Thursday, October 29, 2026
Married women observe a day-long fast from sunrise to moonrise for the long life and well-being of their husbands. Women dress in bridal attire, apply mehendi, and break their fast after sighting the moon through a sieve and then looking at their husbands.
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Ganesha, and Chandrama (Moon)
Wake up before sunrise and consume the Sargi — a pre-dawn meal traditionally prepared by the mother-in-law. Sargi includes fruits, mathri, sweets, and milk. After sargi, begin the nirjala vrat (no food or water) until moonrise.
In the afternoon, bathe, apply mehendi, and dress in bridal finery — red saree or lehenga, complete 16 shringaar (solah shringaar), bangles, bindi, sindoor. This symbolises devotion to one's husband.
Set up a chowki in the puja room covered with red cloth. Place images of Shiva, Parvati with Ganesha and Kartikeya, and Chandrama. Place the karwas in a circle. Women traditionally gather at a neighbour's or relative's house for a collective puja.
Take Sankalp before the deities — dedicating the Karwa Chauth vrat for the long life, health, and wellbeing of your husband. Hold water, akshat, and a flower as you make the intention.
ॐ अद्य कार्तिक कृष्ण चतुर्थ्यां करवा चौथ व्रतम् करिष्ये।
Worship Lord Ganesha with durva, red flowers, modak, and kumkum to begin the puja auspiciously.
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः॥
Invoke Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati into the images. Perform the sixteen upacharas — Asana, Padya, Arghya, Achamaniya, Snana, Vastra, Gandha, Akshat, Pushpa, Dhupa, Deepa, Naivedya, Tambula, Pradakshina, Namaskar. Offer a bel patra to Shiva and red flowers to Parvati.
ॐ नमः शिवाय॥ ॐ पार्वत्यै नमः॥
All married women sit together while the eldest reads the Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha — the story of Veeravati (or Shakuntala). Hold a small amount of akshat in your hand and drop a few grains after each pause. Listening to the katha is essential to the vrat.
हे गौरा माता, मेरे पति की रक्षा करना।
Each woman picks up her karwa and exchanges it seven times with the others in a circular motion, reciting: 'Sada suhagan bani rahun, akhand saubhagyavati bani rahun' (may I remain forever married with blessings of long life). This communal exchange strengthens the vrat.
After moonrise, step outside with the puja thali holding a diya, water, sweets, and the sieve. Sight the moon first through the sieve, then look at your husband through it. Offer arghya to the moon by pouring water from the karwa while chanting the Chandra mantra.
ॐ चन्द्राय नमः॥ ॐ सोमाय नमः॥
The husband offers the first sip of water and the first bite of food (traditionally a sweet) to the wife — breaking her fast. Touch his feet for blessings. Then the full meal — halwa-puri or other festive food — is served. Baya (gift thali) is sent to the mother-in-law's home.
This guide reflects classical Parashari tradition. Regional variations exist — consult a family priest for specifics.