1 min read 2023-11-01, 01:10 PM IST
Karva Chauth is a traditional Hindu festival celebrated by married women in India, especially in the northern regions. This festival is usually held on her 4th day of the waning month of Kartik, which corresponds to October or November in the Gregorian calendar. This is one of the most important and widespread fasts or vows for married Hindu women.
The word ‘Kalva’ means earthen pot and ‘Chaut’ means the fourth day. For the well-being and longevity of her husband, a woman fasts for a day, without food or water, from sunrise to moonrise. They break their fast after seeing the moon in the evening.
The main rituals of Karva Chauth usually include;
- Fasting: A married woman wakes up before sunrise and eats a pre-dawn meal (sargi) specially prepared by her mother-in-law. They go without food or water all day long.
- Dress up: Women wear beautiful traditional costumes (often red) and apply henna to their hands. They also adorn their hands with bangles and wear jewelry.
- Puja (Prayer): Women gather in the evening with other married women in the community or within the family for a group prayer. They worship the moon, the Karva Chauth Karva (pot), and idols of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. Special songs and prayers are sung during the puja.
- Breaking the Fast: After sighting the moon, the women offer water to the moon and then break their fast by sipping water and having a meal. It is often a festive dinner with Various delicacies.
- Exchange of karvas: In some regions, women exchange karvas (earthenware vessels) with friends and family as a symbol of friendship and goodwill.
This festival is celebrated with great pomp and is considered a time when a woman strengthens her bond with her husband and prays for his happiness. It also serves as a time to socialize and strengthen relationships between women in the community. Although Karva Chauth is mainly celebrated in northern India, it is popular in other parts of the country and remains an important cultural and religious event.