ॐ Hindu Of Universe ॐ

“God’s light is within you, It never leaves you.”

Karwa Chauth, the famous festival of India celebrated by Hindu married women, falls close to Sharad Purnima or the immediate full moon night after Vijaya Dashami.

Many Hindu women around the country gear up to celebrate Karwa Chauth after Navaratri days.

Married Hindu women fast all day to pray for the long lives of their husbands.

This festival is unique in the sense that the day is observed with nirjala (without water) fast.

Women do not even consume a morsel of food or even a drop of water until they see the moon in the evening.

Fasting is usually rigorous keeping their health too in mind.

This is also an occasion where the bonding in the relationship between husband and wife becomes more concrete.

Colourful rangolis are also drawn at houses along with singing of melodious folk and devotional songs.

Importance of Vrat (fasting) during Karwa Chauth: ‘Karwa’ is pot and ‘chauth’ means fourth.

This is the occasion of offering Arghya to the moon using the pot on Chaturthi tithi.

This occasion falls on Krishna Paksha Chaturthi or the fourth day of moon’s waning phase in the month of Kartik.

Another name for this festival is Karak Chaturthi.

This custom is believed to have originated in ancient times, when many men used to stay away from their family for several months.

This may be because of trade, travel or even wars to protect the country.

Wives of those who stayed away perform special prayers for the longevity of their husbands.

It included fasting for a day, for their health and overall family welfare.

They start preparing for the fasting, a few days in advance.

Applying mehndi, getting sargi from mothers-in-law etc. are the key celebrations.

Apart from these, gifts comprising bangles, saris, sindoor, nuts, dry fruits, and snacks are also offered.

Karwa Chauth – Celebration:

Karwa Chauth Sargi and its time: Sargi is a very significant ritual on this occasion.

Mothers-in-law prepare traditional dishes and present the thaali of Sargi to their daughters-in-law.

One among the important dish is Feni, a vermicelli pudding.

This dish is eaten before sunrise.

Those who plan to observe full day fasting must have it after the Chaturthi Tithi (Chaturthi date) at 3:24 AM or before the sun rise.

All these rituals and importance shows that this is an occasion where the bondage between mother and daughter-in-law is expressed with divinity, love and affection.

Parents buy gifts and sweets for their daughters who recently got married.

Puja thali is decorated to symbolise a happily married life during this occasion.

Pregnant women and those who are sick are of ten advised to avoid fasting.

Some women get dressed in new red coloured clothes symbolising a happy married life.

Some women celebrate it by narrating folk tales, reading stories on the day of fasting and singing folk songs by making the celebrations lively.

The fast is broken in the evening after seeing a glimpse of the moon.

Shopping of new items also adds colour to this festival, and markets are also decorated.

Another common ritual is to worship Goddess Parvathi, consort of Lord Shiva.

A didactic story related to Hindu gods is narrated by an elderly woman in the family before opening the fast.

Stories have always been an attractive way to lay down the principles followed by Hindus.

Festivals celebrated by Hindus have always been the true expression of its rich cultural heritage drawn from ancient ages. These celebrations during the festival are a source of joy and happy memories.

It creates a lifelong impression in the minds of people who observe the fast.

Markets selling pots are full of colourful pooja items with decorated thalis and idols of goddess Parvati.

The puja plate is decorated with new, glittering cloth piece along with gota patti.

North Indian sweets like fenia, common dry fruits, matthi and kheer are beautifully arranged on this plate.

Neighbours and family members join together for the rituals performed in the evening.

Idol of goddess Parvathi is worshipped. Karwa Chauth Mahatamya (significance) is narrated during this occasion.

The women also chant the holy hymn by passing pooja thalis around in the circle.

Women wait for the moon to rise after the pooja.

During the moon rise, women begin the lighting of diyas by chanting mantras.

Clay pots are filled with milk, water, coins etc.

as offering.

Arghya to moon is offered using Karwas (pot).

They see the moon through a round shape sieve.

Same sieve is used to look at their husbands and praying for his long life.

Breaking of fasting happens when husband offers first sip of water and food.

 A great feast is followed by this.

Legends of Karwa Chauth: A widely known story is of the beautiful queen named Veervati.

Veervati was the only sister among seven loving brothers.

Her first Karwa Chauth was at her parents’ house. She kept the fast.

Knowing this, her brothers were anguished. She refused their pleading to break the fast.

They played a trick by placing a mirror on a Pipal tree, that was in the shape of a moon. She believed that it was original moon.

Veervati fell in the trick and broke the fast. But the fate was not with her.

News reached that her husband, the king, was dead just before breaking the fast.

The story in Mahabharata: Draupadi also used to observe the Karwa Chauth fast for the safety and longevity of her husbands.

The story goes like this – Pandavas had to go through lot of struggles and problems at the time of Arjuna’s absence during his penance.

Draupadi prayed to Lord Krishna during this difficult situation.

Krishna reminded her about a similar situation faced by Goddess Parvati and how she kept a fast for Lord Shiva.

This inspired Draupadi to fast on the day of Karva Chauth for her husbands by following all the rituals.

It is believed that the Pandavas were able to resolve their issues with the power of her fasting.

The story of Karva: There was a devoted wife with name Karwa. Karwa’s husband was caught by a crocodile while bathing in a river.

Karwa tied the crocodile with a cotton yarn to save her husband. She asked Yamaraja, God of death to send the animal to hell. Yamaraja refused.

She then threatened to destroy Yamaraja with her curse.

He had to send crocodile to hell and blessed her husband for a long life.

Summary: Traditional rituals and festivals like Karwa Chauth add charm, bliss, love and affection in any couple’s relationship.

Love and care have always been the foundation of any relationship.

Festivals like these make this foundation even stronger.

Karwa Chauth

Every year on Karwa Chauth, also known as Karak Chaturthi, Hindu devotees mark the festival by reciting famous legends that are significant to this day.

The festival, which will be celebrated across India on 1 November, is incomplete without reciting the Karwa Chauth story.

Several married women dressed up as a bride would gather and narrate the Karwa Chauth Katha (story) in the evening.

Women primarily observe fasts to honor and channel the divine essence of the Goddess Parvati, who herself fasted to obtain Lord Shiva as her beloved husband.

Story of Veeravati

The legend of Karwa Chauth is deeply associated with the story of a beautiful queen named Veeravati.

She was deeply in love with her husband and was the only sister of seven loving brothers who selflessly pampered her.

One fateful day, while visiting her home, Veeravati decided to keep a nirjala vrat, fasting without water and food, for her husband.

However, due to weakness, she couldn’t bear the hunger and eventually fainted. Witnessing her condition, her brothers couldn’t bear to see her suffer and pleaded with her to eat.

Despite their requests, Veeravati remained resolute, stating that she was patiently waiting for the moon to rise.

To make her break the fast, Veeravati’s brothers came up with a plan.

They climbed up a tree and held a flame behind a sieve, creating the illusion of the moon.

Veeravati, convinced that the moon had risen, took a bite of food to break her fast, unknowingly leading to the demise of her beloved husband.

Upon hearing the news of her husband’s demise, Veerawati broke down and cried vehemently and inconsolably.

Looking at her plight, Goddess Indrani, the wife of Lord Indra, arrived to console her and said that she could bring back her husband alive by observing fast every month throughout the year.

She started following Goddess Indrani’s advice and prayed to Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kartikeya.

Impressed by her devotion and patience, the God of death Yama returned her husband alive.

Story of Karva Devi and Savitri

The origin of Karwa Chauth can also be traced back to a woman named Karva Devi, whose husband got attacked by a crocodile while he was taking a bath in the river.

Karwa exhibited great bravery by releasing her husband from the jaws of the crocodile but when the god of death, Yama, appeared to take her husband, Karwa refused.

Looking at her dedication, Yama gave her the blessing and increased her husband’s life.

Another important legend associated with this festival recounts the tale of Princess Savitri.

She wedded Prince Satyavan, who had been banished and was foretold to pass away within a year.

Despite the prediction, Princess Savitri married him and performed deep penance to save her husband from the god of death, Yama by persuading the deity to restore his life.

Legend From The ‘Mahabharata’

Another famous tale from ancient India’s ‘Mahabharata’ era is the story of Karwa Chauth.

Based on the legend, Arjuna went to meditate in the Nilgiris mountains of the Western Ghats in Southern India, his wife Draupadi became worried and sought the help of Lord Krishna to protect him.

Lord Krishna, in response, advised Draupadi to observe a fast for Arjuna, similar to how Goddess Parvati had fasted for her husband, Lord Shiva.

It is believed that Draupadi fasted for Arjuna’s well-being during the Mahabharata war.

Legend has it that it was Draupadi’s unwavering devotion towards her husband that ensured his safety during the war and also contributed to the victory of the Pandavas over the Kauravas.

