Karva Chauth symbolises love between husband and wife

It is a one day celebration where married women observe fast from sunrise, breaking it only when the moon appears

Wednesday 28th October 2015 06:37 EDT
 
 

The word Karva means 'Pot' and Chauth means 'Fourth' in the Hindi language. The festival of Karva Chauth is a one day celebration with married women observe fast from sunrise, breaking it only when the moon appears. Widely celebrated in the northwest region of India, it falls on the fourth day of the month of Kartik. On this day, women get up before sunrise, worship Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh, Kartikeya and the moon. They pray for long lives of their husbands and children. Mothers-in-law give Sargi to their daughters-in-law to eat before the sun rises.

Before evening, women receive the Baya from their mothers, a basket that contains sweets, fruits and a sari. A cultural celebration, women from nearby societies gather in one house, and prepare a corner for puja to worship Goddess Parvati. Karva Chauth is one of the best examples of the cultural richness of the Hindu religion. Women get together, sing songs, make merry as they refrain to eat a morsel of food in the whole day. The fast is broken after the moon appears, is seen through a sieve by women, and lastly their husbands give them water. The ritual is followed by a huge dinner. The festival that symbolises the love between a husband and wife, has been frequently romanticised by the Indian film industry. News is usually abuzz during the season on how celebrities observe the celebrations. Family entertainments like 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham', 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge', 'Baghban', 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam', all have been the best endorsers of Karva Chauth.

One of the most well-known tales associated to the festival is of Queen Veeravati, who had seven brothers. She observed a fast for her husband but was feeling quite unwell due to lack of food and water. Seeing her condition, her brothers tricked her into breaking her fast by showing her a fake moon. The sooner she did, her husband fell sick. Veeravati prayed to Lord Shiva and Parvati, who after hearing her story, gave her another chance to restore her husband's health. This story has different variations, each signifying an Indian woman's unrelenting devotion towards her husband.

Even Indians abroad observe the festivities, in their own way. Mothers courier their Bayas and Sargis to their daughters and daughters-in-law, making sure their Karva Chauth does not lack in any way.


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