Karwa Chauth tambola is a gentle game for the long afternoon before the moon rises. Print up to 600 unique Karwa Chauth tambola tickets in deep red with a crescent moon on every one, then call the numbers and give prizes such as the Chalni Line, the Karwa Line and the Chand Full House. The pack has a caller sheet, a prize list and a rules page, and you can play it live on phones.
Karwa chauth tambola to print (PDF)
These four pages show a Karwa Chauth tambola set: a page of tickets titled “Karwa Chauth Tambola”, the 1 to 90 caller sheet, the prize list with the festival prize names and the one-page rules. Click a picture for the PDF, or use the generator at the top of the page to change the title, the date, the paper size and the number of tickets.
What is in the Karwa Chauth tambola pack
Everything below is made in your browser, and nothing you type is uploaded. Put the name of your group or your neighborhood in the title box.
| Page | What you get | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tickets | Real strips of six: each strip uses every number from 1 to 90 exactly once | Up to 600 tickets, deep red with a crescent-moon motif and gold trim, with your title and the group name on every ticket |
| Caller sheet | A 1 to 90 grid to cross off as you call | Keep it to check every winning claim |
| Prize list | The six Karwa Chauth prizes, from Sargi Five to Chand Full House | Space to write each prize and the winning ticket number |
| Rules page | A one-page script to read out before the first number | Covers claims and what happens after a wrong one |
Karwa Chauth tambola prizes and what they mean
The Karwa Chauth theme names each prize after something in the day’s rituals, so reading the list out loud connects the game to the festival. Here is what each prize means and how to win it:
| Prize | How to win | Karwa Chauth link |
|---|---|---|
| Sargi Five | Early Five: the first five numbers marked on a ticket | Sargi is the pre-dawn meal that starts the day’s fast |
| Chalni Line | Top Line: all five numbers on the top row | The chalni, or sieve, is used to look at the moon |
| Karwa Line | Middle Line: all five numbers on the middle row | The karwa is the small clay pot that gives the festival its name |
| Sindoor Line | Bottom Line: all five numbers on the bottom row | Sindoor is the red powder worn by married women |
| Four Stars | Corners: the first and last number of the top and bottom rows | One star in each corner, waiting for the moon |
| Chand Full House | Full House: all fifteen numbers marked | Chand is the moon, and the full house is the moment it appears |
Number calls for your Karwa Chauth tambola
Karwa Chauth has a few numbers that guests know by heart. Use them as short calls, and keep the tone warm and respectful:
| Number | Call it | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | One moon | The festival is built around a single moment, the moonrise |
| 4 | Chauth | Karwa Chauth falls on the fourth day after the full moon in the month of Kartik |
| 7 | Seven vows | The saptapadi of the wedding, which the day remembers |
| 11 | Eleven days to Diwali | Karwa Chauth usually falls about eleven days before Diwali |
| 16 | Solah shringar | The sixteen adornments that many women wear on the day |
| 21 | Shubh ikkis | A lucky number for gifts and blessings |
| 8 | Evening moonrise | Many cities see the moon at around eight in the evening, though the time changes each year and each city |
| 90 | Top of the shop | The last number on the board |
How long does a Karwa Chauth tambola game last?
A Karwa Chauth tambola should fit in the quiet afternoon between the katha and the moonrise, so it helps to know how long a game runs. The table shows when each prize is usually won and how many minutes the whole game takes at the default speed of 10 seconds a call.
| Tickets | Typical crowd | Early Five | First full line | Full House | Time at 10 s a call |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 tickets | a family of neighbors | call 14 (12 to 17) | call 43 (36 to 49) | call 76 (71 to 78) | 13 min |
| 24 tickets | a ladies’ group in a society | call 13 (11 to 15) | call 38 (33 to 42) | call 73 (69 to 76) | 12 min |
| 48 tickets | a community gathering | call 11 (10 to 13) | call 32 (27 to 37) | call 70 (67 to 73) | 12 min |
| 90 tickets | a large temple or club event | call 10 (9 to 11) | call 29 (25 to 33) | call 68 (64 to 70) | 11 min |
The numbers come from real simulations of this generator: 300 games for each ticket count, with the typical call number and the middle half of results in brackets. More tickets mean the first prizes arrive sooner, but with 12 to 90 tickets the Full House still comes around call 68 to 76, because someone must complete all fifteen numbers. For a short wait, run the game at 8 seconds a call and stop after the Chalni Line and the Chand Full House.
