Did you know why people fast on Karwa Chauth? Karwa Chauth celebrates the bond of marriage. You must have seen your mother fast for your father on Karwa Chauth. Read more to learn the significance of this festival and the Karwa Chauth 2024 date and muhurat time.
- Karwa Chauth 2024 Date: 20 October 2024, Sunday
- Karwa Chauth Pooja Muhurat: 05:46 PM to 07:02 PM
- Time of Moonrise:7:54 PM
Understanding The Festival Of Karwa Chauth
Fasting is an important ritual of Karwa Chauth, the festival whose name comes from Sanskrit. Karwa means a clay pot, and Chauth is the fourth day.
Hindu women fast on this auspicious day to pray for the health and longevity of their husbands. Karwa Chauth teaches excellent love and devotion. Women of all age groups keep a waterless fast from sunrise to moonrise.
They celebrate this day by listening to Karva Chauth Vrat Katha, dressing up in red attire, exchanging gifts with their mothers-in-law, and performing Pooja. This day strengthens marriages and relationships with spouses. It also brings together a feeling of sisterhood as women come together to celebrate this festival.
Also Read: Dev Uthani Ekadashi: An Ideal Time To Seek God’s Blessings
Karwa Chauth Rituals
There are various rituals people perform throughout the country to celebrate this festival. To make Karwa Chauth even more meaningful and to ensure the longevity of your husband’s life, you can follow these rituals:
1. Sargi
Sargi is one of the most important rituals of Karwa Chauth. To keep a fast for the entire day, women wake up early in the morning, bathe and have Sargi. The mother-in-law of the brides gives them Sargi as a token of love. It is a plate with clothes, cosmetics, jewellery, money and food items.
2. Baya
Baya is a gift that daughters-in-law give to their mother-in-law. This is a token to strengthen their relationship with their spouse’s mother. Baya is a plate containing Food items, jewellery, clothes, utensils, money and cosmetics.
3. Shringar
On Karva Chauth, it is auspicious to dress up like a bride. Women dress up in new clothes, which are mostly red. This is because red is an auspicious colour according to Hindu tradition. Doing this also distracts them from their hunger and indicates a happy marriage.
4. Pooja and Katha
In the evening, a few hours before the moon, women come together to do Karva Chauth Pooja and listen to Katha. According to Hindu mythology, they pray to Goddess Parvati, the epitome of an ideal wife. Listening to Karwa Chauth Katha brings marriage happiness and ensures their husbands’ long lives.
5. Breaking Fast
When the moon comes out, it is time to break the tedious Nirjala (waterless) fast. Women look at the moon through a sieve or transparent cloth and make offerings or Arghya. Then, they consume water from their husband’s hands after offering it to the moon. They can then proceed to eat.
Karva Chauth Vrat Katha
There are several ways to tell the Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha. According to Hindu beliefs, reading or listening to the Vrat Katha during pooja maximises its benefits. It guarantees your husband’s good health and life. Because of our diversity, the story has many variations, but the essence remains the same everywhere.
The Story Of Veeravati
According to the tale, once, a moneylender resided in a village with his family. He had seven wonderful boys and a beautiful daughter who was greatly loved by all. Since she was the only sister of her seven brothers, they were very protective and caring about her. Therefore, the whole family showered blessings and affection upon her.
When Veeravati grew up, she married a man, and their marriage was harmonious and joyful. Veeravati kept her first Karwachauth fast and went home to celebrate with her family. As her family raised her with great care and privileges, she was not used to this severe fasting. By the evening, she began feeling increasingly hungry and weak.
The Concern Of Brother’s
Veeravati’s seven brothers were deeply concerned about their sister. They constantly pushed her to eat, but Veeravati refused. The brothers knew that their sister would not eat without seeing the moon, even if it cost her her life. Out of worry, they came up with a plan as they could not see their sister suffer.
They decided to create a fake moon to break her fast. One of the brothers climbed a faraway Peepal tree with a sieve and a lamp and placed them on the tree, making it look like the moon. After this, they went back home and told their sister to eat now that the moon had come out.
The Boon Of Goddess Indrani
Veeravati looked out and saw the fake moon her brothers had created. She thought it was real, so she made offerings to it and started eating. However, with each bite, more bad omens came to her. The news came from her inlaws that Veeravati’s husband was dead.
Veeravati was in disbelief and great grief. She cried the whole night, which made Goddess Indrani visit her. Upon hearing her story, Goddess Indrani blessed Veeravati that if she kept the Karva Chauth fast the next year, her husband would come back to life. She did as told, and it did.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which God is worshipped in Karva Chauth?
2. What to eat on Karwa Chauth?
3. What is the significance of the moon in Karwa Chauth?
4. Can unmarried girls keep Karwa Chauth fast?
5. Why do women wear red on Karva Chauth?
6. Can men keep Karwa Chauth fast?
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