Is this the same as the moon-viewing that is AVOIDED on Ganesh Chaturthi?

No — it is the opposite. On Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi the moon is traditionally NOT looked at, on account of the Syamantaka episode, and that avoidance is specific to that night. Chandra Darshan is the welcomed first sighting a couple of days earlier in the same bright fortnight.

Why does the site show it on a day when I could not see the moon?

The computed day is when the crescent is above the horizon after sunset and far enough from the sun to be visible in clear conditions. Cloud, haze, hills and city light all decide what you actually see; the almanac cannot.

Chandra Darshan

Also called Chandra Darshanam, Chandira Tharisanam

When

Saturday, 12 September 2026 in 2 days

New Delhi · change location

Sunrise6:08 AM

Sunset6:26 PM

Pratipada until 7:46 AM
at sunrise. This observance is governed by evening, not by the sunrise tithi — which is why the tithi named here is often not the one the festival is named for.

Uttara Phalguni until 12:55 PM

9:12 AM – 10:45 AM

See the complete panchang for that day →

Governed by evening

Why this date?

The first sighting of the new crescent after Amavasya. It is not a tithi observance in the ordinary sense: the tithi tells you the moon is young, but whether the crescent is actually VISIBLE depends on how far it has moved from the sun, how long it stays above the horizon after sunset, and the clarity of the western sky where you are. The sighting window is short — the crescent sets soon after the sun — which is why the day is reckoned from the evening rather than from sunrise.

Computed by the panchanga engine for your location
Follows a written selection rule, not a copied list
The governing period is stated, and the rule is applied to it
The written guide has not yet been reviewed by a named scholar

Dates come from the calculation engine and are independent of the written guide. How we calculate →

Dates in the coming years

Published to 2030. Later years appear as the dataset is extended and validated.

What In short

The evening on which the new moon's crescent is first seen after Amavasya, low in the west shortly after sunset. Seeing it is held to be auspicious, and in many households the day's fast is broken only after the sighting.

Deity: Chandra
Recurs: monthly

Why The reason behind it

The returning crescent is the plainest visible sign that the lunar month has begun again, and Chandra is one of the Navagraha. The moon governs the mind in the graha scheme, so the first darshan of the returning moon carries the sense of a mind renewed along with the month.

Traditional basis

Navagraha and Chandra worship tradition — Chandra as a graha receives darshan and arghya in ordinary household practice; the new crescent is the month's first opportunity.

Panchanga convention — The lunar month's practical beginning is marked by the visible crescent, which is why almanacs note the sighting separately from the Amavasya instant.

How At home, step by step

Look low in the WEST shortly after sunset — the crescent is thin and sets quickly, so the window is often under an hour.
Offer arghya (water) to the moon once it is sighted.
Where a fast is kept for the day, break it after the sighting.

What you'll need

Water for arghya
A ghee lamp
Flowers

Fasting and breaking the fast

Optional and light where kept at all — commonly a single meal, broken after the crescent is seen. This is not one of the demanding fasts.

Fasting guidance here describes traditional practice. It is not medical advice — if you are pregnant, diabetic, on medication or unwell, ask a doctor about your own circumstances.

Personal In your region

Gujarat (Gujarati)
Sighting the crescent at the start of a month is widely marked, and the day carries additional weight when it opens an important month.
Tamil Nadu (Tamil)
Kept as Chandira Tharisanam; the sighting is noted in the household almanac.

For children

The moon disappears for a night or two, and this is the evening it comes back — a very thin bright curve low in the sky just after the sun goes down. You have to look quickly, because it sets soon after.

Common questions

Is this the same as the moon-viewing that is AVOIDED on Ganesh Chaturthi?: No — it is the opposite. On Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi the moon is traditionally NOT looked at, on account of the Syamantaka episode, and that avoidance is specific to that night. Chandra Darshan is the welcomed first sighting a couple of days earlier in the same bright fortnight.
Why does the site show it on a day when I could not see the moon?: The computed day is when the crescent is above the horizon after sunset and far enough from the sun to be visible in clear conditions. Cloud, haze, hills and city light all decide what you actually see; the almanac cannot.

This guide has not yet been reviewed by a named scholar or practising priest. The dates and times on this page come from the calculation engine and are independent of it; the explanatory text is editorial and may not reflect your family's practice. Tell us if something is wrong.