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

TL;DR

• 🗓️ Karva Chauth 2026 falls on Thursday, October 29 — the day-long fast starts before sunrise and ends at moonrise
• 🛕 The Hindu Temple and Cultural Center in Bothell runs an annual Karva Chauth cultural celebration open to the greater Eastside Indian community
• 🌙 Community groups including the Agrawals of Washington have hosted Redmond-area gatherings for the moon-sighting ritual
• 🛍️ Local Indian grocery stores stock sargi items, mehndi, and festive attire weeks before the fast
• 🔔 Confirm all event dates and hours before you go — details update as October approaches

Karva Chauth is among the most visually striking observances in the North Indian calendar: a full-day fast kept by married women, concluded the moment the moon rises and can be seen through a sieve. For the Indian diaspora in the Redmond area, 2026 brings another opportunity to observe this tradition far from the ancestral village — but surrounded by a community that takes it just as seriously.

This guide covers what the festival involves, where local Indian Americans gather to observe it, and what to look for as October 29 approaches.

About Karva Chauth

Karva Chauth — sometimes spelled Karwa Chauth — falls on the fourth day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Kartik, placing it in late October or early November in the Gregorian calendar. In 2026 the date is Thursday, October 29. Women begin the fast before sunrise, often eating a pre-dawn meal called sargi prepared by their mother-in-law, and then abstain from food and water until they sight the moon in the evening.

The ritual centers on the karva, a clay or metal pot filled with water, and the puja thali, which holds a sieve, a lit diya, sweets, and offerings. Groups of women gather to listen to the Karva Chauth katha — the traditional story behind the fast — perform puja together, and then watch for the moon as a group before breaking the fast.

In the Indian American community, the celebration has adapted over the decades. Extended families spread across time zones hold video calls during the puja. Community centers host large gatherings where dozens — sometimes hundreds — of women participate together, often in full festive attire and fresh mehndi.

Where to Observe Karva Chauth Near Redmond

The Redmond-Bellevue-Bothell corridor has a substantial Indian American population, and the infrastructure to match.

Hindu Temple and Cultural Center (HTCC), Bothell

The Hindu Temple and Cultural Center, located in Bothell and serving the broader Seattle Eastside, runs an annual Karva Chauth Cultural Celebrations program. The event is open to women across the greater Indian community and typically includes a group puja, katha recitation, and a moon-sighting gathering. Registration is available through the temple's website at htccwa.org. The temple is approximately 15 minutes north of Redmond on the 405 corridor, making it one of the most accessible formal Karva Chauth programs for Redmond residents.

The HTCC also publishes a full Hindu calendar for the greater Seattle community, which is useful for planning around the year's major observances.

Bellevue Hindu Temple

The Bellevue Hindu Temple serves the Eastside's Hindu community and hosts various festival celebrations throughout the year. For Redmond residents, it sits within a few miles of the city center and is worth contacting directly as October approaches to confirm whether they organize a specific Karva Chauth program in 2026. The temple's website at bellevuehindutemple.com carries event listings updated seasonally.

Agrawals of Washington — Neighborhood Gatherings

For something smaller and more neighborhood-scale, the Agrawals of Washington community group has previously hosted Karva Chauth gatherings in Redmond, including at local residential club houses. This kind of neighborhood-level gathering — organized by community volunteers and shared through group chats and local Indian American networks — is common across the Eastside. Keep an eye on local WhatsApp and Facebook groups for Redmond's Indian community, where these informal events tend to circulate in September and October.

Sargi, Mehndi, and Festive Shopping

The Eastside is well supplied for Karva Chauth preparation. Indian grocery stores in Bellevue and Redmond typically stock sargi baskets, puja items — karva pots, diyas, sindoor — and festival sweets in the weeks leading up to the fast. Mehndi artists, both professional and community-run, often offer Karva Chauth bookings. Search local Facebook groups and Nextdoor for recommendations from other Desi families in Redmond.

Insider Tip: If you plan to attend the HTCC's Karva Chauth celebration, register early. The event has historically filled up quickly, and spots for the cultural program are limited. The registration page at htccwa.org typically opens several weeks before the festival.

What to Expect the Day Of

Karva Chauth is a full-day observance, so planning the schedule in advance helps:

• Pre-dawn sargi meal: often before 6:00 a.m. in the Pacific Northwest in late October
• Daytime: the fast is observed; many women dress in festive attire throughout the day
• Evening puja: women gather to perform the katha and puja ritual together, typically beginning one to two hours before moonrise
• Moonrise: in the Redmond area, moonrise on October 29, 2026 falls in the early evening — check a local Hindu calendar with Seattle or Redmond coordinates closer to the date for the exact time
• Fast-breaking: follows immediately after the moon is sighted through the sieve

If you are attending a community event, arrive before the puja begins and come prepared with your own thali if the organizers request it.

FAQ

Q: Is Karva Chauth celebrated publicly in the Redmond area? A: Yes. The Hindu Temple and Cultural Center in nearby Bothell holds an organized Karva Chauth program each year, and informal gatherings happen across Redmond's Indian residential communities. Public temple events are the most accessible option for those new to the area.

Q: Do you have to be married to participate? A: The traditional fast is observed by married women. Community pujas and cultural gatherings, however, are generally open to all who wish to attend and observe.

Q: How do I find out about neighborhood Karva Chauth gatherings in Redmond? A: Local Indian American Facebook groups, WhatsApp networks, and community platforms are the best channels. The Desi.Net city page for Redmond also lists Indian community organizations and events.

Q: What is the moonrise time for Karva Chauth 2026 in Redmond? A: Moonrise times vary by location. Check a reliable Hindu calendar tool with the Seattle or Redmond coordinates closer to October 29, 2026, for the precise local time.

Q: Where can I buy puja supplies for Karva Chauth near Redmond? A: Indian grocery stores in Bellevue and Redmond carry karva pots, puja thalis, sindoor, and traditional sweets. Supplies typically appear in stores by early October.

Bottom Line

Karva Chauth 2026 — Thursday, October 29 — will be observed by Indian American families across the Redmond area, from formal temple programs to neighborhood-level gatherings. The Hindu Temple and Cultural Center in Bothell is the most structured option for a community puja experience, while the Bellevue Hindu Temple and local volunteer groups round out the options for Eastside residents. Confirm all event hours and dates before you go, as schedules are finalized closer to October. For a full list of Indian community organizations, temples, and businesses near Redmond, visit the Desi.Net city page for Redmond, WA.