Karva Chauth is one of those festivals people wait for the whole year. Married couples see it as something special, almost magical. And every year the same question pops up.
When is Karva Chauth this time? It matters because the entire fast depends on the date and the moonrise. The puja muhurat also makes a big difference. Without knowing all that, it is hard to plan the day. So let’s go through Karva Chauth 2025 step by step. The timings, the rituals, the stories behind it, and even celebration ideas for couples in the UAE.
What is Karva Chauth?
It is more than just not eating food. Karva Chauth is about patience, about faith, about the love between husband and wife. Married women fast from sunrise till the moon comes up – no water, no food. The fast is kept for the long life and well-being of their husbands. In modern times, many couples look at it as a celebration of love too.
The word Karva means a clay pot – while Chauth means the fourth day. This day falls on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha in Kartika month. Traditionally, the festival is most famous in-
-Punjab
-Haryana
-Delhi
-Uttar Pradesh
-Rajasthan
-Madhya Pradesh
But now, it is celebrated across India. Even abroad. Families in the UAE mark the day with the same devotion.
When is Karva Chauth 2025?
In 2025 – Karva Chauth falls on Friday, 10 October 2025.
The Chaturthi tithi begins on the night of 9 October and ends in the evening of 10 October. Which means the main fast, puja, and moon worship will all be on Friday. That’s the day to note down.
Sunrise, Puja, and Moonrise Timings for 2025
On this festival, timing is everything. The fast begins with sunrise and only ends when the moon shows up.
- Vrat begins: around 6:19 AM
- Evening puja muhurat: between 5:57 PM and 7:11 PM
- Moonrise: around 8:13 PM
- Chaturthi tithi: starts 10:54 PM on 9 October and ends 7:38 PM on 10 October
Moonrise changes from place to place. For the UAE, it is close to India’s time but not exactly the same. It’s best to check the local calendar or panchang near the date.
Why Moonrise Time is Important
The fast only ends after the moon is seen. That’s why women and their families wait eagerly. The moon becomes the blessing.
Once the moon rises, women look at it through a sieve, offer water, and then see their husbands through the same sieve. Husbands give the first sip of water, sometimes a sweet too, and the fast breaks. If the sky is cloudy, people often use the calculated time and perform the ritual anyway.
Preparations Before Karva Chauth
The festival needs some preparation. A few things that matter:
- Sargi – The pre-dawn meal – usually made by the mother-in-law. Fruits, parathas, milk, dry fruits – something to keep energy through the day.
- Clothes and Jewellery – Bright coloured clothes like red or maroon. Bangles, sindoor, bindis.
- Mehendi – Done a day before. Considered very lucky.
- Puja Thali – A decorated plate with karva, diya, sieve, sweets, flowers.
- Decorations – Rangoli, flowers, lights around the puja spot.
The Role of Sargi
Sargi has to be talked about on its own because honestly it sits right at the centre of Karva Chauth. It is that early morning meal – the one a mother-in-law gives to her daughter-in-law before the sun is up. And it is not only about filling the stomach, it carries blessings, care, a bit of tradition on the plate too.
Typically the thali often contains parathas, kheer, fruits, nuts, sweets, and coconut. In some families, there is also mathri, laddoos, and milk.
Moreover, women wake up early, eat this meal quietly before dawn, and it keeps them going through the long day. The thought behind it is not only physical strength but also emotional connection. Mothers-in-law give their love through sargi, and daughters-in-law accept it as respect and blessing. For newlyweds, receiving their first sargi is a very emotional experience.
How the Day is Observed
The festival follows a rhythm:
- Morning – Women wake up early, eat sargi before sunrise, then the fast starts.
- Daytime – Most spend the day resting, putting mehendi, preparing the thali. Some recite stories or chants.
- Evening – They dress in festive clothes, gather with decorated thalis, and do puja together. The Karva Chauth Katha is read.
- Moonrise – At moonrise, water is offered to the moon. Women look at the moon, then their husbands, and finally break the fast.
