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Diwaali>Karwa
Chauth
Karwa Chauth - Fast
for Married Hindu Women
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Chandra Darshan at
19:45hrs IST
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Karwa
Chauth legend |
Karwa Chauth
Rituals|
Karwa Chauth Celebrations |
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Karwa Chauth in India |
Social significance of Karwa Chauth |
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The
fast of Karva Chauth is of particular importance to Hindu women as
they believe it ensures the well-being, prosperity and longevity of their
husbands. As the name
signifies, Karva meaning a clay pot and chauth corresponding
to the fourth, this festival is commemorated on the the fourth day after the
Full Moon in Kartik month of Hindu calendar.
The origin of this festival was based on a very sweet and noble idea to
develop love and harmony among the couples. Long time back, girls used to
get married at a very early stage, and had to go and live with their in-laws
in other villages. If she had any problems with her husband or in-laws, she
would have no one to talk to or seek support from. Her own parents and
relatives would be quite far and unreachable. There used to be no
telephones, buses and trains long ago.
Thus the custom started that, at the time of marriage, when bride would
reach her in-laws, she would befriend another woman there who would be her
friend or sister for life. It would be like god-friends or god-sisters.
Their friendship would be sanctified through a small Hindu ceremony right
during the marriage. Once the bride and this woman had become god-friends or
god-sisters, they would remain so all their lives and recognize the relation
as such. They would also treat each other like real sisters.
During any difficulty later in life, involving even the husband or in-laws,
these women would be able to confidently talk or seek help from each other.
Thus Karva Chauth started as a festival to celebrate this friendship
(relationship) between the once-brides and their god-friends (god-sisters).
Praying and fasting for the sake of husband came later and is secondary. It
was probably added, along with other mythical tales, to enhance the
festival. In any case, husband would always be associated with this
festival, because the day of starting this holy friendship between two
god-sisters was essentially the day of bride's marriage to him. Thus praying
and fasting for him by his wife during a celebration of her relationship
with the god-friend would be quite logical.
Thus, originally KarvaChauth is once a year festival to renew and celebrate
the relationship between god-friends (god-sisters). It had a tremendous
social and cultural significance once when world lacked the ways to
communicate and move around easily.
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Legend of
Karwa Chauth
The Story
Of Satyavan and Savitri
There is the story of the Satyavan and Savitri. When Lord Yama, came to
procure Satyavan's soul, Savitri begged him to grant him life. When he refused,
she stopped eating and drinking and Yamraj finally relented. Pleased by the
devotion and love of Savitri Lord Yama granted him life. Karva Chauth is
celebrated in memory of the fast and penitence Savitri undertook to save her
husband.
The Story Of
Queen Veeravati
A long long time ago, there lived a beautiful girl named Veeravati. She was the
only sister of her seven loving brothers, who was married to a king. On the
occasion of the first Karva Chauth after her marriage, she went to her parents'
house. After sunrise, she observed a strict fast. However, the queen couldn't
stand the rigors of fasting and was desperately waiting for the moon to rise.
The seven brothers who loved her dearly, were very disturbed to see their sister
in distress and decided to end her fast by deceiving her. The brothers reflected
a mirror through Pipal tree leaves. The sister, taking it as moon rise,
concluded the fast and took food. However, the moment the queen ate her dinner,
she received the news that her husband, the king, fell seriously ill.
The queen rushed to her husband's palace and on the way, she met Lord Shiva and
his consort, Goddess Parvati. Parvati informed her that the king had died
because the queen had broken her fast by watching a false moon. However, when
the queen asked for forgiveness, the goddess granted her the boon that the king
would be revived if she undertook the Karva Chauth fast under strict rituals.
Thus, by strictly following all the rituals of Karva chauth, queen Veeravati was
able to bring her husband back to life.
The
Legend Of Mahabharata
The belief in this fast and its associated rituals goes back to the
pre-Mahabharata period. Draupadi, too, is said to have observed this fast. Once
Arjun went to the Nilgiris 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 Shivas guidance under similar circumstances, she
was advised to observe the fast of Karva Chauth. Draupadi followed the
instructions and observed the fast with all the rituals. Consequently, the
Pandavas were able to overcome their problems. On this day, fasting women listen
to Karva Chauth legends with rapt attention.
The Legend Of Karva
According to a legend, a woman named Karva was deeply devoted to her husband.
One day while bathing in the strem, the husband was attacked by a crocodile.
Karva came running and tied the crocodile with a cotton yarn. She then went to
Lord Yama, the Lord of the death, and requested him to send the offending
crocodile to hell. When Lord Yama refused, she threatened to curse him. Afraid
of the power of a devoted wife, Lord Yama readily accepted and sent the
crocodile to Yamalok or hell, and blessed Karva's husband with long life.
Karwa Chauth
Rituals
Karva Chauth
is one such occasion when most married Hindu women in North India seek the
blessings of God for their husband's long life. Though it is a day marked with
neither food nor water, this festival is quite popular among the newlyweds. A
few days before the festival, markets are full of items needed for the festival.
The preparations for this festival start a week in advance.
The Start
Of The Day
On the day of Karwa Chauth the women get up before sunrise. They worship
Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh, Kartikeya and the moon. The blessings of the Gods are
invoked for longevity and prosperity of their husbands and children.
Mothers-in-law give their daughters-in-law sumptuous food called 'Sargi' to eat
before sunrise, as the fast starts before sunrise and ends only after worshiping
the moon at night. It is a tough fast, as the women do not take any food or
water.