Karwa Chauth games for the afternoon wait
Karwa Chauth games have a special job: they fill the hours between the evening katha and the moonrise, when women who are fasting are tired and waiting. A seated, low-energy game such as tambola is perfect, because nobody has to move or eat. Because the guests are fasting, choose prizes that are not food: bangles, bindis, small mirrors and diyas.
Karwa Chauth party games and the Karwa Chauth kitty party
A Karwa Chauth kitty party is common in societies, where the ladies’ group meets for the katha, the mehendi and the thali decoration. Karwa Chauth party games can be added after the katha: a round of tambola, a quiz about the story and a thali decoration contest. For more ideas, try kitty party tambola.
A respectful note on the festival
Karwa Chauth is observed by many married women, and increasingly by couples and by unmarried women who keep the fast for a partner. Practices differ from family to family, and some women fast without water while others do not. Keep the game light and avoid comments about who fasts and who does not. For background on the festival, see Wikipedia’s Karva Chauth article.
How to run a Karwa Chauth tambola in six steps
- A week before: decide who hosts the katha, how many tickets you need and what prizes to give.
- Print: type the group name into the title box and print the tickets, the caller sheet and the prize list.
- After the katha: give each guest a ticket and a pen or a few seeds as markers.
- Before the first number: read the prize list, and remind everyone that the game ends when the moon appears.
- During the game: call a number every 10 seconds and pause when the first guest spots the moon.
- After the game: hand out the prizes, keep the tickets and move on to the moon-viewing.
Prize ideas for a Karwa Chauth tambola
- A pair of glass bangles or a set of bindis for the Sargi Five
- A small mirror or a decorated diya for the Chalni Line
- A decorated clay karwa or a small brass pot for the Karwa Line
- A set of sindoor boxes or hair clips for the Sindoor Line
- A bigger gift, a thali set or a shawl, for the Chand Full House
Type any of these into the “Extra fun prizes” box and they print on the prize list:
- Solah Shringar: the first guest to mark the number 16
- Chauth: the first to mark the number 4
- Shubh Ikkis: the first to mark the number 21
- Moon Spotter: a bonus prize for the first guest to see the moon, no ticket needed
Host tips for a smooth game
- Choose non-food prizes for guests who are fasting, and give any sweets as gifts to take home.
- Seat guests in a circle, so that the game is easy to hear without a microphone.
- Print the tickets in large size (3 per page) for older guests who are tired from the fast.
- Keep the game short enough to finish before the moonrise.
Wikipedia’s Karva Chauth article describes the customs, the stories and the regional differences.
Play Karwa Chauth tambola live on phones
Press Create game in the live game below, share the link and every guest opens a different e-ticket on their phone. Numbers are called automatically at the speed you choose, read aloud in English or Hindi if you like, and you can check any winning claim by ticket number. No app and no sign-up. It is helpful for women who are fasting at home and cannot travel to the group.
Karwa chauth tambola: frequently asked questions
What are good Karwa Chauth games for a group?
Seated games such as tambola, antakshari and a quiz about the story work well, because the guests are fasting and tired. Add a thali decoration contest for a creative round.
Can I play Karwa Chauth tambola online?
Yes. The live game on this page gives each guest an e-ticket on a phone, so you can play with family in other cities while you wait for the moon.
What prizes are suitable for Karwa Chauth?
Bangles, bindis, mirrors, diyas and thali sets are traditional choices and are not food. For the winners, choose items that the guests can use on the day or take home.
How many tickets can I print?
From 1 to 600 in one go, with 3, 6, 8 or 12 tickets per page. Press New tickets for a completely different set, and choose Letter or A4 paper, in color or black and white.
Are the karwa chauth tambola tickets free?
Yes. The tickets, caller sheet, prize list, rules page and live game are all free for home, club and classroom use, with no sign-up.