‘Karwa’ means pot and ‘Chauth’ mean fourth. The festival of Karwa Chauth falls on the fourth day after the full moon or ‘Poornima’, in the month of ‘Kartik’. It is celebrated by all the married women to mark the wellness of their husband and to protect them from any kind of difficult situations and problems. This festival is mainly celebrated in the northern part of the country. On this auspicious day, ladies observe fast, they get up before sunrise, take shower, wash their hair and eat ‘sargi’. Once they get up again, they do not drink or eat anything till moon comes out in the night. Once the moon comes, they pray to God for their husbands’ long life and give ‘Ardhya’ to the moon and then their respective husbands. Only then they drink water and eat food. This festival is very significant as it celebrates a woman’s love and sacrifice for her better half.
What is the story of ‘Karwa Chauth’?
There are many legendary stories attached to the celebration of ‘Karwa Chauth’. Out of them the most famous one is that of Queen Veeervati. She was the youngest and the only sister of her seven brothers. After her marriage, she came to her house on the occasion of ‘Karwa Chauth’. Like all married women, she also observed the fast and did not eat or drink anything the whole day. During the end of the day she became unwell due to hunger, seeing her condition, her brothers could not control themselves and deceived her by showing the shadow of a light as moon. She mistook the light as the moon and broke her fast. As and when she sat down to eat, her maid came and told her that her husband, the king has died. She rushed back to be with her husband and started crying inconsolably. Lord Shiva and his wife Goddess Parvati then appeared and told her that since she broke her fast, her husband died. Queen Veervati realized her mistake and did the fast of ‘Karwa Chauth’ next year with complete rituals. Seeing her dedication, goddess of marital bliss ‘Parvati’ blessed her with her husband’s life.
What are the steps one need to follow to do the ‘Karwa Chauth Pujan’ properly?
- Women have to do ‘Solah Shringaar’ on this day which basically means that they have to adorn themselves with the 16 items that a married women is suppose to wear. They buy all the items required a day in advance. Also they put ‘mehendi’ on their hands and feet.
- On the day of ‘Karwa Chauth’ women get up before dawn, take shower and eat ’sargi’ (food items given in a plate by mother in law to her daughter in law). The items that are included in ‘sargi’ are pomegranate, milk, ‘Phini’, soaked almonds, any sweet, one ‘roti and coconut water. The women after eating ‘sargi’ have to mandatory go back to sleep so that when they get up again, the fast commences.
- The whole day, women do not drink a single drop of water or eat anything till the moon come out in the evening.
- During the evening time, women dress up and collect at one place to listen to the ’Karwa Chauth katha’. The ladies wear sarree, bindi, jewellery, bangles etc. and dress up properly for the ‘pooja’.
- The legend of ‘Karwa Chauth’, the story of Queen Veervati is then narrated to all the married ladies by the priest. Women sit around in circles and pass their ‘Pooja thali’ approximately 5 times during the narration. The ‘thali’ contains a mud pot full of water, almonds for husband, some fruits, one ‘diya’ made of dough, gift items for one’s mother in law. The ‘diya’ has to be lit while the’katha’ is going on.
- After the ‘katha’ is over all the married ladies seek the blessings of the elders and the priest.
- When the moon comes out in the evening, women see its reflection in their thalis of water or through a sieve or ‘dupatta’ followed by seeing their husband. After this, they offer water or ‘Prasad’ to the moon and ask for blessings, prosperity and long life of their husband. Husbands then offer food to their wives, with which wives end their fast.