Auspicious Time (Muhurat) for Puja

Karwa Chauth, also known as Karaka Chaturthi, is derived from two words – Karwa, which means earthen pots, and Chauth, which means the fourth day of the lunar month.

Karwa Chauth

Karwa Chauth, a significant Hindu festival celebrated predominantly by married women, is a day-long fast that demonstrates the deep love and devotion they have for their husbands.

It is an occasion where wives fast from sunrise to moonrise, praying for the long and prosperous lives of their spouses.

KARWA CHAUTH : HISTORY

The history of Karwa Chauth dates back to ancient times.

The term ‘Karwa’ refers to an earthen pot used to store water, while ‘Chauth’ signifies the fourth day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartika.

The earliest mention of Karwa Chauth is found in the epic Mahabharata.

The legend of Queen Veervati is a popular narrative linked to the festival’s origins. Queen Veervati observed a strict fast on Karwa Chauth, praying for the well-being and longevity of her husband’s life.

Due to her unfortunate fate, she could not complete the fast due to her weakness.

Her brothers, distressed by her condition, created an illusion of the moonrise to break her fast.

The moment she broke her fast, she received news that her husband had died.

Heartbroken and desperate, she prayed with the utmost devotion and determination. Through her unwavering faith and rituals, her husband was miraculously brought back to life, marking the inception of the tradition.

KARWA CHAUTH : SIGNIFICANCE

Karwa Chauth is a symbol of the deep love and commitment that married women have to their husbands.

It is a way to express their devotion and desire for their husband’s well-being and longevity.

The day is an opportunity for couples to strengthen their marital bonds.

Women often dress in their finest attire, applying intricate mehndi designs, and exchanging gifts with their husbands as a sign of love and appreciation.

Karwa Chauth fosters a sense of community and solidarity among women.

They often gather together for morning prayers, share stories, and support one another throughout the day of fasting.

Karwa Chauth is not only a religious festival but also an essential part of India’s cultural tapestry.

It highlights the rich heritage and traditions of the country.

While the essence of Karwa Chauth remains the same, modern women have adapted the tradition to suit their lifestyles.

Some couples choose to fast together, symbolising the mutual love and respect in their relationship.

It has also become an occasion for husbands to express their love and appreciation for their wives.

Karwa Chauth Origin

Karwa Chauth is a unique fasting festival witnessed only in India.

This one-day festival is celebrated once a year, on the fourth day of the ‘Karthik’ month according to the Hindu calendar.

The term ‘Karwa’ means earthen pot, which symbolizes peace and prosperity and ‘Chauth’ refers to ‘fourth day’.

This festival is one of the many beloved occasions in India, where families and friends get together and enjoy.

Many pooja rituals are performed on this day and several delicious dishes are prepared too.

However, the ritual that forms a significant part of this festival is the fasting ceremony observed by married Hindu women.

This sacrifice is performed for the well-being of their husbands and it takes place from sunrise to sunset.

The aim behind the celebration of Karwa Chauth is an honorable one, and this has added interesting aspect to Indian culture.

Love between the husband and wife and respect among their families, is what Karwa Chauth aims to achieve by the performance of these rituals.

The origin of Karwa Chauth is explained in the following lines.

Karva Chauth History and Origin
For the married Hindu women in northern and western regions in India, this festival is not just another festive occasion, but has a symbolical value to their lives.

They believe that their fasting throughout the day will secure fortune, prosperity and long lives for their husbands.

This fasting festival is based on an ancient story.

During the ancient times in India, girls were married off at young ages and according to tradition, they had to leave their own houses and stay with their in-laws.

These girls had no one but their god-sisters, with whom they could speak to.

On the bride’s wedding day, a small Hindu ceremony would take place, where one woman became their god-sister for eternity.

These other women became their sisters for life and they shared a pure and sanctified bond of friendship.

Each bride had her own god-sister and they would help each other in times of hardship, sharing their thoughts and problems with one another.

Thus, the festival of Karwa Chauth was originally created for those reasons, to celebrate the bond of friendship and sisterhood.

As years passed, the Karwa Chauth festival evolved and the fasting ritual for the longevity and wealth of husbands became the main part of this festival.

However, the husband is always linked to this festival for the reason that, the bride would develop a sisterly bond with the woman who will become their god-sister, only on the day of her marriage.

It makes sense that today all the married women, fast and pray together, during the celebration of this festival, as this also symbolizes friendship and sisterhood.

With the addition of mythical stories soon after, Karwa Chauth became a very religious one, which enriched the significance of this festival.

The narration of many tales representing the importance festival also became a long-standing custom, followed even today.

Various pooja rituals and traditions formed integral features of this festival over the passage of time.

Today, Karwa Chauth festival is celebrated as a special day of love between husband and wife.

The rituals and tales made this festival all the more interesting and widespread, which encouraged many communities in India to celebrate this special fasting festival.

The festival was also popularized through Bollywood films, which made a great impact on the Indian people.

Karva Chauth

Karva Chauth is a one-day festival celebrated annually by married Hindu women in which they observe a fast from sunrise to moonrise and pray for the well-being and longevity of their husbands.

The festival is also observed by unmarried women who pray in the hope of securing a desired life partner.

It falls on the fourth day of the dark fortnight (Krishna paksh or the waning phase of the moon) in the month of Kartik of the Hindu lunar calendar.

The date roughly falls anytime between mid to late October.

t is mainly celebrated in the states of Northern India such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The word Karva Chauth is made up of two words, ‘Karva,’ which means an earthen pot with a spout and ‘Chauth’ which means fourth.

The earthen pot is of great significance as it is used by the women to offer water to the moon as part of the festival rituals.

It is said that this festival began when women started praying for the safe return of their husbands who went to fight wars in far off lands.

It is also held that it is celebrated to mark the end of the harvest season.

hatever be the origins, the festival offers an occasion to strengthen familial ties.

The festival entails keeping a ‘Nirjala’ fast in which women neither eat nor take a drop of water throughout the day and prayers are offered to the Goddess Gauri, an incarnation of Parvati, who bestows blessings for a long and happy married life.

There are various mythological tales related to Karva Chauth.

One of the most popular ones is related to Savitri and Satyavan in which the former brought back her husband from the clutches of death with her prayer and determination. Another such story is that of Veervati, the only sister of seven loving brothers.

When the brothers could not bear to see her fasting the whole day they misled her into believing that the moon had risen.

Veervati broke her fast and had food but soon got the news of her husband’s death.

She prayed for a whole year and the Gods pleased with her devotion gave back her husband’s life.

Karva Chauth in Punjab

Much like its neighbouring states, festivities related to Karva Chauth start early in the morning where married women wake up before the sun rises and get ready.

A night before Karva Chauth, the woman’s mother sends Bayaa which consists of clothes, coconut, sweets, fruits and sindoor (vermillion) for her daughter and gifts for the mother-in-law.

The daughter-in-law is then supposed to eat the Sargi (a meal consumed before sunrise on the day of Karva Chauth) given to her by her mother-in-law.

It includes fresh fruits, dry fruits, sweets, chapatis and vegetables.

As afternoon approaches, women come together with their respective thalis (a large plate).

It contains coconut, fruits, dry fruits, a diya (lamp), a glass of kachi lassi (a drink made of milk and water), sweet mathri and gifts which will be given to the mother-in-law. The thali is covered by a cloth.

The women then come together and sit circling the idol of Gaura Maa (Goddess Parvati) and the story of Karva Chauth is narrated by a wise elderly woman who also ensures the pooja is performed in the correct manner.

The women then start to rotate the thalis around the circle.

This is called thali batana.

This ritual is performed seven times.

While doing this, they sing the following song:

“Veeron Kudiye Karwada, Sarv Suhagan Karwada,

Ae Katti Na Ateri Naa, Kumbh Chrakhra Feri Naa,

Gwand Pair Payeen Naa, Sui Ch Dhaga Payeen Naa

Ruthda manayeen Naa, Suthra Jagayeen Naa,

Bhain Pyari Veeran, Chann Chade Te Pani Peena

Ve Veero Kuriye Kawara, Ve Sarv Suhagan Karwara”

The song highlights the precautions which need to be taken while women observe the fast.

After the pooja, women touch the feet of their mothers-in-law and give them gifts with dry fruits as a symbol of respect.

Breaking of the fast takes place when the moon shines bright in the dark sky.

They carry a Channi (sieve) and a pooja thali which comprises of a diya (made of wheat flour), sweets and a glass of water.

They go to a place where the moon is clearly visible, usually, the terrace.

They look at the moon through the sieve and offer kachi lassi to the moon and recite the following prayer for their husband:

“Sir Dhadi, Paer Kadi, Ark Dendi, Sarv Suhagan, Chaubare Khadi…..”

Now the husband feeds the same kachi lassi and sweets to the wife and she touches the feet of her husband.

 Both of them take blessings from their elderly and that’s how fast is broken.

