Karwa Chauth 2024: Know the dates, timings and significance of the Hindu festival

Karwa Chauth is a Hindu festival celebrated by married women of the Northern and Western India on the Hindu lunar month of Kartika, which falls on the month of October or November. Karwa Chauth is based on a lunisolar variant of the Hindu Calendars. This festival falls on the fourth day after the full moon. The Karwa Chauth fast 2024 will be celebrated on Sunday, 20^th October.

On this auspicious day, married women observe a fast from sunrise to moonrise for the safety and longevity of their husbands. The unmarried woman can keep the fast for her future partner. This festival is celebrated in many states of India including Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh. This festival is celebrated as Atla Tadde in Andhra Pradesh. 

During the Karwa Chauth fast, married women get dressed in beautiful traditional attires, apply mehndi (henna). They often gather for prayers and rituals with friends and family members. They break their fast after sighting the moon. All the husbands often give gifts to their wives in order to show their love and appreciation. In few parts, women make idols of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and Lord Ganesha with mud and decorate them with colourful clothes and jewellery. During this festival, mothers-in-law sent sargi to their daughters-in-law. 

On this festival, there is the ritual of Chandra Puja, where the moon is worshipped after it rises in the night sky. The moon is worshipped as it is often associated with prosperity and well-being. On the evening of Karwa Chauth, women eagerly wait for the sighting of the moon as they believe it to be an auspicious moment for completing their fast. Usually these women break their fast when their husbands offer them water to drink as the part of the rituals. Married women seek blessings from the moon for their marital bliss and prosperity.

Here's the list of Karwa Chauth 2024 dates and timings:

• ·         Karwa Chauth Date: 20^th October 2024
• ·         Karwa Chauth Puja Muhurat stars at 06:12 PM ends at 07:26 PM
• ·         Karwa Chauth Upavasa Time starts at 06:34 AM ends at 08:37 PM
• ·         Moonrise on Karwa Chauth Day at 08:37 PM
• ·         Chaturthi Tithi Begins on 20^th October 2024 at 06:46 AM
• ·         Chaturthi Tithi Ends on 21^st October 2024 at 04:16 AM