Widely celebrated in the northern part of India, Karwa Chauth is the celebration of marriage, wherein the wife fasts the entire day for a long and healthy life for her husband.

According to Drik Panchang, Karwa Chauth fasting is done during the Krishna Paksha Chaturthi in the Hindu month of ‘Kartik’.

Karwa Chauth Puja timings and Chandrodaya

Karwa Chauth on Sunday, October 24, 2021

Karwa Chauth Puja Muhurat – 05:43 PM to 06:59 PM

Duration – 01 Hour 17 Mins

Karwa Chauth Upavasa Time – 06:27 AM to 08:07 PM

Duration – 13 Hours 40 Mins

Moonrise on Karwa Chauth Day – 08:07 PM.

Chaturthi Tithi Begins – 03:01 AM on Oct 24, 2021
Chaturthi Tithi Ends – 05:43 AM on Oct 25, 2021  

(as per drikpanchang.com)

Puja Rituals performed on Karwa chauth

On this day, women wear bright clothes which are preferably new. They get up in the wee hours and savour the Sargi before sunrise. Sargi comes from her mother-in-law and Baya from her mother. It comprises fruits, sweets, clothes, jewellery etc. The Baya contains the Karwa, the pitcher which is of utmost importance in the Puja.

After consuming it, they observe the fast for the whole day, only to break it after catching a glimpse of the beautiful moon.

In the evening, women folk dressed in their new, beautiful traditional attire, decked up in jewellery and make-up, sit together in a group and the Karwa Chauth Katha (legend) is narrated. After praying to the goddess for their husband’s long life and well being, the women wait for the moon to rise patiently.

Women’s on this day likes to apply different styles of Mehndi on their hands which is being followed as per tradition.

Till now we have known the Puja Vidhi, Chandrodaya, Fasting timings and much more but we forgot to know about the main thing?

What is Karwa ?

Karva or Karwa is a pitcher (pot) filled with water or milk and coins that are used by the women during the festival. It is later given as charity for the well-being of the family and future generations.

On this occasion, Akhanda Saubhagyawati Goddess Parvati is worshipped. Women also worship her husband Lord Shiva and their sons Ganesha and Kartikeya on this day.

A woman seeks blessings from the supreme powers to bless her as she observes a nirjal vrat (fasting without even drinking water) until she offers her prayers to the moon god in the evening.

“मम सुखसौभाग्य पुत्रपौत्रादि सुस्थिर श्री प्राप्तये करक चतुर्थी व्रतमहं करिष्ये।”

Meaning – Bless me as I observe this fast for the well-being of my family, wealth and prosperity.

After offering her prayers, the Karwa is donated.

Then, the Suhagan catches a glimpse of the moon through a sieve with a Diya (lamp) placed on it. Then she looks at her husband through the sieve. Her husband helps her break her fast by making her drink water and offering her sweets.

Today, even men observe Karwa Chauth fast with their wives, expressing their love and honouring companionship.

History behind the Celebration of Karwa Chauth

Let’s start this from pre- Mahabharata times. Draupadi too, is said to have observed this fast. Once Arjun went to the Nilgiri’s 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 Karwa Chauth.

In the legend, Lord Shiva tells Goddess Parvati the story of Veervati to describe the Karwa Chauth fast. Draupadi followed the instructions and observed the fast with all its rituals. Consequently, the Pandavas were able to overcome their problems.

Who was Veervati? Why did Lord Shiva tell about Veervati to Goddess Parvati?

Don’t worry Here are your answers….

Queen Veervati and her seven loving brothers

A beautiful queen called Veervati was the only sister of seven loving brothers. She spent her first Karwa 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 took the first morsel of food, she sneezed. In her second morsel she found hair. After the third she learned the news of her husband, the king, was dead.

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

When the queen explained her distress, the Goddess revealed how she had been tricked by her brothers and instructed her to repeat the Karwa Chauth fast with complete devotion. When Veervati repeated the fast, Yama was forced to restore her husband to life.

Well the history is vast and so are the evidences of women performing Karwa Chauth. Well it’s the season of Joy, the season of Festive vibes and colours so celebrate it in our own styles but never forget to follow the traditions.