When to Break the Karwa Chauth Fast: Quick Answer
Break the Karwa Chauth fast on 29 October 2026 only after moonrise and after offering arghya to the moon — after 8:17 PM in New Delhi and 8:28 PM in Jaipur (Kolkata 7:47 PM, Lucknow 8:06 PM, Mumbai 9:00 PM). The correct sequence is: arghya to the moon → see the moon and then your husband through the sieve → aarti → your husband gives you water and a sweet → touch his feet and elders' feet → eat a light meal. Try to complete this before Chaturthi ends at 10:09 PM.
City-wise Fast-Breaking Time
| City | Moonrise / fast can be broken after |
|---|---|
| New Delhi | 8:17 PM |
| Jaipur | 8:28 PM |
| Jodhpur | 8:41 PM |
| Udaipur | 8:43 PM |
| Kota | 8:32 PM |
| Lucknow | 8:06 PM |
| Chandigarh | 8:12 PM |
| Mumbai | 9:00 PM |
| Kolkata | 7:47 PM |
| Bengaluru | 8:55 PM |
Step-by-Step Parana Vidhi
- 1Arghya: Offer milk-water arghya to the moon with the mantra. See the arghya vidhi.
- 2Sieve darshan: Look at the moon through the sieve with a diya, then at your husband.
- 3Aarti and tilak: Do aarti of your husband and apply tilak.
- 4Water: Your husband gives you water from the karwa or a glass — sip slowly.
- 5Sweet: He feeds you a sweet or a date.
- 6Blessings: Touch your husband's and elders' feet.
- 7Bhog first: Offer a little of the meal to the Goddess, then eat.
- 8Light meal: Dal, a vegetable, roti or khichdi, curd.
What to Eat First
Small sips of water → a sweet or dates → after 10–15 minutes, a light home-cooked meal. Avoid fried food, cold drinks or a big feast immediately. See what to eat and avoid.
Special Situations
- •Husband away: see his photo or video call through the sieve, then drink water yourself.
- •Cloudy sky: wait until after moonrise time, then offer arghya facing east.
- •Health emergency: take water or ORS immediately — health comes first.
Traditions After Breaking the Fast
- •Touch your mother-in-law's feet first
- •Give the baya if not given after the katha
- •Eat together as a family
- •Many husbands give a gift as a token of love
If the Fast Breaks Midway
If the fast breaks for health reasons or by mistake, don't worry. Pray for forgiveness, complete the evening puja and moon arghya with devotion, and resolve to keep the vrat properly next year.
Why Not Before Moonrise?
Karwa Chauth is a chandrodaya-vyapini Chaturthi fast: its fruit is complete only after seeing the moon and offering arghya.
Summary
On 29 October 2026, break the fast only after moonrise and arghya (8:17 PM Delhi, 8:28 PM Jaipur), with water and a sweet from your husband's hand, then eat a light meal — ideally before Chaturthi ends at 10:09 PM.
