[Muskan Johar]

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The significance of Karwa Chauth

This festival is celebrated by the Hindu married women in the month of Kartik on the fourth day of the full moon this month according to the Hindu calendar known as Panchaang. On this day, married women perceive a ‘Nirjala Vrat’, or ‘Fast’, by not having food or a single drop of water after sunrise for the whole day, before sunrise they eat food known as ‘Sargi’. A ‘Sargi’ is a first-morning meal traditionally prepared by a mother-in-law to give blessings to their daughter-in-law for a happy, joyful, and prosperous marriage. Women mark this celebration for their husband’s affluence, safety, and long life. After sunset, women break their fast by looking at the moon and their husband’s faces through a sieve.

The word Karwa Chauth has a special meaning ‘Karwa’ means earthen pots and ‘Chauth’ means the fourth day. It is also known as Karak Chaturthi and it is celebrated in the belief that it imitates Goddess Parvati, who perceived a fast to obtain Lord Shiva as her husband. For that reason, married women keep this fast for their husbands for continuity and long-lasting marriage. It is believed that this fast also brings good luck and prosperity to the family.

This ceremony is ubiquitous in Northern India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh. Married women pray to Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, and Karwa Mata for the long life of their husbands.

 

 

Spiritual meaning of Karwa Chauth

Karwa Chauth is a celebration of love, tradition, and the experience of the human spirit and it also has the power to enhance our lives in more than one way. So let’s accept the Karwa Chauth not only as a ritual but as a spiritual path in the way of deeper connection.

Rituals of Karwa Chauth 

On this day, women wake up early in the morning before sunrise, take a bath, have Sargi, and keep a fast for the whole day. They break their fast only after looking at the moon and their husband through a sieve they also offer ‘Arghya’ for this they use a pot in which they put raw milk with water and they also offer some sweets and by having water and a bite of food from their husband’s hands.

During the Karwa Chauth Puja, women wear traditional clothes, do a solah shringar, and apply henna on their hands as it is considered propitious. During puja, they sing a song and read a story of Karwa Chauth in groups and they also rotate the plates during puja. On this day women are not allowed to wake up their husbands and if the husband is angry then they can’t convince him, and they can’t use knives, needles, and grinders on that day because it is not considered good.

The myth behind this celebration 

The story of Karwa Chauth is deeply related to the beautiful queen named Veeravati. She loved her husband a lot and she was the single sister of seven brothers. They loved her unconditionally and pampered her a lot. One unfortunate day, at the time of going home, she observed a fast without water and food for her husband.

But due to weakness, she didn’t bear the hunger and at last, she fainted. When her brothers saw her in this condition they couldn’t see her like that so they requested her to break her fast and eat something. But then also she kept the fast and said that she would patiently wait for the moon to rise. To break her fast, the brothers made a plan, they climbed the tree and behind the sieve, they blew up the flame to make the illusion of the moon. Veeravati was convinced that the moon had risen, for breaking her fast she took one bite of food, and unintentionally her husband died. Hearing the news of their husband’s death, she broke down and cried vigorously and sorrowfully. Looking at her in this situation the wife of Lord Indra, Goddess Indrani came to comfort her and said that she could bring her husband alive by perceiving fast every month in all over the year. She started following the advice given by Goddess Indrani and perceiving fast every month, with her devotion and patience the God of death Yam was impressed and returned her husband alive

 

 

 

 

 

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