The Legend Behind Karva Chauth
There are many stories, but the most famous is about Queen Veeravati. She was fasting for the first time. Weak and faint, she was tricked by her brothers into breaking the fast early with a false moon. Her husband’s life was then struck with tragedy. Later, she kept the fast with full faith and his life was restored.
It shows devotion and patience towards a relationship. Other regions have their own tales, but the meaning is the same – the fast is for the husband’s safety and long life.
Regional Traditions
Karva Chauth looks a bit different in every place:
- In Punjab and Haryana – sargi from the mother-in-law are central.
- In Rajasthan – women exchange decorated karvas filled with sweets or bangles.
- In Uttar Pradesh – women sing traditional songs during the puja.
- In urban cities – husbands also fast with their wives, adding a modern touch.
Helpful Tips for Fasting
The fast can be tough, especially without water. A few tips help:
- Eat sargi that has fruits, nuts, and protein.
- Avoid oily food the night before.
- Drink enough water before sunrise.
- Rest during the day. A nap helps.
- Don’t do heavy work in the sun.
- Keep fruits or glucose ready in case you feel weak.
Karva Chauth in Modern Times
The meaning has shifted with time. It is now both devotion and celebration. Families sit down to a feast after the fast.
Community pujas happen in parks or temples. Social media is filled with greetings and photos. Even abroad, Indian families celebrate. In the UAE, the festival feels like a piece of home carried across the seas.
Changing Roles in Karva Chauth
Karva Chauth is not the same as before. Earlier it was only wives fasting for their husbands. Now things are slowly changing.
In many homes husbands also keep the fast. They sit with their wives, wait for the moon, and break the fast together. Some even wake up early and help prepare the sargi. These are small things but they matter.
Young couples don’t always see it as duty. They see it more as love – as being equal. Some wives say it feels nice when both fast. Some husbands just do it because they don’t want their partner to stay hungry alone.
Unmarried women also keep the fast. They pray for happiness ahead, for good luck in life. And in some cities friends celebrate together even if they are not married. They do the puja, share food after, and it still feels like Karva Chauth.
The meaning has stretched but the feeling is still the same. It’s about waiting, praying, looking at the moon, and thinking of someone you love.
Celebrating Karva Chauth 2025 in the UAE
For Indian families in the UAE the festival still feels close to the heart. Here you see community pujas. Women come together for prayers with thalis in hand dressed in colourful sarees talking and sharing stories.
Restaurants put out special thalis and sweet shops fill up with Indian delicacies. Some bakeries even bake cakes shaped like the moon just for the day.
The sight of women waiting for the moonrise on terraces and in open spaces has slowly become common in many parts of the UAE.
For couples living away from India – Karva Chauth feels even more meaningful. It is a reminder that your traditions can travel with you. Sitting together for the puja or joining community events helps keep the connection alive. The rituals may adjust a little in a new country but the devotion behind the fast remains unchanged.
FAQs on Karva Chauth 2025
When is Karva Chauth 2025?
Friday, 10 October 2025.
What time is moonrise?
Around 8:13 PM in North India, close to that in the UAE.
Can unmarried women fast?
Yes, many do for blessings and future happiness.
What if the moon is hidden?
Most families follow the calculated time.
Is the fast compulsory?
No. It is done out of choice and devotion.
Do men also fast?
Yes, many husbands fast with their wives now.
What is eaten after the fast?
Light foods first, like fruits or sweets, then dinner with the family.
Why Karva Chauth is Special
It’s not only a ritual – it is love and patience. The waiting for the moon, the decorated thalis, the laughter of women sitting together, the relief of the first sip of water – it’s all part of the magic.
For families in India and abroad, the festival ties generations together. In the UAE, it brings back memories of home.
Final Thoughts
So to answer the question – When is Karva Chauth 2025? It falls on 10 October 2025. The fast starts at sunrise, the puja is in the evening, and the moon will rise around 8:13 PM.
Plan ahead! Prepare your sargi, get your thali ready, know your local moonrise time. And do not forget the gifts – they make the day extra memorable.
On that evening, as the moon comes up, couples in India and the UAE will look up at the sky. Hungry, tired, but happy. Because Karva Chauth is not only about fasting. It is about love that feels endless.
