Karwa Chauth, on the fourth day of the dark fortnight of Kattak, is kept nowhere more fully than in Punjab. Married women eat sargi, sent by the mother-in-law, before the stars fade, and then fast without water until the Moon rises. In the late afternoon, dressed as brides, they sit in a circle passing their thalis round while the old song of Veero is sung. The moonrise time for your city is shown above.
The story
Veero was the one sister of seven brothers. Seeing her faint on her first fast, they showed her a lamp behind a sieve and told her the Moon had risen. She ate, and her husband fell ill; a year of nursing and a fast kept truly restored him.
The mother sends baya, gifts for her daughter's in-laws, and the mother-in-law gives the sargi: the fast binds two households of women.
ਵੀਰੋ ਕੁੜੀਏ ਕਰਵੜਾ, ਸਰਬ ਸੁਹਾਗਣ ਕਰਵੜਾ
Veero, girl, the karwa; the karwa of every married woman
The song sung as the thalis go round
How the day goes
- SargiPheniyan in milk, fruit, mathri and sweets, eaten before dawn.
- MehndiApplied the night before.
- Thali vataunaThe passing of the plates in a circle, seven times, to the song.
- Chann nu argWater is offered to the Moon, seen through a sieve.
- BayaThe gift from the bride's mother.
Why this date
Karwa Chauth is the Chaturthi of the dark fortnight of Kattak (Kartik), on the day it is running at moonrise.
Karwa Chauth in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday | |
| 2027 | Monday | |
| 2028 | Saturday | |
| 2029 | Friday | |
| 2030 | Tuesday | |
| 2031 | Sunday |
More Punjabi festivals
9 OctoberDussehraਦੁਸਹਿਰਾ
29 OctoberDiwali and Bandi Chhor Divasਦੀਵਾਲੀ · ਬੰਦੀ ਛੋੜ ਦਿਵਸ
14 NovemberGuru Nanak Gurpurabਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਪੁਰਬ
8 OctoberMaha Naumiਮਹਾਂ ਨੌਮੀ
7 OctoberDurga Ashtamiਦੁਰਗਾ ਅਸ਼ਟਮੀ
3 SeptemberGanesh Chaturthiਗਣੇਸ਼ ਚਤੁਰਥੀ
Where to see Karwa Chauth
In Punjab
- Hall Bazaar, AmritsarPunjabBangles, mehndi and karwas for a week before.
- Chaura Bazaar, LudhianaPunjabThe city's old market, open late on the eve.
- Sector 22, ChandigarhChandigarhRows of henna artists on the pavements.
Across India
- Chauth Ka BarwaraRajasthanThe hill temple of Chauth Mata.
- DelhiDelhiThe henna market at the Hanuman temple, Connaught Place.
- JaipurRajasthanThe bangle bazaars of the old city.