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Karwa Chauth Puja: The Moon Festival Rising in India

By Dean Clark. Published 26-Oct-2023RSS

Once a regional holiday, the Hindu festival of Karwa Chauth has gained popularity throughout India and among the Indian diaspora worldwide.

A woman in traditional Indian clothing looking at the Full Moon through a sieve.

Viewing the moonrise through a sieve on Karwa Chauth signals the end of a day of fasting and socializing.

©iStockphoto.com/SoumenNath

Friends, Family, and Moonrise

Here at timeanddate.com, we noticed an interesting spike in the number of people searching for moonrise timings in India during early November. Looking a little deeper, we found that these visits probably had a lot to do with the celebration of Karwa Chauth, also known as Karva Chauth, Karaka Chaturthi, or Karak Chaturthi.

When does the Moon rise where you are?

Once a holiday that was primarily held in Northern India, Karwa Chauth is now being celebrated in other regions of the country and in expat Indian communities internationally, thanks in large part to the festival being featured on TV shows and in Bollywood movies.

The holy day’s historical origins are unclear, but it most likely draws its name from the Hindi words for pot (karva) and fourth (chauth)—probably referring to the holiday falling on the fourth day after the Full Moon in the month of Kartika.

How does the Hindu calendar work?

The spiritual focus of Karwa Chauth is to honor the divine couple of Shiva and Parvati. For married women, the holiday tradition is to fast (nirjala) during the day and pray for the long life and prosperity of one’s husband or partner.

Many Hindu women spend the day with female friends, enjoying singing and ritual henna applications, then meet up with family to break the Karwa Chauth fast at the first sighting of the Moon. The lunar viewing is often done through a sieve and is followed by viewing their partner, who then feeds his spouse water and the first bite of food of the day.

In a modern adaptation, both partners now observe the fast in many households.

Hindu holidays

The Next Karwa Chauth Is on November 1

This festival is celebrated on the fourth day after the Full Moon in the Hindu month of Kartik, which usually falls in October or November in the Gregorian calendar. In 2023, Karwa Chauth falls on November 1.

Upcoming Holidays in India

Sweets and Coconut Water

The rising Moon signals that it’s time for the woman to break her fast. Usually, the husband is on hand to serve his wife water and the day’s first morsels of food, a moment meant to inspire hope and appreciation for his partner’s devotion.

Coconut water, dried fruit, rice pudding, and flatbreads like paratha are often a part of the first meal.

Moonlight World Map: Where is the Moon visible right now?

When Does the Moon Rise on Karwa Chauth?

Viewing the Moon is central to the celebration, marking the end of the day of fasting. Here are moonrise timings in some of the largest Indian cities for Karwa Chauth on November 1, 2023:

(All times are local.)