Dinner among the Panjabis on the day of Karva Chauth comprises of any Sabut dal like Red beans, green pulses, pooris (fried Indian flatbreads), rice and sweets from the Bayaa.

The rituals associated with this festival have undergone changes over a period of time due to its portrayal in Bollywood movies and television shows.

It has also helped popularize this festival in such parts of India where it was not traditionally celebrated. Now, especially among the newly-weds, husbands too have started keeping fasts for their wives.

Thus, an old festival continues to remain popular through its reinvention in both rural and urban social milieu.

Karva Chauth in Uttar Pradesh

Karva Chauth starts early as women wake up at dawn on the day of the festival to have a Sargi.

In Uttar Pradesh, Sargi comprises of feni (vermicelli) which is dipped in sweet milk, a plate full of sweets and savories, coconut, dry fruits, fara (steamed lentil dumplings) and gifts such as traditional Indian wear and jewelry.

The most important items of this gift are those which serve as markers of the marital status of a Hindu woman.

These include toe rings, anklets, glass bangles, vermillion, bindi/tika and alta (red paint which is applied on feet).

Women also apply mehendi (henna) on their hands.

After this, women sing songs related to Karva Chauth and exchange their thalis in a circle and offer prayers to Goddess Paravati.

In some other areas the mother-in-law and daughters-in-law perform the prayers at home and exchange the karvas with each other.

Then the older women bless the younger ones with words such as ‘Akhand Saubhagyavati bhav’ or ‘sada suhagan raho,’ both of which mean ‘may you be a married woman all your life.’

After the prayers, there is an anxious wait for the moonrise.

As soon as the moon is sighted women complete the rituals by offering prayers to the moon.

In some places in Uttar Pradesh, they draw a face of the moon with rice paste on the ground and say prayers while offering kumkum (red pigment used by Hindus), rice, flowers and sweets.

After this, they offer water through their karvas seven times while chanting prayers. These chants includes prayers such as:

‘Uth suhagan uth kulwanti nar, Bare Chanda ghee ke diye na baar’

Here married women are exhorted to get up and offer prayers to the moon which is a lamp greater than all the earthen lamps that they light up.

Karwa Chauth

‘Karwa Chauth’ is a ritual of fasting observed by married Hindu women seeking the longevity, well-being and prosperity of their husbands.

It is popular amongst married women in the northern and western parts of India, especially, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.

The Time:

This festival comes 9 days before Diwali on ‘kartik ki chauth’, i.e., on the fourth day of the new moon immediately after Dusshera, in the month of ‘Karthik’ (October-November).

The Meaning:

The term ‘Chauth’ means the ‘fourth day’ and ‘Karwa’ is an earthen pot with a spout – a symbol of peace and prosperity – that is necessary for the rituals.

Hence the name ‘Karwa Chauth’.

The Ritual:

Married women keep a strict fast and do not take even a drop of water.

They get up early in the morning, perform their ablutions, and wear new and festive raiment.

Shiva, Parvati and their son Kartikeya are worshiped on this day along with the 10 ‘karwas’ (earthen pots) filled with sweets.

The Karwas are given to daughters and sisters along with gifts.

The Fast:

It is the most important and difficult fast observed by married Hindu women. (Unmarried women, widows, and spinsters are barred from observing this fast.)

It begins before sunrise and ends only after offering prayers and worshiping the moon at night.

No food or water can be taken after sunrise.

The fast is broken once the moon is sighted and rituals of the day have been performed.

At night when the moon appears, women break their fast after offering water to the moon.

The Custom:

In the evening, women dress up in special clothes, usually a red or pink sari or ‘lehenga-choli’ with gold woven ‘zari’ patterns.

New brides often wear their bridal costume.

All deck up in jewelry and wear ‘mehendi’ or henna patterns especially on the hands.

Decorative ‘bindis’ on the forehead are a must for all women taking part in this celebration.

Fasting women from all over the neighborhood gather in a group and narrate mythological stories that underscore the significance of Karwa Chauth.

And, of course, all wives expect lavish gifts from their husbands!

Karwa Chauth

Karwachauth in Hinduism

Karwa Chauth is mentioned as करक चतुर्थी in Hindu scriptures like Vāmana Purāna, Nārada Purāna, Nirñaya Sindhu, Dharma Sindhu करक is करवा (water vessel)

कार्तिककृष्णचतुर्थी करकचतुर्थी। स चन्द्रोदय व्यापिनी ग्राह्या। दिनद्वये तदव्याप्त्यादौ संकष्टचतुर्थीवनिर्णय:।

-निर्णयसिन्धुः

Here is an excerpt from part of Nārada Purana where Vratas performed on Chaturthi is mentioned.

Karaka Chaturthi (Karwa Chauth) is described as: There is no other vrata like this that yields conjugal blessedness to women than this.

It describes a Vrat:

Karak Chaturthi, celebrated on Chaturthi (fourth day) of Krishna Paksha (dark phase of Moon) of Kartika Month which is the Karwa Chauth day.

Arghya gave to Moon at the fulfillment of Vrat.

Presents given to Suvasinis (Married women).

The third reference is from Vamana Purana which describes the day for the celebration of Karak Chaturthi i.e. Chaturthi of Krishna Paksha of Kartika Month. Women worship Gauri, Ganesha, Shiva, and Shanmukh (Kartikeya) on this day.

Even on Atla Tadde, Gauri Puja is performed.

There is also mention of what is thought to be popular folklore of Draupadi performing Karwa Chauth.

When Arjuna goes to Indrakaal parvat for penance, Draupadi is tensed.

Then Krishna guides her by narrating story of Lord Shiva narrating Karwa Chauth’s Katha to Maa Parvati

Then Lord Shiva narrates the story of Veervati to Mata Parvati.

Veervati who was tricked by his seven brothers to break the fast before Chandra Udaya due to her health issues.

Later on, Goddess reminds Veervati of the trickery & she performs a strict fast next time & regains her husband.

Atla Tadde celebrated in Telugu states i.e. Andhra and Telangana is the just the same festival celebrated a day before Karwa Chauth.

As Atla Tadde is celebrated on Tritiya (3rd day), probably because of the difference of calendar and festival is linked with Gauri Puja/Gauri Tritiya.

Just like there are Atla Tadde (3rd day) and Karwa Chauth (4th day).

In Jammu Kashmir, Kashmiri Pandits celebrate Gauratrai (Gauri Tritiya) in Magh Month and Bhaderwahi Hindus in Jammu Hills celebrate the same festival the next day as Kan Chauth.

In some parts of Rajasthan, there is a tradition to keep fast on almost every Chauth (Chaturthi).

Goddess Parvati is worshipped as Chauth Mata.

Chauth Mata, Karak Mata, Karwa Mata, Mata Gauraa are all epithets for Goddess Gauri.

Interesting Facts About Karwa Chauth That No One Knows About!

1. Karva is another word for ‘pot’ (a small earthen pot of water) and chauth means ‘fourth’ in Hindi (a reference to the fact that the festival falls on the fourth day of the dark-fortnight, or krishna paksh, of the month of Kartik).

2. It is uncertain how the festival originated and how it came to be celebrated only in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent.

One hypothesis is that military campaigns and long-distance travel usually resumed around the time of the festival, as the area dried and numerous rivers of the region subsided from the effects of the monsoon.

Women observed the fast to pray for the safety of their husbands at this time as they ventured away from home.

The festival coincides with the wheat-sowing time (i.e., the beginning of the Rabi crop cycle).

Big earthen pots in which wheat is stored are sometimes called Karvas, so the fast may have begun as a prayer for a good harvest in this predominantly wheat-eating region.

3. Karva Chauth is a one-day festival celebrated by Hindu women in North India in which married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for the safety and longevity of their husbands.

The fast is observed in the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, western Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

The festival falls on the fourth day after the full moon, in the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Kartik.

Sometimes, unmarried women observe the fast for their fiancés or desired husbands.

4. There are legends associated with the Karva Chauth festival.

In some tellings, the tales are interlinked, with one acting as a frame story for another.

5. A beautiful queen called Veervati was the only sister of seven loving brothers.

She spent her first Karva Chauth as a married woman at her parents’ house.

She began a strict fast after sunrise but, by evening, was desperately waiting for the moonrise as she suffered severe thirst and hunger.

Her seven brothers couldn’t bear to see their sister in such distress and created a mirror in a pipal tree that made it look as though the moon had risen.

The sister mistook it for the moon and broke her fast.

The moment she ate, word arrived that her husband, the king, was dead.

Heartbroken, she wept through the night until her shakti compelled a Goddess to appear and ask why she cried.

When the queen explained her distress, the Goddess revealed how she had been tricked by her brothers and instructed her to repeat the Karva Chauth fast with complete devotion.

When Veervati repeated the fast, Yama was forced to restore her husband to life.

6. In a variant of this story, the brothers build a massive fire behind a mountain instead and trick their sister by convincing her that the glow is the moon.

