Wives fast all day for husband's longevity; fast broken after sighting the moon

Karwa Chauth is the day-long nirjala fast kept by married women, on the Chaturthi of the dark fortnight of Kartika (Purnimanta), for the long life, health and well-being of their husbands; many unmarried women now keep it for a good husband, and some husbands fast alongside their wives. It is observed across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Karwa is the earthen pot with a spout used in the puja, and chauth is the fourth day. Before sunrise, women eat the sargi — sweets, fruits and dry fruits sent by the mother-in-law — and then fast without food or water until moonrise. In the evening, dressed in bridal finery with mehendi on their hands, they gather to worship Goddess Gauri (Chauth Mata), Shiva, Ganesha and Kartikeya, passing their thalis around in a circle (the baya) and listening to the vrat katha of Queen Veeravati, who broke her fast when her brothers showed her a false moon and regained her husband's life through a year of devotion. When the moon rises, the wife views it through a sieve, then looks at her husband's face, offers arghya to the moon, and breaks the fast with water from his hand.

No food or water from sunrise until moonrise; sargi is eaten before sunrise. Pregnant or unwell women may keep a phalahar fast.