Karwa Chauth 2025 will be celebrated on October 10 with fasting, rituals, devotion, and moonrise prayers.
In 2025, Karwa Chauth will be on Friday, 10 October. The Chaturthi tithi of the Hindu calendar will technically begin on the night of 9 October and continue on 10 October, but the fast and rituals will be observed on 10 October itself. On Karwa Chauth, women in northern and western India wake up before dawn to honor the day of marriage and devotion that lasts until the moon is sighted.
Importance of Karwa Chauth
The festival has immense cultural and emotional significance. It represents a celebration of love, trust, and commitment in a marriage. Married women are said to observe the ritual by fasting from sunrise until moonrise to pray for their husband’s long life, health, and prosperity, and unmarried women participate in the ritual in hopes of finding a partner. Karwa Chauth has traditionally been associated with the love, devotion, and loyalty that defines the marital relationship between husband and wife.
History of Karwa Chauth
The word “Karwa” refers to an earthen pot used in the rituals, while “Chauth” means the fourth day, signifying its observance on the fourth day of the waning moon in the month of Kartik. The history of Karwa Chauth is accompanied by many stories and traditions. The story of a woman named Veeravati, whose constant devotion to her husband and fasting brought him back to life, is one. It also has a historical context, particularly derived from Rajputana, in which women took the fast and their husbands would go off to fight in battles. There are agricultural roots to the day, where decorated earthen pots known as karwa were symbols of good fortune and wealth. Nowadays, it is recognized as a festival that takes on folk customs and wedding celebration styles of expressing love and companionship.
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Puja Vidhi and Rituals
The day commences with sargi, a pre-dawn meal of food that is traditionally prepared by the bride’s mother-in-law, taken before the sun has risen. Once the fast begins for the day, many women will stay nirjala, meaning they will abstain from food and water until they can see the moon. People dress up in traditional clothing, usually bright red and festive sarees or lehengas, along with mehndi, bangles, and sindoor, and many will participate in community gatherings, culminating in a katha in which the story of Karwa Chauth is narrated.
The evening rituals and fasting take place with a decorated earthen pot called Karwa. Offerings of water, sweets, flowers, and a lit diya are placed on a thali, and the vrat katha is recited. The puja is conducted during the auspicious muhurat, which in 2025 will fall between 05:57 PM and 07:11 PM IST. Husbands often take part in the ritual by presenting gifts such as sindoor, jewelry, or sweets to their wives, reinforcing the sense of shared devotion.
The fast is concluded only after the moonrise. Women look at the moon through a sieve, then turn the sieve towards their husband in a symbolic gesture of devotion. The husband then offers the first sip of water or a morsel of food to his wife, marking the end of the day-long fast. If the moon remains hidden by clouds, many families follow the puja timing suggested by local priests to conclude the fast.
Timings and Tithi Details
In 2025, the Chaturthi tithi will begin on 9 October and continue into 10 October, with the fast observed on the latter date. Women will begin their fast at sunrise, around 06:15 AM, and continue until moonrise. Moonrise is expected between 08:10 PM and 08:55 PM, depending on location.
Moonrise Times in Major Cities
Moonrise times do vary from city to city, and this is very important since the fast is only broken after moonrise. In New Delhi, the moon will rise at about 08:13 PM IST, while in Mumbai, it will rise at 08:55 PM IST. In other major cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Pune, the moonrise would fall in the range between 08:13 PM and 08:55 PM. The best bet is to always check with a local pandit, panchang, or temple regarding the actual timing.
Essentials for the Puja
The rituals of Karwa Chauth involve several symbolic items. Women will prepare a decorated tray with water, sweets, and flowers. Women will also have a diya, sindoor, kumkum, and the sieve as part of the moon viewing ritual, along with usually some mehndi, bangles, and festive attire during the celebration, as well as arrange thali for the puja. Finally, the vrat katha is shared group style or individually as part of the celebrations.
FAQs
Q1. When is Karwa Chauth in 2025?
Karwa Chauth will be celebrated on Friday, 10 October 2025.
Q2. What is the significance of the festival?
It is observed by married women who fast for the long life, health, and prosperity of their husbands. It symbolizes love, devotion, and marital harmony.
Q3. What time is the puja muhurat in 2025?
The puja muhurat will take place between 05:57 PM and 07:11 PM IST.
Q4. What time will the moon rise in Delhi and Mumbai?
In Delhi, the moon is expected to rise at 08:13 PM IST, while in Mumbai, it will rise around 08:55 PM IST.
Q5. What is eaten during the Karwa Chauth fast?
Women eat sargi before sunrise and then remain without food or water until the moonrise. The fast is broken with water or food offered by the husband.
Q6. Can unmarried women observe Karwa Chauth?
Yes, unmarried women also keep the fast, praying for a good life partner.
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