Karva Chauth 2026 falls on Thursday, October 29. The auspicious puja muhurat for Delhi is given as roughly 5:38 PM to 6:56 PM, though the fast stays nirjala (waterless) and is only broken after sighting the moon. That wait for the moon is the emotional peak of the day, and the difference between a 7:48 PM moonrise (Kolkata) and a 9:02 PM moonrise (Mumbai) is real. Over an hour of extra waiting, on an empty stomach, with no water.
Why moonrise times vary so much
The gap between cities comes from longitude and latitude, not an error. Kolkata sits further east than Mumbai, so the moon clears its horizon earlier there. Cities in western and southern India consistently see later moonrise times than eastern cities. This isn’t a rounding issue or a difference in panchang sources. It’s basic astronomy: the moon rises in the east and takes time to become visible further west.
Approximate moonrise times for major cities
Approximate times (Indian Standard Time) for October 29, 2026, based on published panchang sources:
- New Delhi: around 8:18 PM
- Mumbai: around 9:02 PM
- Jaipur: around 8:29 PM
- Lucknow: around 8:08 PM
- Bengaluru: around 8:57 PM
- Kolkata: around 7:48 PM
- Chennai: around 8:45 PM
- Hyderabad: around 8:42 PM
- Pune: around 8:59 PM
- Ahmedabad: around 8:53 PM
Notice the pattern: Kolkata earliest at 7:48 PM, Mumbai latest at 9:02 PM. That’s 74 minutes of difference across the country for the same night. If a family in Mumbai uses the Delhi moonrise time, they’ll be looking at the sky 44 minutes too early and wondering why the moon isn’t there.
For families abroad
If you’re observing Karva Chauth in the US, UK, or elsewhere, the moonrise time situation gets even more varied. London’s moonrise on this date might be around 7:30 PM GMT, while New York could see it around 7:45 PM EDT, and Los Angeles around 8:15 PM PDT. These are rough estimates; the actual time depends on your exact coordinates. Don’t use India-published moonrise times. They don’t apply.
The puja itself
The Karva Chauth puja is typically performed during the Pradosh Kaal, the evening window after sunset but before moonrise. The puja thali includes a karva (small clay pot) filled with water, a sieve (chhalni), a diya, roli, akshat, sweets, and decorated pooja items. Married women gather in groups, listen to the Karva Chauth Katha, and pass the thali in a circle.
After the katha, the wait begins. When the moon finally appears, the woman sees it first through the sieve, then looks at her husband’s face through the same sieve. He then offers her the first sip of water and the first bite of food, breaking the nirjala fast.
How to confirm the exact time
The exact minute of moonrise can shift by a few minutes based on your local horizon, weather, and calculation method. If your flat faces west and there are tall buildings to the east, you might spot the moon several minutes after the published moonrise time. Before breaking the fast, confirm that day’s tithi by selecting your city on the panchang page.
The final call is the family’s
Observe the fast with health in mind. Pregnant women and anyone unwell should consult a doctor before a nirjala fast. Many families now do a modified version with water allowed, and that’s a perfectly valid personal choice.