The eagerly anticipated festival of Karwa Chauth is drawing near, set to occur on the fourth day of the waning moon in the Hindu month of Kartik. This auspicious occasion coincides with Sankashti Chaturthi, a day devoted to the worship of Lord Ganesha. While Karwa Chauth is celebrated across the nation on the same day, in regions like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and South India, where the Amant calendar is followed, it is believed to fall in the month of Ashwin, according to the Drik Panchang.
This festival, also known as Karak Chaturthi, involves married women observing a strict nirjala fast, abstaining from both food and water, with the hope of ensuring the long life, prosperity, and safety of their husbands. This fast begins at sunrise and continues until the moon is sighted in the night sky. Women come together for the Karwa Chauth puja, recite the Karwa Chauth story, and conclude their fast by consuming a morsel of food and a sip of water offered by their husbands. During this celebration, deities like Lord Ganesha, Maa Parvati, Lord Shiva, and Lord Kartikeya are venerated.
Now, the burning question for many is, when is Karwa Chauth this year? Is it on October 31 or November 1?
According to Drik Panchang, Karwa Chauth falls on Wednesday, November 1 this year. The Karwa Chauth puja is scheduled to take place from 5:36 pm to 6:54 pm, and the fasting period, known as upavasa, will be observed from 6:33 am to 8:15 pm. The moonrise, a crucial moment in the festivities, is expected at 8:15 pm. It’s worth noting that the Chaturthi tithi begins on October 31 at 9:30 pm and concludes on November 1 at 9:19 pm.
For those in different cities, here are the puja muhurat timings:
New Delhi – 5:36 pm to 6:54 pm
Pune – 6:02 pm to 7:17 pm
Chennai – 5:42 pm to 6:56 pm
Kolkata – 4:59 pm to 6:15 pm
Hyderabad – 5:45 pm to 7:00 pm
Ahmedabad – 6:02 pm to 7:18 pm
Noida – 5:36 pm to 6:53 pm
Jaipur – 5:44 pm to 7:02 pm
Mumbai – 6:05 pm to 7:21 pm
Gurgaon – 5:37 pm to 6:55 pm
Bengaluru – 5:53 pm to 7:07 pm
Chandigarh – 5:35 pm to 6:54 pm