Last Updated on Sep 15th, 2026 by Kamal Kishor, Leave a Comment
Key Takeaway
Karwa Chauth is one of the most personal festivals in the Hindu calendar. It is a quiet, powerful expression of love in which a wife chooses to fast from sunrise to moonrise, without food or water, praying for her husband’s long life.
Karwa Chauth 2026 falls on Thursday, October 29, in India. But if you’re in Canada, the festival is observed on Wednesday, October 28, because the moon rises earlier here.
| Location | Date | Day |
| India | October 29, 2026 | Thursday |
| Canada | October 28, 2026 | Wednesday |
The Karwa Chauth festival falls on the Chaturthi tithi of Krishna Paksha in the Kartik month. This is because the tithi aligns with different sunrises and moonrises across time zones.
The fast is broken only after the moon is sighted. Here are the moonrise timings for October 28, 2026:
| City | Moonrise Time (Local) |
| Toronto, ON | From 7:30 PM Onwards |
| Brampton, ON | From 7:30 PM Onwards |
| Mississauga, ON | From 7:30 PM Onwards |
| Ottawa, ON | From 7:00 PM Onwards |
| Montreal, QC | From 7:00 PM Onwards |
| Vancouver, BC | From 7:00 PM Onwards |
| Surrey, BC | From 7:00 PM Onwards |
| Calgary, AB | From 7:00 PM Onwards |
| Edmonton, AB | From 7:00 PM Onwards |
| Winnipeg, MB | From 7:00 PM Onwards |
Timings are location-specific and should be checked for the city where you will actually observe the festival.
October is a high-demand travel month for Canada-to-India flights. With Navratri, Dussehra, and Karwa Chauth festival falling in the same period, fares reflect the festive surge.
Here are the regular Canada-to-India routes available around the festival:
| Departure City | Airport | Major India Destinations |
| Toronto | YYZ | Delhi, Mumbai, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata |
| Vancouver | YVR | Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Amritsar, Kolkata, Ahmedabad |
| Calgary | YYC | Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Amritsar, Kolkata, Bangalore |
| Montreal | YUL | Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Amritsar, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Ahmedabad |
| Edmonton | YEG | Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Amritsar, Kolkata, Ahmedabad |
Unsure which gateway works best for your final destination? MyTicketsToIndia can assist you in comparing options and completing your booking.
Karwa Chauth is a one-day festival observed primarily by married Hindu couples in almost every part of Northern and Western India. Its name, Karwa Chauth, comes from two words: Karwa (an earthen pot with a spout) and Chauth (the fourth day). The festival falls on the fourth day after the full moon in the Kartik month.
The festival is also known as Karak Chaturthi.
On this day, married women observe a nirjala fast (without food or water) from sunrise to moonrise. They pray to Goddess Gauri (a form of Parvati) and Lord Shiva for their husbands’ longevity, health, and well-being.
The fast is broken only after the moon is sighted. Women view the moon through a sieve, then look at their husband’s face through the same sieve, and finally accept water and food from their husband’s hands.
But the tradition is evolving. In many modern households, husbands fast alongside their wives, not out of obligation, but as a shared act of devotion.
The day follows a fairly recognisable rhythm, although individual families may add their own customs.
The first important part of the day happens before the fast properly begins. The mother-in-law traditionally prepares sargi (soot feni) for her daughter-in-law. It is a pre-dawn meal that may include fruits, sweets, dry fruits, savoury foods, and other items, along with traditional gifts.
After sunrise, the traditional Nirjala vrat continues until the moon is sighted. The day can involve prayer, household preparations, mehendi, getting dressed for the evening, and spending time with other women observing the festival.
Not everyone should follow a strict no-food, no-water fast. This is especially true for those who are pregnant, have medical conditions, are on medication, or have other health considerations.
The evening brings everyone together for the puja. A decorated karwa, lamp, offerings, and other puja items are arranged, and the Karwa Chauth Katha may be read or heard along with exchanging thalis in a circle. The exact customs vary between families and regions.
Traditionally, the woman looks at the moon through a sieve, makes the prescribed offering, and then looks at her husband before breaking the fast. Water is offered, and the fast is completed with food.
Traditionally, the vrat/vrata is associated with married women praying for their husbands’ well-being and longevity. That remains the customary form of the festival.
But that does not mean husbands cannot observe the day.
In many modern families, husbands also choose to fast alongside their wives, treating the occasion as a shared expression of care rather than something one partner has to do alone.
Karwa Chauth vrat is a community celebration. It was mainly associated with North and Northwestern India, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. However, now it is observed more widely across the country.
Even in Canada, many Indian communities across cities such as Toronto, Brampton, Vancouver, Calgary, and Ottawa organise temple programmes and community gatherings, while many families continue their traditions at home.
| City | Event |
| Toronto | Community Karwa Chauth puja and gatherings; women come together for the evening katha and moon sighting |
| Brampton | Community puja at local Hindu temples; families prepare sargi at home |
| Ottawa | Karwa Chauth celebrations at Hindu Temple (4835 Bank St, Gloucester) with special prayers |
| Vancouver | Community Karwa Chauth events with traditional rituals |
If you’re planning to make that journey this September, MyTicketsToIndia can help you find a Canada-to-India flight around your dates, compare available connections, and choose the Indian gateway that makes getting to your hometown easier.
| Toronto To India | Calgary To India | Saskatoon To India |
| Montreal To India | Ottawa To India | Victoria To India |
| Vancouver To India | Winnipeg To India | Kelowna To India |
| Quebec To India | Edmonton To India | Halifax To India |
| Indian departure | Canadian destinations |
| Mumbai (BOM) | Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal |
| Delhi (DEL) | Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Edmonton |
| Hyderabad (HYD) | Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal |
| Bengaluru (BLR) | Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Edmonton |
| Amritsar (ATQ) | Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary |
Planning a trip to India for Karwa Chauth? At MyTicketsToIndia, we can help you:
Book Your Canada-to-India Flights Now
Happy Karwa Chauth!
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Kamal is a passionate travel writer who brings destinations to life through his words. With years of experience and a knack for delivering impactful content, he blends creativity with insight in his writing. Growing up in Himachal, he developed a deep love for mountains, treks, and peaceful escapes. With a curious mind and an explorer’s spirit, Kamal aims to inspire readers to discover new places and create unforgettable travel experiences.