Karwa Chauth 2026: Will Cyclone Arnab delay Moon sighting today? What to do if clouds hide the Moon, check city-wise moonrise timings

Happy Karwa Chauth 2026: For women observing Karwa Chauth, the fast ends only when the moon appears, and this year the weather may make that wait longer. Cyclone Arnab is bringing cloudy skies, rain and strong winds that may block or delay a direct view of the moon in parts of north and east India, including Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, on Karwa Chauth.

The Meteorological Department has warned of rain and winds of 40 to 50 km per hour over the next 48 hours. Evening skies are likely to be cloudy, which will make it harder to see the moon.

How Cyclone Arnab can affect moon sighting today

The cyclone does not change the actual time at which the moon rises. What it does is bring thick cloud, rain and haze that can hide the moon from view in many regions.

ALSO READ | Karwa Chauth 2026 Moon Time Live Updates: Will Cyclone Arnab delay moon sighting? Check puja muhurat, fasting timings, city-wise Moonrise time & more

What to do if clouds hide the moon

If the moon stays hidden after the local moonrise time, traditional and astrological guidance offers a few ways to complete the fast:

Moon made of rice: Draw or shape a moon out of rice on a clean plate, look at it through the Karwa Chauth sieve (chhalni) and offer prayers with "ॐ चंद्राय नमः" or "ॐ सोम सोमाय नमः."

Silver coin or object: Place a round silver coin or a piece of silver on a plate to stand in for Chandra Dev, and offer arghya at the scheduled local moonrise time.

Prayers through Lord Shiva: Offer prayers and arghya with the intention of Chandra darshan through Lord Shiva, who wears the crescent moon.

Moonrise time versus what you can actually see

The astronomical moonrise time is fixed, but whether you can see the moon from the ground depends on how clear the sky is. In Delhi-NCR, the moon is scheduled to rise between 8:11 PM and 8:17 PM. With overcast conditions and evening showers expected, sighting may be delayed or blocked in many parts of Delhi, Noida, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. If the storm front keeps the sky covered, people may have to depend on clearer horizons elsewhere or on local updates.

Karwa Chauth 2026 date, puja muhurat and fasting timings

Karwa Chauth is being observed today, October 29, 2026. As with most Hindu festivals, the date is decided by Udaya Tithi, which means the tithi present at sunrise determines the day. These are the timings according to Drik Panchang: