Married women eagerly look forward to the auspicious festival of Karwa Chauth, which is celebrated with great devotion every year during the Krishna Paksha of the Kartik month. This year, the festival falls on Thursday, October 29. On this sacred day, married women observe a strict nirjala fast without consuming food or water from sunrise until moonrise, praying for the long life, well-being, and marital harmony of their husbands. Several unique rituals are performed throughout the day, with the practice of looking at the moon and the husband's face through a sieve being one of the most prominent customs.
Important Dates and Timings for Karwa Chauth 2026
The Chaturthi tithi of the Krishna Paksha in the Kartik month begins on October 29 at 01:06 AM. The tithi concludes later that same day on October 29 at 10:09 PM. Based on the Udaya tithi and the presence of the Chaturthi moon, the Karwa Chauth fast will be observed on Thursday, October 29. Following the proper schedule and rituals is considered essential for women undertaking this observance.
Puja Muhurat and Moonrise Timings
According to traditional guidelines, the auspicious window for performing the Karwa Chauth puja extends from 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM in the evening. During this period, women can arrange their worship thali, worship Karwa Mata, and listen to the traditional fast narrative. The moon is expected to rise between approximately 8:12 PM and 8:17 PM on this night. However, exact timings may vary slightly depending on the city, with the moon appearing around 7:42 PM in Kolkata and around 8:56 PM in Mumbai.
The Significance of Looking Through a Sieve
In traditional beliefs, a sieve is primarily used to filter impurities and retain the pure essence of things. In the context of Karwa Chauth, it serves as a symbolic barrier that filters out negative energies and hardships from the marital relationship while allowing positive love to flourish. Viewing the moon through a sieve is believed to scatter its rays into multiple gentle beams, bestowing auspicious results. Furthermore, after fasting without water all day, looking at the bright moon through a mesh is considered gentler on the eyes. Women then look at their husbands through the same sieve to pray for their longevity before concluding their fast.
Complete Rituals and the Importance of Sargi
The observance begins before sunrise when women partake in sargi, consisting of sweets, fruits, and other traditional foods given by their mothers-in-law, before commencing the waterless fast. The entire day is spent without consuming any food or liquids. In the evening, formal prayers are offered to Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva, Lord गणेश, Lord Kartikeya, and Karwa Mata following proper customs. After the moon rises at night, women look through the sieve at the moon, view their husband's face, offer arghya to the moon, and finally break their fast by drinking water from their husband's hands.
