Karwa Chauth Puja Vidhi: Quick Answer
On Thursday, 29 October 2026, the Karwa Chauth vrat follows this sequence: sargi before sunrise → sankalp → fast through the day → solah shringar → evening puja of Gauri (Parvati), Shiva, Ganesha and Kartikeya with the karwa (in the muhurat 5:38–6:56 PM in Delhi, 5:46–7:03 PM in Jaipur) → karwa exchange and katha → moon arghya after moonrise (8:17 PM Delhi, 8:28 PM Jaipur) → viewing the moon and husband through a sieve → breaking the fast with water from the husband's hand.
Step 1: Sargi (Before Sunrise)
Eat the sargi given by your mother-in-law before sunrise (about 6:31 AM in Delhi): sevaiyan or pheni, dry fruits, fruit, sweets and water. Touch her feet and take blessings.
Step 2: Sankalp
After bathing, sit before the puja place and take the sankalp with water, akshat and flowers:
"Mama sukha-saubhagya-putra-pautradi-sushthira-shri-praptaye karka-chaturthi-vratam aham karishye." — "I undertake the Karka Chaturthi fast for happiness, lasting good fortune and prosperity."
Step 3: Preparing the Puja Place
- •Draw an image of Gauri-Shiva and the moon (or place the Karwa Chauth calendar) on the wall or a chowki.
- •Make Gauri from yellow clay or use an idol.
- •Fill the karwa with water (some fill one with water and one with wheat/sweets) and place a lid with sweets on top.
- •Keep the puja thali: roli, akshat, kalava, diya, sweets, sindoor, flowers, sieve (chalni), arghya lota.
See the full samagri list.
Step 4: Evening Puja (Muhurat)
- 1Wear solah shringar; many women wear red or the bridal outfit.
- 2Light a ghee lamp; worship Ganesha first.
- 3Worship Gauri, Shiva and Kartikeya with roli, akshat, flowers, sindoor and naivedya. Mantra: "Om Shivayai Namah" for Parvati, "Om Namah Shivaya", "Om Shanmukhaya Namah", "Om Ganeshaya Namah".
- 4Offer the karwa with a tilak and kalava.
Step 5: Karwa Exchange (Feri) and Katha
Women sit in a circle and pass their thalis around seven times while singing the traditional song, then listen to the Karwa Chauth katha. After the katha, the karwa and sweets (baya) are given to the mother-in-law or an elder married woman.
Step 6: Moon Arghya
After moonrise, go to an open terrace, offer water (with akshat, roli and milk) from the karwa or lota to the moon, chanting:
"Gaganarnava-manikya chandra dakshayani-pate, grihanarghyam maya dattam Ganesha-pratirupaka."
Light a diya in the sieve, look at the moon through the sieve, then at your husband. See the detailed arghya vidhi.
Step 7: Breaking the Fast
The husband offers water and a sweet to the wife. Touch his feet and take blessings from elders. Then eat a light meal. See when and how to break the fast.
Common Mistakes
- •Doing the puja too early or hurriedly after moonrise
- •Skipping Ganesh puja
- •Leaving the katha midway
- •Offering arghya before moonrise
- •Keeping the karwa empty
- •Eating a heavy meal immediately after breaking the fast
Tips for Husbands
Help with the evening preparation, stay with your wife at moonrise and keep a light meal ready.
Summary
Karwa Chauth puja on 29 October 2026: sargi, sankalp, evening Gauri-Ganesh puja in the muhurat, karwa feri and katha, moon arghya after moonrise with the sieve, and breaking the fast from your husband's hand.
