India is well-known for its diversity and beautiful cultures. Well, it is a known fact that we celebrate a variety of festivals around the year and Karwa Chauth, a significant Hindu festival that is celebrated by married Indian women, is one of it. According to the Hindu lunar calendar, Karwa Chauth falls on the fourth day after the full moon (Purnima), known as Krishna Paksha Chaturthi in the month of Kartik. Talking about this year, the auspicious festival falls on October 17, 2019.
Karwa Chauth is a highly significant festival among married Indian women because it is celebrated for their spouses’ safety and long life by observing a fast. It is majorly celebrated in the northern states of India like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. Interestingly, women who aren’t married or are of marriageable age also celebrate this festival to get suitable grooms. Karwa Chauth’s fast is observed to worship Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati and Lord Kartik.
Significance of Karwa Chauth:
It is firmly believed that Karwa Chauth is celebrated in the honour of a woman named Veervati. According to a popular legend, Veerwati, who was the only sister among seven brothers, was the most loved and pampered one in the family. When Veerwati celebrated her first Karwa Chauth, she observed the fast from sunrise with utmost dedication; however, she was eager to get a glimpse of the moon, to break the fast. Veerwait’s brothers, who couldn’t see her in such a condition, tricked her by creating a fake glimpse of the moon.
Veerwati felt into the trap and broke her fast and in no time, she got a message of her husband’s death from her servants. As a consequence of the same, Veerwati cried restlessly until a goddess turned up and asked Veerwati the reason behind her pain. The goddess then asked her to observe the fast yet again to see her husband alive. A devoted Veerwati succeeded this time, hence making Yamraj, the god of death, bringing her husband back to life.
How is Karwa Chauth Celebrated?
For the kind of enthusiasm and zest our women have, the preparations for Karwa Chauth begin well in advance. On the day, they get up early in the morning wear some beautiful attires and jewellery and eat sargi (a special meal made by their mothers-in-law). In fact, the ones who celebrate their first Karwa Chauth often wear their wedding outfit, which is considered as a good omen. And that’s it, after sargi, the Indian woman commences with the fast and stays without water and food till the evening until they get a glimpse of the moon to be precise. Once the moon comes in sight, husbands offer water and food to their wives and break their fast.
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