Karva Chauth 2026 in Latur: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate

TL;DR
- Karva Chauth 2026 falls on October 29 in Latur — the same day as Sankashti Chaturthi, making it a doubly auspicious occasion
- Jagdamba Temple Golai and Ganj Golai Jagdamba Temple are Latur's most prominent destinations for Karva Chauth evening puja
- The moon-sighting ritual anchors the evening: families gather in courtyards and open grounds across the city
- Latur's festival calendar this autumn runs from Navratri (October 11) through Diwali (November 8) — six straight weeks of observance
- Siddheshwar & Ratneshwar Temple and Shri Ashtavinayak Mandir round out the city's major puja destinations
Karva Chauth in Latur: The Fasting Day That Binds Families
Karva Chauth 2026 falls on October 29 in Latur, Maharashtra — a Thursday that this year coincides with Sankashti Chaturthi, the monthly fast day dedicated to Ganesha. The convergence of two fasting occasions on the same day is considered particularly propitious by many families, and temples across Latur are expected to see strong attendance for both observances.
For those unfamiliar with Karva Chauth, it is a day-long fast observed primarily by married women for the long life and wellbeing of their husbands. The fast begins before sunrise and is broken only after the moon rises and is sighted — typically through a sieve (chalni), after which water is offered. The ritual sequence — puja, the listening of the Karva Chauth vrat katha, the moon-sighting, and then the breaking of the fast — is the same across North India and has spread widely among Marathi families as well.
In Latur, the observance has a distinctly community-oriented character. Women gather in neighborhood groups for the evening moon-sighting, and temples host the katha recitation in the late afternoon. The festival cuts across generations, with young couples new to the ritual drawing on the guidance of mothers and mothers-in-law, while older women lead neighborhood groups through the ceremony with practiced ease.
Latur has deep roots in both Shaiva and Vaishnav traditions, and the city's temples carry the weight of centuries of religious practice. The autumn festival season — which in 2026 runs from Navratri through Diwali without interruption — is the most spiritually and socially charged period of the year for the city.
Temples for Karva Chauth Puja in Latur
Jagdamba Temple Golai is one of Latur's best-known religious sites, dedicated to Jagdamba — a form of the goddess Amba associated with maternal power and protection. The temple draws large crowds during all major Devi-centered festivals, and Karva Chauth, with its focus on Parvati (and by extension all goddess forms), sees special puja programs. The evening hours, when women come to seek the goddess's blessings before the moon-sighting, are typically the most attended.
Ganj Golai Jagdamba Temple, located on Saraf Line in Ganj Golai, Latur (Maharashtra 413512), is a related but distinct site that also carries the Jagdamba dedication. Both temples in the Golai area have strong neighborhood followings, and the choice between them often comes down to which locality a family lives in.
Siddheshwar & Ratneshwar Temple in Hatte Nagar, Latur (Maharashtra 413512) is a Shaiva temple of considerable antiquity and local reverence. While its primary dedication is to Shiva in the Siddheshwar form, the temple also holds pujas for Parvati during Karva Chauth and Navratri. Its location in Hatte Nagar makes it central to that part of the city.
Shri Ashtavinayak Mandir in Narayan Nagar, Latur (Maharashtra 413512) is dedicated to Ganesha in his eight sacred forms (the Ashtavinayak pilgrimage shrines of Maharashtra, replicated here). Since Sankashti Chaturthi — the Ganesha fast day — falls on the same day as Karva Chauth in 2026, this temple will be an especially relevant destination for families observing both fasts.
Shri Ramdev Baba Temple on Ausa Road and Pavansuth Hanuman Mandir on Barshi Road (contact: 9421354422) round out the city's temple circuit. The Hanuman Mandir, with its accessible location and active seva schedule, is a popular stop for Tuesday and Saturday devotees, and its evening programs draw steady attendance.
The Full Autumn Festival Calendar in Latur
Latur's autumn 2026 festival season is among the richest in the Maharashtra calendar. Navratri 2026 opens on October 11 — nine nights of Garba, Dandiya, and goddess worship that fill the city's open grounds and community halls. Durga Ashtami falls on October 19, the climactic eighth day of Navratri. Dussehra / Vijayadashami comes on October 20, closing Navratri with Ravan Dahan celebrations and the symbolic victory of dharma.
Ekadashi on October 22 and Pradosh Vrat on October 24 follow, giving devoted families further fasting days within the same week. Purnima (full moon) on October 26 marks a natural pause before the lunar month turns toward its dark fortnight — and then on October 29, Karva Chauth and Sankashti Chaturthi arrive together.
The Diwali cluster completes the season: Ekadashi on November 5, Dhanteras on November 6, Pradosh Vrat on November 7, and Diwali and Amavasya both on November 8 — a remarkable confluence where the new moon and Diwali fall on the same calendar day, as they do every year by design of the panchang.
For Latur, which is a significant city in interior Maharashtra with strong both urban and agricultural community ties, this six-week festival corridor is the social and spiritual heartbeat of the year.
Insider Tip
Insider Tip: The moon rises late on Karva Chauth — often an hour or more after sunset. Latur's flat Deccan plateau horizon means the moon becomes visible relatively cleanly, but patience is required. Women typically gather for the moon-sighting around 8–8:30 PM local time. Bring a steel chalni (sieve) and a diya — they're easy to find at Latur's bazaars in the days before the festival.
FAQ
When is Karva Chauth 2026 in Latur? Karva Chauth falls on October 29, 2026 in Latur — the same day as Sankashti Chaturthi.
Which temples hold Karva Chauth puja in Latur? Jagdamba Temple Golai, Ganj Golai Jagdamba Temple, and Siddheshwar & Ratneshwar Temple are the main destinations. Shri Ashtavinayak Mandir is also relevant given the Sankashti Chaturthi coincidence on the same day.
What time is the moon-sighting ritual on Karva Chauth? The moon typically rises after 8 PM local time. Check a local almanac (panchang) for the exact moonrise time in Latur on October 29, 2026.
Is Karva Chauth widely observed in Latur? Yes. While Karva Chauth is historically a North Indian festival, it is now widely observed across Maharashtra, including Latur, particularly by families with North Indian heritage and increasingly by Marathi families as well.
What other festivals happen near Karva Chauth in Latur? Navratri (Oct 11), Durga Ashtami (Oct 19), Dussehra (Oct 20), Purnima (Oct 26), Dhanteras (Nov 6), and Diwali (Nov 8) all fall within the same six-week window.
Bottom Line
Karva Chauth 2026 in Latur lands on October 29 — a day that doubles as Sankashti Chaturthi, giving the city's devotional community two observances to anchor the evening. Jagdamba Temple Golai, Ganj Golai Jagdamba Temple, Siddheshwar & Ratneshwar Temple, and Shri Ashtavinayak Mandir are the temples to know for puja and katha. Whether you are observing the Karva Chauth fast for the first time or the fortieth, Latur's communal spirit — built across generations of festival practice — makes the evening's moon-sighting something genuinely shared.
