Festivals in India- Karwa Chauth

Karva Chauth represents a fast held by married Hindu women.

These women pray for the prosperity, welfare, longevity and well-being of their husbands.

This is done prior to Diwali, hence always falls in the month of October or November. This is a fast observed by North Indian women.

They fast for the husband’s well-being as he takes care of food, clothing, shelter, comfort, respectability and happiness after marriage.

This is a tough fast observed as it initiates before the sunrise and ends only after the worship of moon.

Majority of the times the moon appears only at 8.45 p.m. Food or water is strictly not taken after the sunrise. This fast is followed even in educate homes and is viewed as a sentiment symbol for her husband.

The Karva Chauth Puja preparation starts at 4 or 5 p.m. This is done in the puja room or even to accommodate many more women it is celebrated in some open courtyard or verandah.

Earlier, girls used to get married at a small age and this became a custom to befriend other neighborhood women to share sorrows and joys.

Sanctifying this friendship as a Hindu ceremony is the reason that this day is celebrated in the honor of their relation and the prosperity of their husbands. They consider each other like true sisters.

Karva Chauth began as a festival and was celebrated with sincerity in the form of fasting and praying for their husbands. This was later on attached to mythical tales and the festival was enhanced.

Teej is celebrated in Rajasthan and Karva Chauth is identically the same with a different name and is celebrated in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and other northern parts of India.

Women dress in their best finery and observe fast by drinking fruit juice as well as water only. They pray for the long life and prosperity of their children and husbands. Exchanging of sweets and clothes is also a practice. They worship as soon as the moon is sighted in the sky.

Karva represents the ten earthen pots that have sprouts. As the reflection of the moon is observed in a plate filled with water, they end their fast and have a feast. Boxes of gifts and sweets are given to young women and discourses praising Parvati is sung.

Karva Chauth is observed with great devotion. Similarly, many myths are attached to this occasion. Mostly, women wear new clothes and the feast is filled with varieties. The entire family members make it a point to come together and have their food together at night with the ladies of the house.