Karva Chauth - A must see festival

Overview

                         Karva Chauth is a one day festival celebrated by the Hindu women in North India. During the festival married women fast from sunrise to moon rise for the welfare, prosperity, well being and longevity of their husbands. The festival falls on the Kartik ki Chauth which means the fourth day of the waning moon or the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Kartik. According to the English calendar, the festival falls in October or November. The term Chauth means the forth day and karva is a pot with a spout – a symbol of peace and prosperity which has been seen in most of the Hindu rituals.

The ritual

                      The Hindu wives fast from sunrise to moon rise without taking any food or water. They get up early in the morning to perform the poojas and wear new and festive raiment. Mother 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. The Lord Shiva, his wife Parvati and their sons Karthik, Ganesh and the moon are worshiped on this day along with the ten ‘karwas’ (pots) filled with sweets.

In the evening women dress up with special clothes usually a red or pink sari with golden woven patterns. The new brides often wear their bridal costume. All of them dressed up beautifully with ornaments , henna on their hands and decorative Bindis on their forehead. The fasting women from the neighborhood gather together for the rituals and narrate the mythological stories of Karva Chauth.

                            The women sit around the image with the baya ( a basket full of sweets, fruits and a saree which is meant for the mother in law ). Each woman also places a karva ( pot ) or a pitcher full of water and seven pieces of pua ( a special sweet prepared for the festival)  in front of her . It is adorned with kharia, aipun and a little roli. A red thread is tied around the karva (pot). At the beginning of the pooja women apply the roli teeka to the Goddess and also for 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 followed with aipun and roli. Lastly rice is showered on the image.

In the modern days

                      The festival has become a fashion symbol of the modern era. The Bollywood has a significant role in adding style and glamour to the festival. Even unmarried women are also fasting these days for their fiancés or desired husbands even though it's against the tradition. Social clubs are organizing special events during the evening which includes various cultural programs and events of fun and entertainment.

Tourism

               Karva Chauth is a must see festival as it is one of the most unique festival in which the wives fast for the well being of their beloved husbands. Most restaurants have special menus for this day. The events during the evening is so colorful with music, dance, bangles bindies and so on. 

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                      Have you experienced the festival of Karva Chauth ? If so, share your views and  experience with the fellow readers.