Karwa Chauth 2026: Date, Tithi, Muhurta & Significance
In 2026, Karwa Chauth falls on Thursday, 29 October 2026.
History & Mythology
Karwa Chauth is kept on Kartik Krishna Chaturthi, a nirjala fast from before dawn until the Moon rises. The vrat's central legend is of Queen Veeravati, whose seven brothers could not bear her hunger and tricked her with a false moon — a lamp behind a pipal tree. She broke her fast, and word came at once that her husband had died. Her devotion through a year of Chaturthi fasts compelled the gods to restore him, and the vrat has been kept unbroken since.
Another telling belongs to Savitri, who followed Yama himself to reclaim Satyavan's soul, and to Draupadi, whom Krishna counselled to keep this fast for Arjuna's protection. At moonrise, women view the Moon through a sieve, then their husband's face, and drink the first water from his hand. The karwa — the clay pot exchanged between women with the sargi given by the mother-in-law — gives the vrat its name and its spirit: a festival kept by women, for the people they guard with their hunger.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Hindu festival dates calculated?
Hindu festival dates are calculated using the Panchang — the Vedic almanac based on Tithi (lunar day), Nakshatra (Moon's asterism), and other astronomical factors. Most festivals fall on specific Tithis in particular lunar months. AstroJanamPatrika calculates these with the Swiss Ephemeris, making dates accurate to the minute rather than relying on pre-printed almanacs.
Why do Hindu festival dates change every year?
Hindu festivals follow the lunisolar calendar, not the Gregorian solar calendar. Because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, festivals drift earlier each year, and an intercalary month (Adhika Masa) is added roughly every 2–3 years to realign the two. This is why Diwali, Navratri and other festivals fall on different Gregorian dates each year.
What is Tithi in the Hindu calendar?
Tithi is the lunar day, determined by the angular distance between the Moon and Sun in multiples of 12°. There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month — 15 in the waxing Shukla Paksha and 15 in the waning Krishna Paksha. Most festivals are tied to a specific Tithi, which is why their Gregorian dates shift each year.
What is Shubh Muhurta for festival rituals?
Shubh Muhurta is the auspicious time window for performing rituals, determined by combining Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Vara and Choghadiya. AstroJanamPatrika computes the precise muhurta for each festival from your local sunrise, Tithi end times and auspicious Nakshatras.
What are Purnima and Amavasya?
Purnima is the full-moon day (15th Tithi of Shukla Paksha), when Moon and Sun are 180° apart; Amavasya is the new-moon day, when they are conjunct. Both are highly significant — Purnima for celebrations, Amavasya for ancestral rites (Pitru Tarpan).