Karva Chauth Celebration: When Is It, How to Prepare, and More
Over 50 countries worldwide celebrate Mother’s Day, but India has a special equivalent to this holiday – Karva Chauth or Karwa Chauth. This festival is celebrated to honor married women and their relationships. In some (but not all) instances, Karva Chauth is also known as Karaka Chaturthi.
Regardless of the name, this tradition is important for married women and their communities. As with any festival, there are some special ways to get ready for the celebration, which we will highlight below.
Leave it to our team here at Lashkaraa to help you get ready for Karva Chauth with the best styling tips and more on when the festival is, how to celebrate it, and what to wear!
When Is Karva Chauth?
Karva Chauth takes place on the fourth day after Purnima in the month of Kartik, according to the Hindu calendar. In other words, the celebration takes place four days after you see the full moon.
Unlike other lunisolar calendars, the Hindu calendar adds additional dates every few years to avoid long-term discrepancies in calculated time. Because of this, the one-day celebration of Karva Chauth consistently takes place in October and November.
Karva Chauth is a beautiful festival observed with devotion, love, and tradition. Each year, married women across many states in India fast from sunrise until the moonrise to pray for the well-being and longevity of their husbands.
Karva Chauth in 2025
In 2025, Karva Chauth will be celebrated on Friday, 10 October. The Puja Muhurat (auspicious time for the prayer) in Delhi is from 5:57 PM to 7:11 PM, and moonrise is expected at around 8:13 PM. Because it occurs after the full moon, Karva Chauth is during Krishna Paksha, when the moon wanes. This leads to Diwali, which occurs shortly after the festival.
Who Celebrates Karva Chauth?
Married women traditionally observe Karva Chauth, though sometimes women with long-term, significant others will also participate. Although others may not be directly involved, many shops will provide related paraphernalia, and family members often offer support during this time.
Karva Chauth is an Indian celebration, but it is specifically a north Indian tradition. It is celebrated in:
- Rajasthan
- Haryana
- Uttar Pradesh
- Madhya Pradesh
- Himachal Pradesh
- Delhi
- Punjab
- And more
In recent years, even cities that have not traditionally observed Karva Chauth, like Mumbai, have started observing it.
How to Observe Karva Chauth
There are several special traditions that take place on Karva Chauth, including a fast, giving of meaningful gifts, and more.
On the day of, the rituals start early. Before sunrise, there is a special meal called sargi, usually given by the mother-in-law to her daughter-in-law. The woman observing the fast refrains from consuming any food or water from sunrise until moonrise.
Throughout the day, there are beauty rituals like applying mehendi, dressing up, and gathering with female friends or relatives to recite prayers and stories (Katha) of Karva Chauth.
In the evening, once the moon is visible, the fast is broken, often by the husband feeding his wife the first sip or bite. Ceremonial items like the thali (plate), lamp, sieve, karva (earthen pot), sindoor, bangles, and gifts for relatives are prepared in advance.
Karva Chauth is a festival full of symbolism and carefully followed rituals that bring families together. It is not just about the fast but about celebrating marriage, love, and community. The day unfolds in stages, each with its own meaning and traditions.
The Fast
The most important part of Karva Chauth is the fast itself. Women wake up before sunrise to eat their sargi, a meal prepared by their mother-in-law, which usually includes sweets, fruits, dry fruits, and parathas. This early morning meal gives strength for the long day ahead.
From sunrise, women observe a strict fast with no food and no water until the moonrise in the evening. The fast is not only seen as an act of devotion but also as a prayer for the well-being and long life of their husbands. During the day, women adorn themselves with jewelry, festive outfits, and mehendi designs, creating the aura of a new bride. They often gather with friends and neighbors to spend time together, making the day feel lighter and more joyful.
Giving Gifts
Karva Chauth is also all about gift-giving and community. Husbands traditionally give their wives something meaningful, such as jewelry, clothing, or tokens of love, as a way of expressing appreciation. Wives may also give gifts to each other, especially bangles, cosmetics, and sweets, which symbolize prosperity and beauty.
Mothers prepare baya, a collection of gifts, for their daughters, including clothes, food items, and jewelry, while daughters often give something in return to their mothers-in-law. These gestures make the festival deeply personal, emphasizing care and connection between family members.
The Karva Chauth Puja
In the afternoon, the puja rituals begin. Women gather together in groups, each carrying a decorated thali with essential items such as sindoor, diya or lamp, incense, sweets, and a karva or earthen pot filled with water, symbolizing prosperity and continuity.
As part of the ceremony, stories or katha of Karva Chauth are recited, narrating tales of devotion and sacrifice, such as that of Queen Veeravati, whose faith saved her husband’s life. The puja is not just a ritual but a reminder of resilience, patience, and love. Singing folk songs and clapping together, the women create an atmosphere of festivity and sisterhood.
The Night of Karva Chauth
As the sun sets, anticipation grows for the moonrise, the most awaited moment of the day. Once the moon appears in the sky, the evening rituals begin. Women view the moon through a sieve or a glass filled with water and then look at their husbands through the same sieve, symbolizing the blending of divine and earthly love.
Offerings are made to the moon, usually water or kachi lassi, a sweet drink, as a prayer for health and happiness. Finally, the husband feeds his wife the first sip of water or a morsel of food, breaking her fast with love and tenderness. This moment is intimate, emotional, and symbolic of the couple’s deep bond.
Over the years, Bollywood and popular culture have added glamour to these rituals, with iconic scenes showing women in dazzling lehengas, singing and waiting for the moon. While these representations add color, the core of the festival remains the same: it is a day of devotion, togetherness, and the reaffirmation of marital love.
How To Prepare for Karva Chauth
Karva Chauth celebrations are a big deal, so it’s best to take time and prepare for all that is to come.