She breaks her fast and word arrives that her beloved husband has died.

She immediately begins running to her husband’s house, which is somewhat distant, and is intercepted by Shiv-Parvati. Parvati reveals the trickery to her, cuts her own little finger to give the wife a few drops of her holy blood, and instructs her to be careful in keeping the complete fast in the future.

The wife sprinkles Parvati’s blood on her dead husband and, coming back to life, they are reunited.

7. The belief in this fast and its associated rituals goes back to the pre-Mahabharata times. Draupadi, too, is said to have observed this fast.

Once Arjun went to the Nilgiris for penance and the rest of the Pandavas faced many problems in his absence.

Draupadi, out of desperation, remembered Lord Krishna and asked for help.

Lord Krishna reminded her that on an earlier occasion, when Goddess Parvati had sought Lord Shiva’s guidance under similar circumstances, she had been advised to observe the fast of Karva Chauth.

In some tellings of this legend, Shiva tells Parvati the story of Veervati to describe the Karva Chauth fast.

Draupadi followed the instructions and observed the fast with all its rituals. Consequently, the Pandavas were able to overcome their problems.

8. A woman named Karva was deeply devoted to her husband.

Her intense love and dedication towards him gave her shakti (spiritual power).

While bathing at a river, her husband was caught by a crocodile.

Karva bound the crocodile with a cotton yarn and asked Yama (the god of death) to send the crocodile to hell.

Yama refused. Karva threatened to curse Yama and destroy him.

Yama, afraid of being cursed by Pati-vrat (devoted) wife, sent the crocodile to hell and blessed Karva’s husband with long life.

Karva and her husband enjoyed many years of wedded bliss.

To this day, Karva Chauth is celebrated with great faith and belief.

9. When Lord Yama came to procure Satyavan’s soul, Savitri begged him to grant him life.

When he refused, she stopped eating and drinking and followed Yama who carried away her dead husband.

Yama said that she could ask for any other boon except for the life of her husband.

Savitri asked that she be blessed with children.

Yama agreed. Being a “‘Pati-Vrat (devoted) wife, Savitri would never let any other man be the father of her children.

Yama was left with no other choice but to restore Savitri’s husband to life.

ॐ ॐ ॐ

Karwa Chauth Karva Chauth Meaning

Karva Chauth : “Karva” is the Hindi synonym of the word Pot and “Chauth” means fourth.

On this day fast is kept, mostly by Hindu women in western and northern parts of India.

This fast is said to symbolize love, dedication, and the creation of a strong bond between husband and wife which is just a belief. 

Karwa Chauth  Date and Timing in India

Karva Chauth : According to the Hindu calendar, this day falls on the fourth day after Kartik Purnima.

This month, Karva Chauth will be celebrated on Thursday, 1 November .

On this day, married/unmarried Hindu women keep a day-long fast for the well-being and longevity of their better halves, i.e. their husbands.

Usually, the fast begins around 4 o’clock, before sunrise in the morning, and is completed after the moon sighting at night.

Generally, women break the fast after seeing the moon and their husband, and have food & water only after offering prayers to the moon for the longevity of their husbands’ lives.

We shall discuss if this does help in anything or not. 

Ritual of Karva Chauth

Karwa Chauth : Based on the prevailing beliefs, the married women observe the fast to pray for the long life of the husband and unbroken good luck.

Their fast starts at dawn. Women keep fast, without even drinking a drop of water for the whole day, tormenting themselves ignorantly.

In the evening, all married ladies sit in the circle and pass each other Karva Chauth Thali and hear the Karva Chauth Story, which is not supported by any of our Holy Hindu Books like Vedas and Gita Ji.

They break the fast only after offering water to the moon at night.

This whole ritual is completely arbitrary and not based on our Holy Hindu Books. 

Can Unmarried Girls do Karva Chauth?

No. Even the married women should not keep this fast. It is unfortunate to see that unmarried women also keep fast on this day in the hope to get their desired life partner, a completely arbitrary way which is against our scriptures.

However, the majority of them don’t wait for the moon to shine, instead they break their fast with just a quick look at the pole star.

The truth is that God makes the couples; keeping fast does not make any couples.

Is Observing Karva Chauth Fast a Right Practice?

According to popular belief, Karwa Chauth Vrat (Fast) is not considered complete without hearing the Karva Chauth story.

But is it the right practice of keeping fast and performing the rituals during Karva Chauth? The answer is a big NO. 

Because people just go by hearsay stories, totally ignoring what is being written in our scriptures and following only what is being told to us by the society, priests and fake Gurus who are mostly money minters in present time, though they might be pious souls in past lives, unfortunately, they have no knowledge of “Tatvgyan”, which is essential to understand the actual plight of human souls in this Mrityu lok (perishable earth). 

Keeping Fast Is Against the Will of God

Keeping fast is considered a wrong practice in our Holy scriptures (Gita Ji Chapter 6 Verse 16).

After going through the following evidence and the sacred Speeches from Scriptures, it will be very clear that keeping fast is against the Will of God. 

In Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ang 873, Guru Nanak Dev has said

 Chhodeh ann karahi pakhand, Naa sohaagan naa ohi rand||

Translation: One who discards the grain/food, is practicing hypocrisy. She is neither a happy bride, nor will be a happy widow. 

• Sant Gareeb Das Ji, whose Vaani is revered as the Sukshm Veda or the 5th Veda, mentions:

Kahe jo karava chauth kahaanee| Taas gadaharee nishchay jaanee|| 

Kare ekaadashee sanjam soee| Karava chauth gadaharee hoee||

Aathe saate kare kandooree| 

So to bane neech ghar soori||

Aan dharm jo mann base, Koe karo nar-naar|

Gareeb Daas Jinda kahe, So jaasee narak dwaar||

Translation: Those women who narrate the Karva Chauth story will have to become a donkey in their next births.

 Even those who keep fast for Ekadashi and Karwa Chauth fast will have to bear the life of a donkey and even a pig in their next births.

Also, those men and women who are not doing the true scripture-based worship and are blindly following hearsay trends and going against scriptures will be destined to hell. 

• Supreme God ‘Kabir Saheb’ has said in His Vaani as mentioned here:

Ram Naam chhad ke, Rakhai karva chauth|

So hovegi sukri, Tinhai Ram so kauth||

Translation : Those women who observe Karwa Chauth and are far away from the real name of God, after death will become pigs in their next birth.

Just ponder over it, keeping the fast once will make the person go through such sufferings and punishments.

Where have the intelligent minds gone now, why don’t they look at the karmic retribution of their actions? 

This is the only time to open your eyes, otherwise you will continue to fall in the cycle of death and birth.

What Are the Real Sixteen Adornments According to Scripture-Based Worship?

The Solah (Sixteen) Shringar (makeup) done by married women is just a way to show-off the outer beauty, which is fleeting and time-bound.

What one needs is the nourishment of the soul to attain the inner beauty of the soul, which is the only way to please God.

In order to attain Eternal devotion of the Supreme God, a devotee must attain these sixteen qualities as mentioned below, by virtue of which God will take the soul under His refuge and protect from all harms, and help attain Salvation (Moksha):

1. Have True Spiritual knowledge/ Tatvgyan
2. Exercise discretion to sift right from wrong
3. True Speech
4. Remain satisfied with God’s will
5. Do ardent devotion and have soft speech
6. Keep patience, not rush for results for your hard work and Bhakti; keep faith in the Words of God
7. Don’t cheat anyone
8. Be compassionate
9. Forgive all, even the enemies
10. Be modest, shed the Ego
11. Do bhakti with devotion, keeping the purpose of attaining Moksh, not to get worldly benefits
12. The spirit of renunciation towards this fleeting world is very essential
13. Consider the world to be destructive and your life is temporary, always have a special affection for the Supreme, for attaining salvation/ Moksh.
14. Peaceful existence is a special quality of any devotee, which is also mandatory.
15. Offering Sat bhakti to the Supreme, to make human life successful in true spiritual terms.
16. Treat everyone as a friend.

Karwa Chauth

Karwa Chauth is an annual one-day festival that honors the Hindu god Shiva and goddess Parvati.

It occurs on the fourth day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Kartik, which is usually in October.

What Do People Do?

Many married Hindu women begin a long and strict fast before sunrise and end after worshipping the Moon.

They often wake up early in the morning, wear new and festive attire, and apply henna and other cosmetics to themselves.

Karwa Chauth is an occasion where people gather and socialize with friends and family, exchange gifts and share home-cooked meals.

It is a time for mothers to bless their married daughters and give them gifts.

Unfortunately, virgins and widows are not allowed to participate in the celebrations.

In the evening, a community women-only ceremony is held where women wear their best clothing and jewelry, and some in their wedding dresses.

The women sit in a circle with their puja thalis and a version of the story of Karva Chauth is narrated with occasional pauses for singing.

When the ceremony is complete, many wait for the Moonrise and then view its reflection in a vessel filled with water with their husband.

