Within the Hindu calendar, the sacred month of Kartik features two deeply revered observances known as Karwa Chauth and Ahoi Ashtami. Married women observe the rigorous Karwa Chauth fast seeking the longevity of their spouses and a harmonious marital bond. Simultaneously, mothers undertake the Ahoi Ashtami fast to pray for the long life, robust health, and overall prosperity of their children. Both of these cherished festivals place great emphasis on traditional worship accompanied by sighting either the moon or the stars. Let us examine the exact dates scheduled for Karwa Chauth and Ahoi Ashtami in the year 2026, along with the precise timings for moonrise, star sightings, and auspicious worship windows.
Karwa Chauth Date and Auspicious Timings in 2026
According to astronomical calculations and the Hindu almanac, the Karwa Chauth fast in 2026 will be observed on Thursday, October 29. On this auspicious day, married women maintain a strict nirjala fast, going completely without water from sunrise until the sighting of the moon at night. They gather to worship Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and Mata Karwa with traditional rituals. Once the moon rises, women offer water to the moon, gaze at it through a sieve, and then look at their husbands' faces. Following this sacred custom, they break their fast after sipping water offered directly by their husbands.
Regarding the tithi timings, the Chaturthi tithi begins on October 29 at 01:06 AM. The tithi concludes on the night of October 29, 2026, at 10:09 PM. Based on the prevailing uदयातिथि and the appearance of the Chaturthi moon, the Karwa Chauth fast is firmly scheduled for Thursday, October 29.
Puja Muhurat and Moonrise Schedule for Karwa Chauth
The auspicious window designated for performing the Karwa Chauth puja spans from 5:38 PM to 6:54 PM on that evening. As for the moonrise, the moon is expected to appear in the night sky approximately between 8:12 PM and 8:17 PM. However, exact timings can vary slightly depending on geographical locations and specific cities, such as around 7:42 PM in Kolkata and approximately 8:56 PM in Mumbai.
Ahoi Ashtami 2026 Date and Fasting Significance
The Ahoi Ashtami fast, observed during the dark fortnight of the Kartik month, will take place on Sunday, November 1, 2026. On this day, mothers worship Ahoi Mata to seek divine blessings for the welfare and protection of their offspring. A distinctive feature of this ritual is the tradition of breaking the evening fast only after catching a glimpse of the stars in the night sky.
Ashtami Tithi and Star Sighting Timings
The Ashtami tithi commences on November 1 at 02:51 PM and concludes on November 2 at 01:00 PM. Although the udayatithi places the Ashtami date on November 2, the Ahoi Ashtami fast must be observed on Sunday, November 1. This is because the ritual requires evening worship conducted while observing stars, whereas by the time stars become visible on November 2, the Ashtami tithi would have already ended and the Navami tithi would have begun. Therefore, fasting on November 1 remains the correct practice.
The designated puja time for Ahoi Ashtami runs from 5:36 PM to 6:54 PM in the evening. Furthermore, the expected time for sighting the stars is around 6:00 PM, while the moonrise on this night is anticipated around 11:40 PM.
