Karwa Chauth 2025 in the USA: Date, history, story, significance, and traditions explained |
Karwa Chauth, the Hindu festival observed by married women from northern India and Nepal, is around the corner. The festival symbolizing marital devotion is observed with fasting. This is an auspicious occasion for thousands of Indian-American women across the United States. Donning vibrant sarees, they gather in homes and temples to observe Karwa Chauth. If you are new to this festival or just want a refresh, here’s everything you need to know about the date, history, story, significance, and traditions behind Karwa Chauth.
When is Karwa Chauth 2025 in the USA?
Karwa Chauth falls on Friday, Oct. 10 in 2025, as per the Hindu lunar calendar. The dawn-to-dusk fasting (vrat) begins at 6:19 AM IST and ends with the moonrise at 8:13 PM IST. The puja muhurat (auspicious time for worship) lies between 5:57 PM and 7:11 PM IST.According to Drikpanchang, the puja muhurat and Chandrodaya (moonrise) time are the following in India.
- Karwa Chauth on Friday, October 10, 2025
- Karwa Chauth Puja Muhurat – 05:57 PM to 07:11 PM
- Duration – 01 Hour 14 Mins
- Karwa Chauth Upavasa Time – 06:19 AM to 08:13 PM
- Duration – 13 Hours 54 Mins
- Krishna Dashami Moonrise on Karwa Chauth Day – 08:13 PM
- Chaturthi Tithi Begins – 10:54 PM on Oct 09, 2025
- Chaturthi Tithi Ends – 07:38 PM on Oct 10, 2025
In the United States, however, the timings may shift based on your local time zone. If you are in New York City, the timings are as follows:
- Karwa Chauth on Thursday, October 9, 2025
- Karwa Chauth Puja Muhurat – 06:25 PM to 07:40 PM
- Duration – 01 Hour 16 Mins
- Karwa Chauth Upavasa Time – 07:01 AM to 07:42 PM
- Duration – 12 Hours 41 Mins
- Krishna Dashami Moonrise on Karwa Chauth Day – 07:42 PM
- Chaturthi Tithi Begins – 01:24 PM on Oct 09, 2025
- Chaturthi Tithi Ends – 10:08 AM on Oct 10, 2025
History and origins of Karwa Chauth
Karwa Chauth, also spelled Karva Chauth or Karaka Chaturthi, is a Hindu festival predominantly observed by married women in northern parts of India for the safety, well-being, and longevity of their husbands. The term Karwa Chauth is derived from the Sanskrit words ‘karaka,’ meaning a pot or vessel of water, and ‘chaturthi,’ meaning the fourth day of the lunar fortnight. There are different stories in Hindu mythology about the origin of this festival.
Legends and stories
- Savitri and Satyavan: This story originates from the Mahabharata, where a woman named Savitri marries Satyavan, who is destined to die after a year of their wedding. But when the Yama, the Hindu god of death, arrives to collect the man’s soul, Savitri tries to talk him out of it. Yama gives her a boon after being impressed by her intellect, but she cannot ask for her husband’s life back. The woman asks Yama to grant her a hundred sons as a blessing, and without realizing the trick behind it, Yama grants the boon, which brings her husband back to life.
- Queen Veeravati: Another popular tale is of a newly married Veeravati who observed the fast but, exhausted by evening, was tricked by her brothers into believing the moon had risen. She broke her fast before the moonrise, only to realize later that her husband had died. Heartbroken, the woman asks mother goddess Parvati to bring her husband back, and ever since, she has observed a fast with unwavering devotion.
- Karva, the devoted wife: In another narrative, a woman named Karva bound a crocodile to save her husband from death. Some versions say that she even impressed Yama with her devotion towards her husband and brought her husband back to life. He was blessed with a long life.
Significance of Karwa Chauth
This festival is observed by married Hindu women for the long life, health, and prosperity of their husbands. They fast from dawn to dusk. It is a nirjala fast, meaning no food or water from sunrise until moonrise. On this occasion, women gather together and share Karwa Chauth Katha (ritual stories) and songs.
Traditions and rituals
The Karwa Chauth traditions include fasting, getting dressed in vibrant attire, and wrapping it up with moon sighting.
- Sargi (pre-dawn meal): Before sunrise, the fasting woman eats Sargi, a traditional prepared meal by her mother-in-law. This meal keeps the woman fueled through the fasting.
- Outfits: Women wear bridal or festive attire (sari or lehenga) in vibrant colours such as red and pink. They also wear traditional jewelry, paint their hands with mehndi (henna), and the 16 adornments (solah shringar).
- Puja and moon sighting: In the evening, women gather for a puja. When the moon appears, the married women would view it through a sieve (chhalni), offer water (arghya), and then look at their husband through the same sieve. This is followed by the husband feeding water or food to his wife, and breaking the fast.
- Breaking the fast: After the ritual, women consume water and food. Today, most men also observe vrat with their partners as a symbol of equality and devotion for their marital bond.