Public Life

Karwa Chauth is not a public holiday in India but is mostly observed in North India and in parts of Pakistan.

It is not a nationwide public holiday in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Background

Karwa Chauth is an important festival to all Hindu married women because they believe that it will ensure prosperity, longevity, and the well-being of their husbands.

There are many legends that are associated with Karwa Chauth but all contain the underlying concept that if a woman observes the fast of Karwa Chauth, they will be able to overcome their problems and ensure the safety and well-being of their husbands.

Symbols

Henna application is an old tradition that symbolizes luck and prosperity.

It is believed that if a woman gets dark color from the henna, she will receive a lot of love and caring from her groom.

The gift exchanges reflect the joy and happiness of a married life.

What Is the Best Thing One Can Start Doing on Karwa Chauth?

On Karva Chauth , married women receive gifts from their in-laws and husbands as a token of love and prosperity.

Instead of keeping such fasts for the safety and well-being of each other, the couple should imbibe the above mentioned sixteen qualities and start doing SatBhakti of Supreme Lord Kabir Saheb Ji.

When both husband-wife and other family members would start worshiping according to the scriptures instead of following the wrong way of worship, then God will become the caretaker of their family.

 

Karwa Chauth History & Origin: Karwa Chauth Fasting and Katha

Karwa Chauth History: The festival of Karwa Chauth is celebrated by married woman in many parts of India, to commemorate their marital relationship.

Fast is observed by the married women, to seek blessings of the Almighty and pray for the well-being, prosperity and longevity of their husband.

The celebration of Karwa Chauth starts from the pre-dawn time, when the married woman would take bath, worship the Almighty and have sargi (food prepared especially for the festival) in pre-dawn.

Thereafter, they would observe a stringent fast for the wellness of their husband.

All through the day, they would not consume a drop of water, unless the fast is broken in the evening.

While fast plays a prominent part of Karva Chauth, songs, narration of katha and puja are equally important.

The narration of katha (story related to Karva Chauth) takes place during the puja, while women sing songs in the praise of the festival.

It is a well known fact that the festivities of Karwa Chauth revolve around one and only cause – the wellness of husband, the significant half of a married woman.

However, it is interesting to know that apart from it, there exists another thought, which finds a prominent place in the history of Karwa Chauth.

If you want to get some interesting information on the history and origin of Karwa Chauth, then go through the following lines.

Karwa Chauth History & Origin:

Karwa Chauth originated as a festival of social importance.

Mythical tales were later on added to the festival.

Celebrated by the Hindus in north and north-western India, the idea behind Karwa Chauth sounds very noble. Originally, a custom started, according to which, when a girl is married, she befriend another woman in her in-law’s residence.

The woman would be regarded as her friend or sister for her life.

This relationship was fondly called god-friends or god-sisters.

The friendship between the two women was sanctified through a small Hindu ceremony, at the time of marriage of the girl.

Once the bride and the woman in her in-law’s home were declared god-friends or god-sisters, they would have to maintain the relationship for the rest of their life.

It was said that the woman would support her god-friend / sister all through the complexities of the latter’s life, even if the matter is related to the husband or in-laws. The two women would confidently approach one another to solve the problems of their lives. 

Karva Chauth was started to commemorate the relationship of the god-friends / sisters, which later on came to be known as a ceremony wherein married woman observe fast for the well-being of their husband.

Today, although the motive behind the celebration of the festival is predominantly related to the wellness of the husband, people still observe the occasion to honor the relationship of the god-friends / sisters.

Karwa Chauth

On the occasion of KarvaChauth, Hindu wives observe fasting for the well being of their husbands.

As per Indian traditions, the husband is considered as the custodian of his wife and he is committed to providing food, clothing, shelter, comfort and dignity to his wife.

Hence, the festival is celebrated by Hindu wives who pray for a long life for their husbands.

Festival time(time, tithi etc.)

Usually celebrated in the months of October-November, KarvaChauth is especially popular in the northern parts of India.

The festival is celebrated on Kartikki Chouth, which occurs nine days before Diwali.

How is it celebrated

The day before the fast is observed, married women stay at their mother’s place and their mother-in-law sends foodstuff or Sargai to them, to assist them in preparing for the fast.

They consume some food before sunrise, so that they are able to positively tackle the effects of fasting.

After having their food, they get dressed up in traditional attire and begin their fasting.

For newly married girls

Newly married girls usually wear lehanga and chunni on this occasion.

They also adorn themselves with mehendi on their hands and bangles on their arms.

Bayana The Baya is sent by the mother-in law, to the house of the girl.

The Baya consists of big mathris, tenpuas, halwas, cash and clothes.

The Baya is sent before the preceding evening.

The Baya is returned by the girls after the completion of the manasna.

Preparations Done:The Puja room is usually a big space such as a courtyard or a verandah.

A platform is made to seat the deity.

In the past, the deity of Gaur Mata was prepared from cow dung, which was about two inches tall and shaped like a human figure.

However, nowadays, the deity of Lord Parvati is worshipped in the form of an image or an idol.

Almost an hour before sunrise, all the fast observers gather in the Puja room, after getting dressed up, and place their Bayas atop the Karva (earthen pots).

The Karvas are decorated with aipun, roli and kharia.

A piece of red thread is tied across the Karva and the cover of the Karva is also decorated.

Thaali:The thaali atop the Karva is stacked with halwas, puas, mathris, cash and clothes.

If clothes are placed on the thaali, then the thaali is offered in front of the deity.

Procedure:On the day of KarvaChouth, after completing the formalities throughout the morning, women gather at a temple or open space and listen to the narration of the story of KarvaChouth.

Metal urn filled with water, special mud pot, mathri, food, fruits and flowers are offered to the idols of Goddess Parvati and Ambika and the priest.

Just before moonrise, the women dress themselves with heavy sarees and other cosmetics and get ready to view the moon.

When the moon rises, they view the moon either through the reflection of the moon on a thali of water or through a dupatta or sieve.

They pray for the well being, prosperity and longevity of their husband and break the fast by taking food directly from the hand of their husband.

Legend

Once, a seven year old young married girl arrived at her home to celebrate KarvaChouth.

She had seven married brothers and she wanted to fast along with her seven sisters-in-law on KarvaChouth.

Later, her brothers tricked her to break her fast before the occurrence of moonrise. Immediately, her husband died and the enraged girl decided to go on uncertain fasting. On the seventh year, Goddess Parvati appeared before the girl in the form of Gaur Mata and learned about the tricks played upon her by her brothers.

Goddess Parvati immediately blessed the little girl and exchanged Karva with her.

The girl’s husband immediately came back to life and thus the wish of the girl was fulfilled.

Cultural significance

The KarvaChouth is of immense cultural significance in India, especially the northern parts of India.

The festival is celebrated by north Indian Hindus and Sikhs alike.

On this occasion fathers send gifts to their married daughters as well as the season of harvest is celebrated by the farmers.

After performing the fasting, the women exchange their Karvas which bonds them with the neighborhood as well as the society.

In the past, the occasion was celebrated to enjoy the autumn season as well as be in the company of friends and family.

The celebration of KarvaChouth reflects the essence of Indian tradition and culture.

The occasion portrays the dedication of the Indian women towards their husband and their well being.

The effort and dedication showcased by women, helps in further strengthening their relationship and bonding with their husband.

Science behind karwa chauth

Indian mythology that once existed in ancient India are still deeply rooted in the advance scientific culture, where everything ancient seems to be fading, which certainly result in ambiguity, women most awaited festival “karva chauth”, reflects, richest scientific understanding of ancient Indians with immense belief which let women fast all day long for the logativety of their life partners on the fourth day after a full moon (purnima) in the month of kartika.

Moon & Karva Chauth:

Human knowledge and mythology throughout time have spoken of the moon’s effect on the earth and the human body.

• VEDIC ASTROLOGY

In vedic astrology moon has been considered as having the power of ascendant & extraordinary importance, capable of giving great mental power & prosperity due to its water element.

• HINDU MYTHOLOGY

The auspicious power of moon in hindu mythology can be understood as the phase of the moon anticipate the arrival of most auspicious festival of the year KARVA CHAUTH.

• MODERN SCIENCE

Science believe that the moon is closest to the earth, therefore have an enormous effect on the human beings especially women. 

• ANCIENT SAGES

The virtuous person in history have compared beauty of moon with the beauty of women this is the reason, karva chauth is a day when women showcase best of their attire for her beloved husbands.

The scientific arrival:

According to ayurveda calendar Karva Chauth, arrives on an annual basis in southern solstice also known as Dakshinayaan or Visarga Kaal.

Visarga in the traditional science means “giving strength”.

It is believed, that during these months, the moon is more powerful and emits good digestive power due to which even the shortest meals taken during the day become more nourishing & strengthening.

