Karwa Chauth
Karwa Chauth will be celebrated on October 20, 2024. It is celebrated on the Chaturthi tithi of Krishna Paksh in the month of Kartik every year.
Karwa Chauth is a special occasion for Hindu married women because they keep a nirjala vrat or fast without a drop of water or food to pray for good health, long life, and good fortune for their husbands.
It is also said that keeping a Karwa Chauth fast helps increase the love between the husband and his wife.
On this auspicious occasion, Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesh, Lord Kartikeya, and the moon are worshipped.
Meaning of the Word Karwa Chauth
The word Karwa Chauth is made up of two words- Karwa and Chauth. Karwa means an earthen pot and Chauth means fourth. So, literally, Karwa Chauth means the fourth day of offering water in an earthen pot.
Fasting Rules and Rituals on Karwa Chauth
Nirjal Vrat or Fast Without Water
Married women keep a strict fast from sunrise to sunset consuming neither food nor a drop of water or any other beverage. During this time, they are also not supposed to wear any makeup or jewellery.
Sargi
Before starting the fast, women eat sargi, a dish usually made by their mothers-in-law and consumed before dawn. A sargi thali consists of 16 makeup items, jewellery, and food items such as dry fruits, sweets, and fruits. Women who have no mother-in-law are offered a sargi thali by their sister-in-law. This is especially common among Punjabis.
Wearing Traditional Clothes and Jewellery
Women wear traditional Indian clothes, bangles, sindoor, bindi and mehendi during the Karwa Chauth puja.
Breaking Fast after Moon Rises
After keeping a nirjal vrat for the whole day, they finally break the fast when the moon rises and enjoy water and food brought by their husbands.
History of Karwa Chauth: Origin and Mythological Tales
There is no specific state where Karwa Chauth is known to originate but most say that it originated in the Northwestern part of India. The festival is primarily celebrated in the northern Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi.
Story of Goddess Karwa
Once upon a time, Goddess Karwa's husband was bathing in the Tungabhadra River and in an unfortunate series of events was attacked and killed by a crocodile. During this battle, he called out to his wife and she immediately rushed there.
Goddess Karwa chained the crocodile to a tree with just a raw thread and prayed to Lord Yama to return her husband's life. Seeing her intense devotion, he revived her husband.
Queen Veeravati's Devotion
Veeravati was a beautiful princess who dearly loved her husband. She was also the only sister of her seven brothers. On her first Karva Chauth, she spent the day at her parents' place.
Veeravati kept a fast from sunrise but her hunger and thirst became unbearable as the day proceeded. Her brothers became very concerned and ultimately decided to trick their sister into believing that the moon had risen. There are many different stories about how they created the false illusion of a moon.
However, Veeravati fell for it and immediately broke her fast. Immediately after this, she receives the devastating news that her husband had passed away.
There are two endings to this story. Some believe that she kept crying throughout the night when a goddess appeared and instructed her to observed Karva Chauth once again with full devotion. Others believe that she met Goddess Parvati and Shiv where she explained everything. Parvati then cuts her little finger and offers the holy blood to her and recommends her to observe the fast once again to bring her husband back to life.
Draupadi and Arjuna
Did you know that Draupadi had kept the Karwa Chauth fast in Mahabharata to ensure Arjuna's safety? It was Krishna who had advised her of this.
Arjuna usually went to forests for meditation and penance. Once, he went to an unknown forest and didn't return for a long time. Draupadi observed the Karwa Chauth fast after which he immediately returned.
Why is Karwa Chauth Celebrated: Its Importance
Karwa Chauth is a very important festival, especially for married women in India. They keep this strict fast to pray for the well-being and long life of their husbands.
Karwa Chauth has also gained much prominence in army households because soldiers are always accompanied by a threat of danger.
By observing fast on this day, women also pray for a blessed and fruitful married life to Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva.
In recent times, even men have started observing fast for their wives on Karwa Chauth!
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