Dressing Up
In the evening, the women to cherish the joy of adorning bridal finery. Many
times, the newly wed wear their wedding dress on this auspicious occasion,
usually the ghagra-choli or Banarsi saris, embellished with the old-new shimmer
of gold, diamonds and rubies. After dressing up, she receives gifts from the
mother-in-law.
Evening Puja
Before evening, the married woman receives the baya or a basket full of
goodies from her mother, which is meant for the mother-in-law. The basket
contains sweets, fruits and a sari. Before the sun sets, most of the women in a
locality gather in one house and prepare a corner for the puja. This puja chowk
is beautifully decorated and a small platform is prepared against a wall. On
this, the image of Gauri Mata or Goddess Parvati is placed. In the olden days,
this image was made of cow-dung.
Process of Puja
The women sit around this image with their bayas / basket. Each woman also
places a karva or a pitcher full of water and seven pieces of pua in front of
her. It is adorned with kharia, aipun and a little roli. A red thread is tied
around the karva. At the beginning of the puja, women apply the roli teeka to
Goddess Gauri and also to themselves. With the thumb and the third finger of the
right hand, water is sprinkled on the image of the goddess. The same procedure
is repeated with aipun and roli . Lastly, rice is showered on the image.
Narration of Vrata Katha
An elderly woman of the family narrates the legend of Karva Chauth. Even a
widow can narrate this story. The women then pray for the long life and welfare
of their husbands. While chanting the prayers, they pass their bayas from one to
another. They wait for the moon rise, and as soon as the moon is sighted,
prayers are offered to the moon. The fasting women first observe the moon
through a sieve and then break their fast. The first sip of water and the first
morsel of food is offered by the husband.
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Karwa Chauth Celebrations
The day of Karva Chauth is celebrated
mostly amongst the entire North Indian community settled either in India and
other parts of the world. The most important aspect of this day is that a dawn
to dusk fast is undertaken by the North Indian ladies and seeing the moon they
finally break the fast. The fast is unique perhaps because nowhere in the world
does a wife go without food or water just to pray for the longevity and
well-being of her husband.
In modern day, with all the trappings of commercialization attached, Karva
Chauth, the big fasting day has turned into a full-fledged event. The event is
growing bigger with each passing day. Karva Chauth celebrations promise to grow
bigger with each passing year. The Halwais, the Mehendi and Churiwallis have
traditionally been busy on this auspicious day. But joining the bandwagon in
recent times are the beauty parlour owners, the event managers and the
restaurant owners.
Karva Chauth special eateries are gearing up for now. Cashing in on the
popularity of 'eating out' most restaurants have special menus for this special
day. No wonder almost every happening-eating joint around town is offering
plenty of attractive options to choose from. Various clubs organize special
events on this festive day with various stalls, bumper Tambola and even a dance
competition. With so much feasting and fun added to it, fasting had never been
so good before.
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Social
Significance of Karwa Chauth
The festival
of Karva Chauth was as a day to celebrate the season of autumn and enjoy the
company of friends and relatives. But later on, many mythological legends were
added to give it a religious touch. This festival is glorified and widely
solemnized by the Hindus and Sikh of north-western India.
A few days before Karva Chauth, married women buy new karvas, the spherical clay
pots and paint them on the outside with beautiful designs. Inside the pot, they
put bangles and ribbons, home-made candy and sweets, make-up items and small
clothes e.g. handkerchief. The women then visit each other on the day of Karva
Chauth or immediately afterward, and exchange these karvas. Season-wise, soon
after the harvest, it is an excellent time to enjoy festivities, meet one
another and exchange gifts. During the time of Karva Chauth, parents send gifts
to married daughters and their children.
Usually, falling in the month of October, Karvachauth is celebrated midst
harvesting of summer crops. Apart from the fast, kept by married woman for the
long life of their husbands, people like to remember and meet their relatives
and friends, and exchange gifts with them. Thus, Karva Chauth is very much a
social and seasonal festival as it is a religious affair.
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Celebration
of Karwa Chauth in different parts of India
Karva
Chauth has an extraordinary observance rate among married Hindu women in
Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. On this day married women keep a
fast for the well being and long life of their husbands. The various way of
celebrating Karva Chauth vary from each other on regional basis.
In the plains of Uttar Pradesh, women decorate the walls of their home with
drawings of Goddess Gauri, the moon and the sun. The evening puja is performed
with earthen lamps and the Karva - which made of mud. Before looking at the
moon, the women pray to the figurines at their doorstep.
Karva Chauth is one of the most popular festival among the women of Punjab. When
the days are near for Karva Chauth celebrations, the market are decorated with
bangles, beautiful sarees, embroidered suits, stalls of sweets and eatables, a
number of artistes come to the city from Jaipur, Agra and Delhi with their
special mehndis (hena) to decorate hands of women. In some parts of Punjab,
young girls too keep the fast in the hope of winning a loving husband.
In Rajasthan, the women make the karvas with mud and fill them with rice and
wheat. Most women wear their wedding-day chunris on this occasion.
Interestingly, it is believed that the woman who observes this fast is not only
blessed with welfare of her husband but also wins the same husband for the next
seven births.
In all these states the first 'Karva Chauth' of any new bride is a very
important festival. New clothes, new jewelery and gifts from both mother and
mother-in-law are received. The wedding day outfits are worn once again, mehndi
is applied and the family gathers to celebrate it with them. In Maharashtra this
particular fast is not very popular but a similar one called 'Vaat Savitri' is
kept by married women.
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