Why karva chauth occurs on the fourth day after full moon:

• The loading day- It begin during two days immediately prior to the full moon, when food cravings are at its height.
• Full moon day- the best time to start the extended diet.
• The first day after full moon- the low-calorie phase would begin.
• The waning moon- craving begin to decrease & the body enjoy a natural detoxifying stage followed by karwa chauth

Fasting and Science:

On the day of Karva chauth married women wake up early in the morning to eat and drink just before sunrise.

Mainly celebrants eat soot feni with milk in sugar either on the eve of the festival or as pre-dawn meal in the early morning commonly known as sargi.

It is said that this helps them go without water the entire day.

Also fasting neutralizes toxins through body organs & lead to detoxification.

Although in ayurveda fasting is one of the purest regimen to balance doshas & eliminate toxins naturally from the body but it is clearly contraindicated for weak, pregnant, disease acquired women especially who suffer from nutritional or iron deficiency anemia, find it difficult to fast all day long.

Also fasting without water may lead to tiredness, fatigue, vertigo and dizziness.

But no wonder the spiritual belief & their beloved admiration is definitely more powerful in front of these threatened situation & therefore to combat that lethargies & fatigue, precautions throughout the month are always recommended.

• A healthy diet filled full of protein.
• Stay hydrated with coconut water & other beverages.
• Include lots of fruits like banana, papaya, pomegranate & apple.
• Avoid oily and fried foods in the morning as these are heavy and may make you dizzy.
• Avoid tea or coffee as both of them tend to dehydration later.
• Munch on a few nuts like walnuts, almonds & pistachios.

To double the effect along with a healthy diet an additional tonic filled with nutritional values is need of an hour for all the celebrants and to battle against  

Karwa Chauth Puja Samagri List

Karwa Chauth is a significant Hindu festival celebrated primarily by married women in North India.

It involves fasting from sunrise to moonrise, and women break their fast after sighting the moon and offering prayers.

The Karwa Chauth puja is a vital part of this observance, and to perform it with devotion and sincerity, you need the right puja samagri (ritual item).

Karwa Chauth is a beautiful festival that celebrates the love and commitment between married couples.

Observing this fast with devotion, love, and care can bring blessings and happiness to your married life.

KARWA CHAUTH VRAT KATHA BOOK:

Start with the Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha book.

This book contains the traditional stories and legends related to the festival. Reading these stories during the puja helps connect them with the history and significance of Karwa Chauth.

KARWA CHAUTH KARWA:

The Karwa, a special earthen pot, is a symbolic representation of Lord Ganesha and is central to the Karwa Chauth puja.

It is filled with water and used to perform the puja.

ou can purchase a decorated Karwa from the market.

SARGI ITEMS:

Sargi is the pre-dawn meal that married women consume before beginning their fast.

It usually includes dry fruits, sweets, fruits, and fennel seeds.

Ensure you have these items ready the night before Karwa Chauth.

DIYA (OIL LAMP):

A diya is used to illuminate the puja area and create an atmosphere of serenity.

It’s an integral part of any Hindu ritual. You can use ghee or oil to light the diya.

SINDOOR (VERMILION) AND MANGALSUTRA:

Sindoor is a symbol of marital bliss, and the Mangalsutra represents the marital bond. These items are essential for Karwa Chauth as women apply sindoor and wear the Mangalsutra as a mark of devotion to their husbands’ well-being.

RED CHUNAR (VEIL) AND ATTIRE:

Red is the colour associated with Karwa Chauth as it signifies love and commitment. Wearing traditional red attire and a red chunar adds to the festive spirit and devotion of the day.

DECORATIVE THALI:

A decorative thali is used to keep all the puja samagri organized. It usually contains items like roli, chawal (rice), flowers, incense sticks, and sweets for the offering.

IDOL OR IMAGE OF LORD GANESHA AND PARVATI:

Lord Ganesha and Parvati are invoked during the puja, and having their idols or images present adds a spiritual dimension to the ceremony.

KARWA CHAUTH CALENDAR:

A Karwa Chauth calendar helps you keep track of the auspicious time for the fast, moonrise, and the puja.

It’s an essential reference to ensure you observe the rituals at the right time.

Apart from the Karwa, you will need a small pot filled with water for the puja.

This pot symbolizes Lord Chandra (the moon), whose blessings you seek for the well-being of your spouse.

MITHAI (SWEETS):

Offering sweets during the puja is a common tradition, symbolizing the sweet and harmonious relationship between married couples.

FRUITS AND PRASAD:

Keep a variety of fruits and prasad like suji halwa, poha, or a favourite sweet dish prepared for the evening meal.

Karwa Chauth: Rituals, puja samagri list

Karwa Chauth is an Indian festival celebrated by women in many parts of the country. Karwa stands for clay pot and Chauth stands for the fourth day.

Celebrated in the Kartik month on the fourth day after the full moon day, Karwa Chauth falls either in October or November.

This year, Karwa Chauth is on November 1, .

Karwa Chauth: Significance

Karwa Chauth is believed to strengthen the martial bond and is observed for the well-being of husbands.

Over the years, the festival has evolved with husbands and unmarried women also keeping the fast for their life partners.

Karwa Chauth: How is it celebrated?

In this festival, married women observe fast, without food and water, which starts before the sunrise.

Women wake up early in the morning and eat Sargi, meal prepared by their mothers-in-law before starting the fast.

The Sargi is believed to provide energy to women to complete the day-long fast.

Sargi includes food such as fruits, fresh fruits, parathas, curd etc.

It’s recommended to include food that are rich in Carbohydrates and Fats so that the body has energy all through the day.

Karwa Chauth: Upvas time

The upvas time this year is from 6:39 AM to 8:59 PM.

Karwa Chauth: Puja and Katha

At around 4 PM, women dress up in their best attire complete with mangal sutra, sindoor and start with doing the Puja.

Karwa Chauth: Puja and Moon sighting timings

The puja timings this year is from 5.36 PM to 6.54 PM. 

The moon sighting time time year is around 8:15 PM.

During the puja, women listen to the Karwa Chauth story and offer prayers to God. Women do this ceremony in groups giving each other company.

They also dance and music to keep them engaged.

After performing the puja and sighting the Moon in the evening, the fast is completed.

Once the Moon rises, the women look at it through the sieve and then break the fast with their husbands giving them water and a bite of food.

Women also are given gifts on this day.

Karwa Chauth puja samagri list

• Betel leaf
• Vrat book (Karwa Chauth story book)
• Picture of Karva Mata
• Clay pot with lid
• Sandalwood
• Turmeric
• Kumkum
• Flowers
• Sweets
• Water
• Akshat (rice)
• Milk
• Curd
• Ghee
• Sugar
• Honey
• Molly thread
• Make-up items
• Mehndi
• Comb
• Bangles
• Chunni
• Sieve
• Lamp
• Incense sticks
• Camphor
• Wheat
• Wick (cotton)
• Dakshina money
• Wooden seat

Karwa Chauth

Karwa Chauth : Karva Chauth fast is one of the most important fasts observed by married women.

Married women observe a Karva Chauth dry fast and worship Chauth Mata for the husband’s long life.

Karwa Chauth fasting is observed during Krishna Paksha Chaturthi in the Hindu month of Kartik; however, Ashwin month is now in effect during Karwa Chauth according to the Amanta calendar used in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Southern India.

Karwa Chauth is observed on the same day in every state; the only difference is the name of the month.

Karwa Chauth day is also known as Karak Chaturthi (करक चतुर्थी).

Karwa or Karak refers to the earthen pot through which water offering, known as Argha (अर्घ), is made to the moon.

Karwa is very significant during Puja and it is also given as Dan to the Brahmin or any eligible woman.

Compare to South Indian states, Karwa Chauth is more popular in North Indian states.

After four days of Karwa Chauth, Ahoi Ashtami Vrat is observed for the wellbeing of children, according to the Drik Panchang. 

Karwa Chauth Vrat Vidhi: 

Karwa Chauth fast is one of the most important fasts observed by married women. Married women observe a Karwa Chauth dry fast and worship Chauth Mata for the husband’s long life, a happy married life, and the attainment of unbroken good fortune. Break the fast at night after seeing the moon and donating Arghya.

Karwa Chauth falls on the same day as Sankashti Chaturthi, a fasting day dedicated to Lord Ganesha.

Married women observe Karwa Chauth fasting and rituals for the long life of their husbands.

Married women worship Lord Shiva and His family, including Lord Ganesha, and only break their fast after seeing and offering to the moon.

Karwa Chauth fasting is strict and is observed without eating or drinking anything after sunrise until the sighting of the moon at night.

Karwa Chauth Puja Samagri List: 

The puja samagri list includes: paan, book of fasting story (Vrat Katha Kitaab), earthen or copper tortilla and lid, urn, sandalwood, Flowers, Turmeric, Rice, Sweets, Raw Milk, Curd, Desi Ghee, Honey, Sugar Powder, Roli, Kumkum, Molly, Akshat, 16 Make-up items (16 Shrinagar), Mehndi, Mahavar, Sindoor, Kangha, Bindi, Chunri, Bangle, Sieve, Nettle, Sieve, Karva Mata’s picture, lamp, incense stick, camphor, wheat, wick (cotton), wooden seat. 

