Karwa Chauth is an important festival in India for married women in the Northern belt. For their husbands’ safety and well-being, the wives fast from sunrise to moonrise. It is difficult to maintain a fast without drinking water or eating anything during the day, yet devoted wives carry out these customs out of deep love and respect for their husbands. From its significance to its rituals, here is all you need to know about Karwa Chauth.
Karwa Chauth 2023
Karva Chauth is based on the lunisolar calendar, which takes into consideration all astronomical positions, particularly the moon’s positions, which are utilised as a reference to determine significant dates.
In October or November, the event takes place on the fourth day following the full moon. It falls on Monday, October 31, this year. The moonrise on October 31 is said to be at 07:46 pm.
This day is said to strengthen the bonds between a couple for life. Women typically dress traditionally, apply henna on their hands, receive gifts, and get together to enjoy this auspicious day. India celebrates this day, which is a symbol of love and devotion, with enormous zeal.
What Is Sargi? How Is The Fast Observed?
Married women wake up before sunrise and eat sargi at dawn in order to ensure the well-being of their husbands. In reality, this sargi is a traditional meal that ladies get from their mothers-in-law.
It can be described as a thali or as a collection of various culinary items. In order to bless her daughter-in-law on this auspicious day and give her well wishes so she can successfully complete the fast, the mother-in-law makes a thali, or sargi.
Sargis are the only thing that will keep the woman who is fasting from eating or drinking for the remainder of the day. A thali that has both sweet and savoury components, together with dry fruits, coconuts, vermicelli, and fruits, is called a sargi. In it, women also get presents of jewellery and saris.
Women also listen to Karwa Paath, which is the story of Karwa Chauth. Many unmarried women too keep this fast. It is believed that keeping this fast with devotion will help them find a suitable guy.
Married ladies look forward to breaking their fast. At night, they look at the moon through a sieve while offering water to it. As soon as the moon appears, they break their fast with the first drink of water from their husbands’ hand.
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Why Is It Celebrated?
Do you know why Karwa Chauth is celebrated? Do you know the story behind it? Here’s the story:
There was a woman in a village named Karwa, and she was deeply in love with her husband. One day, her husband went to the river to take a bath and got attacked by a crocodile. He realised that he might die soon because of the attack and called out his wife to help him. His wife, Karwa, heard her husband’s screams and ran to the river.
She used cotton yarn and bound the crocodile to the tree. Her love for her husband was so deep and pure that the crocodile could not break that tie. She then summoned Yama, “God of Death” and asked him to give the crocodile a death sentence and revive her husband.
When Yama denied it, she threatened him that she would curse him. Yama did not want to fall prey to the curse of a devoted wife, so he granted her wish. Looking at her devotion to her husband he said that all the married women will look up to her and celebrate Karwa Chauth for the well-being of their husbands.
How is Karwa Chauth celebrated at your place?
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva
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