For mothers with married daughters, you’ll want to gather supplies in advance to prepare for the festivities. It’s the perfect time to prepare some of your family’s favorite meals for the breaking of the Karva Chauth fast.
There are other steps to follow when preparing for the Karva Chauth Puja. These include getting thalis, large plates, as well as a lamp, the Kachi lassi, sweets, and gifts for your mother-in-law. With these prepared in advance, the day can proceed without any stress.
If you’re a wife, it’s smart to plan ahead for who you’ll visit during the festival. You don’t need to go to a specific place to celebrate Karva Chauth, leaving plenty of options open. You can gather at a central friend's location or even go to different homes throughout the day.
You should also make sure you have Mehndi accounted for. Plenty of seating, clothing that allows easy access to limbs, and a talented artist are all important. It can be fun to apply each other's Mehndi, or you can hire an artist. If you’re doing the latter, plan ahead and make sure they’re available on the day of the festival.
It’s also a time to think about what you’ll wear for Karva Chauth. While some women wear their bridal lehenga to relive those special memories, many choose something new for the festival.
What Should You Wear on Karva Chauth?
If you prefer to wear something new, you have a variety of options. No matter which style you choose, the focus is on clothing that reflects tradition while keeping you comfortable from dawn to moonrise.
Women's Outfit Ideas
For your Karva Chauth dress, you should consider colors that reflect traditional bridal apparel. After all, this festival is all about the specialness of being a married woman. Gold, green, and red all make for wonderful options during this time.
Sarees
Sarees are a timeless choice for the occasion, offering elegance and grace that perfectly complement the rituals of the day. Fabrics like silk, georgette, or chiffon work beautifully for sarees, as they drape well and look sophisticated during the puja as well as the evening celebrations.
Many women opt for embellished sarees with zari, sequins, or embroidery to highlight the festive spirit. In contrast, others prefer lighter versions in breathable fabrics that can be worn comfortably throughout the day. Sarees also allow for various draping styles, which can be adjusted according to personal comfort and tradition.
If you want something elegant and striking, the Red Embroidered Jacket Style Saree provides a layered, modern look, with the net jacket overlay adding a dramatic touch for evening rituals.
For fresh and playful tones, while keeping the elegance, the Red Orange Multicolor Floral Printed Saree adds color contrast but still falls in the warm festive palette.
If soft and romantic is more your style, but you still want festivity, the Red Embroidered Gharara Saree strikes a nice balance between ornate detail and comfort, especially during the moonrise portion of Karva Chauth.
Lehengas
Lehengas are another popular option, especially for those who want a more celebratory and youthful look. The combination of a flared skirt, blouse, and dupatta adds volume and grandeur, making them ideal for evening gatherings and special occasions.
The most popular colors remain red, maroon, green, and pink, each carrying a symbolic meaning of love, prosperity, and marital bliss. Many women lean towards lehengas in these hues, as they instantly add a festive glow while staying rooted in tradition. If you want to go all out, a richly detailed lehenga is the way to go.
The Red Embroidered Crepe Silk Lehenga is a timeless choice that embodies classic Karva Chauth style, with intricate embroidery and a graceful flow perfect for the evening rituals.
Suits and palazzos
Suits and palazzo sets are equally stylish yet practical choices for women who want a balance of ease and festivity. These outfits allow free movement, making them perfect if you are visiting relatives, hosting friends, or managing household rituals during the day.
For those who prefer something that blends structure and flow, the Maroon Embroidered Silk Gharara Suit offers a rich fabric, a flattering silhouette with gharara bottoms that let you move and sit comfortably during the fast and puja routines.
For something with subtler, deeper tones, you might favor the Dark Maroon Embroidered Straight Suit, which pairs beautifully with golden jewellery and moonscreen makeup without feeling too heavy.
What Should Men Wear for Karva Chauth?
While men aren’t in the spotlight, it’s still a special occasion, so you’ll want to wear one of your classiest, most stylish outfits. We highly recommend a Pathani suit and vest. If you’re married, wear one in a color that’s coordinated with your wife’s lehenga.
The Light Blue Hand Embroidered Velvet Sherwani from Lashkaraa is a standout men’s sherwani. It is crafted in light blue velvet, with multicolored floral embroidery on the shoulders, sleeves, and hem. The neckline is subtly worked, with ornate buttons, paired with an off-white straight-cut churidar.
This piece is premium, meant for formal or festive occasions when you want something regal and eye-catching. Because the fabric is velvet and the embroidery is intricate, wearing it for cooler evenings (or well-air-conditioned venues) works best. Also, coordinate with understated accessories so that the sherwani remains the focal point.
What Should Kids Wear for Karva Chauth?
Karva Chauth is a special time for kids, too. The littlest members of your family are a big part of your Karva Chauth celebration. They get to take part in the festivities by dressing up, enjoying food with friends and family, and celebrating their mothers.
Gold, green, and red are all ideal colors for a kid’s Karva Chauth outfit. For the girls, this Wine Embroidered Brocade Gharara is just as beautiful and eye-catching as what a mother would wear on Karva Chauth! For the boys, we have a matching kid's embroidered brocade kurta set that is sure to get a few compliments from friends and family!
Enjoy Karva Chauth!
Karva Chauth is a time to celebrate your connections with those closest to you. On the one hand, you are able to connect with a broader community of women in your network. On the other hand, you get to celebrate the unbreakable bond of love for your spouse.
The most important part of the festival is these connections. Prepare for the day so that when it comes, you can be in the moment, cherishing every part of it.
Shop Lashkaraa's New Arrivals or our Women's Collections.
Lashkaraa's pieces are handmade in India and personally hand-checked to ensure quality in every thread. This ensures that even when your celebrations are outside the country, your apparel doesn’t have to be.
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