Karwa Chauth 

Karwa Chauth  Puja Vidhi, Samgri, and the Muhurat time: Karak Chaturthi is another name for Karwa Chauth.

On this day, married ladies keep a rigid fast and offer prayers for their husbands’ long lives.

They are not permitted to eat or drink during this ceremony.

Here is everything that you need to know about Karwa Chauth  Puja Vidhi, Samgri, and the Muhurat time.

Puja Vidhi

Early in the morning, the puja vidhi gets started.

They continue to fast and vow (Sankalp) not to eat or drink anything till they complete the fast.

The fast is considered complete only after the moon is seen and worshipped.

Karwa Chauth puja should be performed in the evening.

Women assemble in groups during the puja and tell one another stories about Karwa Chauth.

After the puja is completed, ladies should wait for the moonrise.

When they see the moon, they do a special puja during which they worship the moon and make offerings.

After that, they can break their fast.

Karwa Chauth  Puja Muhurat

Karwa Chauth will be observed by married Hindu ladies on Thursday, October 13. At 05:54, the shubh muhurat will start and last till 07:08.

The vrat/upvasa (fast) period is from 06:20 am to 08:09 pm, and the Chaturthi tithi period is from 00:59 on October 13 to 03:08 on October 14.

Following is the list of Karwa Chauth Samagri:

1. Karwa, or earthenware pot.
2. A chhanni, or sieve.
3. A lamp or diya.
4. A water pot (lota).
5. Desserts, particularly mathri.
6. Vermillion or sindoor.
7. Fruits.

Karwa Chauth

Karwa Chauth is one of the famous Hindu festivals that is celebrated annually by married women for the good health and longevity of their husbands.

The festival is also known as Karak Chaturthi and is observed during Krishna Paksha Chaturthi of Kartik month.

During the Festival,

Hindu married women keep Karwa Chauth vrat (fast) from sunrise till moonrise and offer special prayers for Goddess Parvati.

Karwa Chauth Vrat and Puja Vidhi

Karwa Chauth vrat is a special fast kept by Hindu married women on the eve of Karwa Chauth festival.

The fast is observed by women for the good health, well-being, and longevity of their husbands.

After keeping the fast, women are not allowed to eat or drink anything (nirjala vrat) from sunrise to moonrise.

Karwa Chauth Puja Vidhi : The puja vidhi begins early in the morning.

Women start the vidhi by taking a shower.

Once done, they keep the fast and take pledge (sankalp) to not eat or drink anything till they break the fast.

The fast is complete only after moon is sighted and worshipped.

The ideal time to perform Karwa Chauth puja is in the evening.

During the puja, women gather in groups and narrate Karwa Chauth stories to each other.

Once the puja is complete, women should wait for the moonrise and after sighting the moon, a special puja is done in which moon is worshipped followed by offerings and then women can break their fast.

Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha

The story behind Karwa Chauth vrat is called as Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha, Let’s know why do women keep fast on Karwa Chauth and what is Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha below.

A woman was raised by her 7 brothers who loved and pampered her a lot.

Her brothers got her married to a king and she was now the queen and received special treatment at her marital home.

On the day of Karwa Chauth, the woman kept a fast (vrat) and went to her visit her brothers.

Although, she followed all the rituals carefully and with devotion, the woman was not able to resist the hunger and was desperately waiting for the moonrise.

Seeing this, one of her brothers could not hold her emotions and tried to help her sister. He kept a lamp on a tree (peepal) and kept a mirror in front of the lamp.

The reflection of the lamp created by mirror appeared as moonrise.

Seeing this, the woman thought that the moon has risen and she broke her fast.

But due to this, her husband got unwell and died.

The woman got the news of her husband’s death from Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Hearing this news, the woman was shattered and devastated with grief.

She was surprised that despite keeping a vrat how could her husband die.

Later, she got to know the act of his brother and sought forgiveness from Goddess Parvati and pleaded to restore her husband’s life.

She performed special rituals and worshipped with full devotion.

Seeing the womans’ dedication, Goddess Parvati was pleased and suggested her to keep a new vrat and follow the rituals carefully without any mistake.

The woman did the same and this way saved her husband’s life.

This is the reason why woman keep Karwa Chauth vrat and worship for the longevity of their husbands.

Karwa Chauth Vrat Samagri List

Following is the list of Karwa Chauth Samagri:

1. An earthen pot called Karwa.

2. A sieve or chhanni.

3. A diya or lamp.

4. A pot of water (lota).

5. 10 to 12 rice pieces.

6. Sweets especially mathri.

7. Sindoor or vermillion.

8. Fruits.

9. Karwa Chauth Katha.

Karwa Chauth or Karak Chaturthi Puja Muhurat

The Karwa Chauth or Karak Chaturthi shubh Puja Muhurat starts at 5:54 pm and will end at 7:08 pm.

The Karwa Chauth Vrat or Upvasa (fast) time is from 6:20 am to 8:09 pm.

Karwa Chauth  Puja Shubh Muhurat (करवा चौथ  व्रत पूजा शुभ मुहूर्त)

•  

• Shubh Puja Time : 05:36 PM to 06:54 PM
• Karwa Chauth Tithi Starts : 09:30 PM on October 31,
• Karwa ChauthTithi Ends : 09:19 PM on November 01,

Karwa Chauth  Upavas Time (करवा चौथ  व्रत समय)

•  
• 06:33 AM to 08:15 PM

Karwa Chauth  Chandrodaya Time – Moonrise (करवा चौथ  चांद निकलने का समय)

•  
• 08:15 PM

Karwa Chauth  Vrat Puja Vidhi (करवा चौथ व्रत की पूजा विधि)

•  

• Get up in the morning before sunrise and take a bath first.
• Clean the temple and light the flame.
• Eat mixed food in the form of sargi as Karva Chauth
• Worship the gods and goddesses.
• Drink water and take a vow of Nirjala fast by worshiping God.
• In the evening, Install all the deities on an earthen altar and place them in it.
• Keep incense, lamp, sandalwood, roli, vermilion in a plate.
• Light a ghee lamp.
• First place a pot full of water on a plate and put wheat in a bowl.
• For worship, make the idol of Lord Shiva and Lord Kartikeya on the wall or on the paper and the moon under it.
• Worship this idol as well.
• Listen to the story of Karwa Chauth katha.
• Worship should be started one hour before moon rise.
• After seeing the moon, look at the husband through a sieve (छलनी).
• After this the vrat is broken by the husband by giving water to the wife.
• Keep fast for the whole day without even taking water and fruits.
• Complete this fast after worshiping the moon in the night.
• It is important to give half to the moon in night worship during Karva Chauth fast.
• After completing the fast, the woman consumes water and food in the night.

Note

When a woman decided to start observing this karwa Chauth vrat once, then she has to do this for lifetime because she has to remain hungry and thirsty throughout the day, in such a situation you should take special care of your health.

Especially for working women it is very difficult to work while hungry.

Karwa Chauth  Vrat Katha in Hindi PDF (करवा चौथ  व्रत कथा)

 As per the ritual that by listening to the katha on Karva Chauth, married women gets, happiness, peace, prosperity comes in their house and also children get happiness. Their husband live long life.

The greatness of Karva Chauth has also been told in Mahabharata.

 Karwa Chauth Sargi  List (करवा चौथ में सरगी खाने का टाइम)

Sargi is the symbol of love in a saas-bahu relationship.

Married women is receiving Sargi thali from her mother in law in the morning.

Women should eat Sargi before sunrise from 4 to 5 pm.

if you are going do first time keep Karva Chauth vrat, so here we are giving you list of things you should include in Sargi.

