for your city is given above.
The story
The story is of Veeravati, tricked by her brothers into breaking the fast before the Moon had risen, who lost her husband and won him back by keeping it faithfully.
Gujarati women have older vows of their own for the same purpose, among them Jaya Parvati Vrat in Ashadh and the fasts of Shravan; Karva Chauth has been added to these, not put in their place.
How the day goes
- The fastFrom dawn to moonrise, without food or water.
- MehndiHands are hennaed the day before.
- KathaWomen gather in the evening to hear the story and pass the thali.
- MoonriseThe Moon is viewed through a sieve, then the husband, who gives the first sip of water.
Why this date
Karva Chauth is the Chaturthi of the dark half of Aso by the Gujarati (amanta) calendar, which the north calls Kartik. It is kept on the day Chaturthi is running at moonrise.
Karva Chauth in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday | |
| 2027 | Monday | |
| 2028 | Saturday | |
| 2029 | Friday | |
| 2030 | Tuesday | |
| 2031 | Sunday |
More Gujarati festivals
9 OctoberDussehraદશેરા
29 OctoberDiwaliદિવાળી
30 OctoberBestu Varasબેસતું વર્ષ
8 OctoberNavratri Nomનોમ · મહા નવમી
7 OctoberNavratri and Athamનવરાત્રી · આઠમ
14 NovemberDev Diwaliદેવ દિવાળી
Where to see Karva Chauth
In Gujarat
- Law Garden, AhmedabadGujaratThe evening market for chaniya choli, bangles and henna.
- SuratGujaratThe textile city supplies the saris.
- AmbajiGujaratMany begin the day with a visit to the goddess.
Across India
- Chauth Ka BarwaraRajasthanThe hill temple of Chauth Mata, goddess of this fast.
- DelhiDelhiThe henna artists outside the Hanuman temple at Connaught Place.
- AmritsarPunjabPunjab, where the fast is kept as keenly as anywhere.