Karva Chauth wishes, from the morning to moonrise.

When is Karva Chauth 2026?

In 2026, Karva Chauth is on Thursday 29 October. It falls on the fourth day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Kartik, a little before Diwali, so the date moves each year with the moon. The fast ends at moonrise, which comes at a different time in each city, so check the time for yours.

What is Karva Chauth?

Karva Chauth is a day of fasting kept mostly by married women in North and West India, for the well-being of their husbands. It's observed across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, and by families from those regions elsewhere. Some unmarried women fast too, hoping for a good husband, and some couples now fast together.

How the day goes

It starts before sunrise with sargi, a meal eaten before dawn, which in Punjab traditionally comes from the mother-in-law. The fast runs through the day, traditionally without food or water. In the evening women dress up, often apply mehndi, gather for the Karva Chauth story, and prepare a decorated thali.

The fast ends when the moon rises. She looks at it through a sieve, then at her husband's face, offers water to the moon, and takes the first sip of water from her husband. It's a long wait, which is why a message near moonrise matters.

What does a husband write?

Thanks, and a promise you'll keep. "I'll be home before the moon" is better than a poem, because the husband's part of the day is to be there for the end of it. Keep the message short, say what you'll do, and then do it. The lines above for a wife start from that.

What does a wife write?

Something about the evening and about him, not about the fast. A note that says you're looking forward to the moment you see each other is plenty. If he's fasting with you, a line that acknowledges it, with a bit of teasing, goes down well.

A gift, and what to write with it

Gifts are common on Karva Chauth, from a husband to a wife and from a wife's family to her, often jewellery, a saree, or something for the evening. A gift usually comes with a short note, and the note is where a message earns its place. Keep it to a line and your name: "For the person who gets us through every year. Happy Karva Chauth." Hand it over in the evening, near moonrise, so it doesn't compete with the day itself, and write the note by hand if you can. A gift isn't required, and a good note on its own is a fine present.

A first Karva Chauth

The first one after a wedding is a big occasion for the whole family, and often a nervous one for the bride. A message to her from the family should welcome her, not test her. "Happy first Karva Chauth. We're so glad you're here" is better than any advice. The First Karva Chauth filter above has two lines for it.

For a friend, a sister or a colleague who's fasting

Keep it light and don't mention food. "Hoping the day is a gentle one" works. Don't tell someone to have a little water, or to give it up for the day. She has chosen how to do it, and the moon is only hours away. For a colleague, a plain "Happy Karva Chauth" is enough, and it's kinder than asking at lunch whether she's fasting.

If you fast together, or don't fast

Plenty of couples fast together, and plenty of wives don't fast at all. Neither choice needs a justification, and a message can still say you're thinking of each other. A plain "Happy Karva Chauth" and a dinner plan suits a couple who don't fast. For a couple who do, a line of teasing is part of the day.

When to send a Karva Chauth message

The morning, before the day gets going, for the people fasting. Then again near moonrise, for the person waiting. Don't send a flurry through the afternoon, which is the hardest part. After the moon is up, a message that says they did it is always welcome.

Karva Chauth wishes in Punjabi, Hinglish and Hindi

"Karva Chauth diyan lakh lakh vadhaiyan" is the Punjabi greeting, and it suits anyone. In Hindi, "करवा चौथ की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ" is the standard formal wish, and "बहुत-बहुत बधाई" is warmer. In Hinglish, "Karva Chauth ki dher saari shubhkamnayein" suits friends and the family group.