•  

• Sevaiyyan or phirni (खीर या सेवई)
• Sweets (मिठाई)
• Dry fruits (ड्राई फ्रूट्स)
• Coconut Water (नारियल पानी)
• Fresh fruits (फल)
• Cooked Food
• Desserts
• Mathri
• Poori or Parathas
• Curry
• Glass of Juice

Karwa Chauth  Vrat Puja Samagri List (करवा चौथ व्रत की पूजन सामग्री)

•  

• Sieve (छलनी)
• Mehndi (मेंहदी)
• Water Lota (पानी का लोटा
• Gangajal (गंगाजल)
• Sandalwood (चंदन)
• Akshat (चावल)
• Camphor (कपूर)
• Turmeric (हल्दी)
• Mahawar (महावर)
• Comb (कंघा)
• Bindi (बिंदी)
• Chunri (चुनरी)
• Bangles (चूड़ी)
• Vermilion (सिन्दूर)
• Nettle (बिछुआ)
• Kumkum (कुंकुम)
• Honey (शहद)
• Incense stick (अगरबत्ती)
• Flower (पुष्प)
• Raw Milk (कच्चा दूध)
• Sugar (शक्कर)
• Pure Ghee (शुद्ध घी)
• Curd (दही)
• Sweet(मिठाई)
• Wheat (गेहूं)
• Sugar syrup
• Wooden seat (लकड़ी का आसन)
• Lamp (दीपक)
• Cotton (रुई)
• Yellow clay for making Gauri (पीली मिट्टी)
• Clay spout and lid (मिट्टी का टोंटीदार करवा व ढक्कन)
• Athwari of eight puris (आठ पूरियों की अठावरी)
• Money for dakshina (दक्षिणा)
• Pudding (हलुआ)

Karwa Chauth Vrat Udyapan Vidhi (करवा चौथ व्रत उद्यापन विधि)

• Get up early in the morning before sunrise.
• Take a shower by cleaning your kitchen thoroughly.
• Wear clean clothes.
• Invite 13 women, who is doing a Karva Chauth fast, for food by offering betel nut (सुपारी).
• Tell them to come to your place and break the fast and have food.
• Make Halwa and Poori at home.
• Put these puris in 13 places in a pile of four (चार- चार के ढेर) on the plate and also keep the pudding on them.
• Apply rice on the plate by tilak it with roli.
• After placing the pudding, along with saree and blouse, keep Dakshina as per your wish.
• Also put rice and kumkum around the puris.
• Take the pallu in hand and rotate it around this plate seven times.
• Now give puri and halwa to the thirteen invited women before the meal.
• Prepare another plate for mother-in-law.
• Keep in its base of Gold Nose Pin, lachha, bindi, kajal, beechia (बिछिया), mehndi, bangles etc., and keep some money along with it.
• Touch your mother-in-law’s feet and give it to her.
• Now feed the thirteen women.
• Serve it to everyone with a plate of four poori.
• Tilak women with roli.
• Give as a gift by placing the items in the plate.
• Worship all the women also and take their blessings by giving them Dakshina.
• Make sure to feed the cow also and take the blessings of the mother cow.
• After completing the fast, do Chauth Mata meditation, apologize to her for any mistake done in Udyapan.

 the festival of Karwa Chauth  is celebrated on the Chaturthi of Krishna Paksha in Kartik month every year.

In this vrat, married women are doing full day fast for the long life of their husbands.

This year this fast will be observed on 1 November , Wednesday.

In this vrat, married women keep a Nirjala fast for the long life of their husband and their happy life and break the fast of Karva Chauth only after offering Arghya after worshiping Ganesha at moonrise.

This vrat and date is also known as Sankashti Chaturthi and Karak Chaturthi.

The Karwa Chauth (करवा चौथ ) vrat is observed by every married woman according to their customs, nowadays even virgin girls keep this fast for the attainment of husband like a good Lord Shiva.

In India, Karva Chauth is celebrated with full tradition and gaiety especially in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

On this festival, women observe a waterless fast throughout the day.

Before breaking the fast, keeping a lamp in a sieve and looking at the photo or face of the husband from his oats is also a tradition of Karva Chauth festival.

On this day women dress up like a new bride.

The daughter-in-law provides her mother-in-law with sugar karves, saris and makeup items.

The practice of giving gifts from husband to wife is also there in this festival.

On this day, Karva Mata is specially worshipped along with Lord Ganesha and Shiva-Parvati. On this day women worship together.

Let’s checkout the most information on Karwa Chauth  katha in Hindi with puja vidhi, shubh muhurat and chandrodaya time.

When is Karwa Chauth Date in ?
This year Karwa Chauth is on 1st November , Wednesday but the tithi will be started  from 31st October and will be celebrated still November 01,

 

6 unique ways to celebrate Karwa Chauth

One of the most memorable events in a deeply-in-love couple’s life after their anniversary is Karwa Chauth.

They go above and above to make this incredible day unique and memorable for one another.

The focus of the Karwa Chauth festival is on women dressed exquisitely, resembling brides for their husbands.

They simply want to see their spouses happy and healthy for the rest of their lives, which is why they do everything from observing whole-day waterless fasts to praying to God for long and healthy marriages.

Here are some fantastic ways you can celebrate Karwa Chauth and make such outstanding women in your life feel ecstatic:

Prepare delicious Sargi for wife

There are moments when being apart from relatives in a different nation or place causes unhappiness and unease.

Keep your wife from feeling the same way because your mother isn’t here to show her how much she is loved with heartfelt Sargi presents.

Put on a chef’s hat on Karwa Chauth and cook her a delicious dinner to make her feel welcome.

Give her a break from household chores

A wife whether she stays at home or works is the one who is unable to escape the never-ending tasks around the house.

Whether it’s a typical day or a holiday, she becomes bogged down in household chores and has little time to unwind.

She is fasting for you on this Karwa Chauth, so don’t let her spend the entire day in the kitchen.

Instead, make her day exceptional and unforgettable in every way.

She will feel more at ease and have a radiant complexion after taking a vacation from the housework.

Plan gifts for the entire day

The most devoted and resilient partner in a man’s life is his wife.

Magnificent presents will undoubtedly increase her happiness and excitement.

Your beloved wife would love this approaching Karwa Chauth if you surprise her with beautiful Karwa Chauth presents for wife throughout the day.

Gifts such as flowers, chocolates, plush toys, thalis, clothing, jewelry, and other items with sentimental meanings will fill her with love and affection.

Post-Karwa Chauth puja party

For her long and healthy life, she is wearing a bride’s attire and following a waterless Karwa Chauth fast.

Immediately following the Karwa Chauth Puja in the evening, arrange a sumptuous surprise party to make this joyous event even more memorable for her.

Surprise her greatly by throwing a dinner party and inviting her family and friends.

She will undoubtedly feel fortunate to have a husband like you after receiving this wonderful and unexpected surprise.

Keep fast for her

A good husband is one who never deserts his wife and does everything in his power to ensure her happiness and safety at all times.

This Karwa Chauth, make your wife happy by keeping a fast for her; she too deserves to live a long and healthy life.

She is your lifesaver, and by fasting for her on this particular day, you will grant her a happy life spent with you.

Perfect dinner night

An extra-special occasion that strengthens a couple’s bond is Karwa Chauth Day.

Treat your spouse to a dinner date at her preferred eatery after she observed a strict fast on Karwa Chauth for you.

Take her out on the scheduled dinner night and enjoy a romantic evening together after you have completed the Karwa Chauth Puja at home.

Puja Muhurat Timings
Karwa Chauth Puja Muhurat Time – 18:16 P.M. to 19:30 P.M.
Moonrise Time on Karwa Chauth Day– 20:40 P.M.

This year Karva Chauth will be celebrated on 8th of October that is coming this Sunday. This festival comes during the Krishna Paksha Chaturthi in the Kartik month according to the Hindu calendar.

This festival is especially celebrated by married women during whom they have a “NirJala fast” for the long life and safety of their husbands.

Also, all unmarried girls can have this fast to for their prospective groom.

History and Its Significance

On this very auspicious day, married women have a fast called Nirjala Vrat to pray for a long life of their husbands.

This festival have famous storey of married women who brings her husband back from the dead.

This is how the whole story goes, there is a queen named Veeravati.

She was the only sister of his seven brothers and was the most loved person in their family.

She was married off at very young age and her first karva Chauth was celebrated at her parent’s home.

She Began a Nirjala Vrat for the husband and waited till moon appears.

After seeing her full of thirst and hunger, her brothers could not see her like this and created a mirror in the pipal tree and made it look like a moon has risen.

Veeravati thinks that moon and risen and broken her fast and when she eats first bite of food, a message was arrived for her that her husband was dead.

She then prays to god to observe her again so that she can again have a Karva Chauth fast with full dedication to see her husband alive again.

Hence, she makes fast again with full devotion and bring her husband back to life.

How is this celebrated?

During this ritual, married women wakes up early morning to eat sargi which is a meal prepared and cooked by her mother in law.

After eating sargi, women have to stay without water the whole day until the moon comes out.

On this day, women pray to lord Shiva and Goddess parvati for the well being of their husbands.

In the evening time women perform a pooja in which they offer food to deities and pray for the safety of their husbands.

 After moon is being spotted, women look at the moon and then at their husbands’ through a sieve after which water is offered o the moon by the women.

Husbands then offer some water to drink to their wives to break their fast.

Puja Rituals

Before seeing the moon, a ceremony wihin the community is held for all married women.

Women wear beautiful red sarees or lehngas and wear beautiful jewellery and then sit in a circle to precede for their puja thalis.

The story of Karva Chauth was narrated by one lady and various songs are sung.

Then the women pray to Goddess parvati to bless their husbands’ andfamily. All ladies exchange Karva in a circle to complete the pheras.

This is followed by offering halwa, food, puri, kheer etc.