Karwa Chauth 2023: History, Significance and Pooja time!

Did you know why people fast on Karwa Chauth? In our culture, there are many traditions and rituals which have a lot of significance. These rituals make our festivals more meaningful and enjoyable. Karwa Chauth is a festival which celebrates the bond of marriage. It teaches us the important lessons of devotion and love. Wondering when and how to celebrate Karwa Chauth 2023? Worry not because, through this blog, we will tell you about Karva Chauth pooja time, its history and how to celebrate it!

Karwa Chauth 2023 Date: November 1st, 2023, Wednesday
Fasting Time for Karwa Chauth: 6:36 AM to 8:26 PM
Karwa Chauth pooja Muhurat: 5:44 PM to 7:03 PM
Total Duration of Muhurat: 1 Hour 17 Minutes
Time of Moonrise: 8:26 PM

What is Karwa Chauth?

You must have seen many women keeping a fast for their husbands. This is because it is an important ritual of Karwa Chauth. The name of this festival comes from Sanskrit words. Karwa means a clay pot, and the fourth day is Chauth. Hindu women fast on this auspicious day to pray for the health and longevity of their husbands.

Karwa Chauth poses the teachings of great love and devotion. Women of all age groups keep a waterless fast from sunrise to moonrise for their husband’s longevity. They celebrate this day by listening to Karva Chauth Vrat Katha, dressing up in red attires, exchanging gifts with their mothers-in-law and performing Pooja. This day is the day to strengthen marriages and relationships with your spouses. It also brings together a feeling of sisterhood as women come together to celebrate this festival.

Karwa Chauth

Why is Karwa Chauth celebrated?

According to the Hindu calendar, every month has 2 Chaturthi days. These days are Chauth. This is the reason behind Karva Chauth’s name. Women across India fast on this day, praying for the longevity of their husbands. On this day, we worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The Karwa Chauth fast is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and Karva Devi.
There are many stories and legends people associate with Karwa Chauth.

According to a story, once there was a war between gods and demons. The gods were falling weak, and the demons were winning the war. As a result, gods went to Lord Brahma- the hindu god of creation, to ask for a solution. Lord Brahma said that the wives of the gods should keep a fast and pray for the long life of their husbands. Doing this made the gods win over evil, and hence we celebrate Karva Chauth.

Another very significant legend behind this festival is the story of Karwa Devi. A woman Karwa, and her husband stayed near the river Tungabhadra. One day, when the husband went to take a bath in the river, a crocodile grabbed his leg. Karwa tied the crocodile to a tree with a thread to protect her husband. Yamraj, the god of death, came to take her husband, but Karwa refused. Yamraj, impressed with her dedication, gave a blessing and increased her husband’s life.

People also celebrate Karva Chauth to pray for people who go to serve in the military. Their wives and children pray for their protection and safety. In older times, young girls had to marry, which made them feel lonely. Karwa Chauth gave them the gift of sisterhood and company as all women came together to celebrate this festival. Karwachauth also marks the start of the Rabi crop’s harvest.

Lord Shiva And Mata Parvati

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. Mehendi

Mehendi or Henna holds a lot of significance in India and many other Southeast Asian countries. We apply Henna to bring fortune at many auspicious occasions like weddings and festivals. Women apply Mehendi on Karva Chauth as it symbolises longevity and a healthy life for their husbands.

Haath me Mehndi

2. 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 that includes clothes, cosmetics, jewellery, money and food items.

3. Baya

Baya is a gift that daughters-in-law give to their mother-in-law. This is a token to strengthen their relationship with the mother of their spouse. Baya is a plate containing Food items, jewellery, clothes, utensils, money and cosmetics.

4. Shringar

On Karva Chauth, it is auspicious to dress up like a bride. Women dress up in new clothes, which are mostly red in colour. 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.

Shringar

5. Pooja and Katha

In the evening, a few hours before the moon, women come together to do Karva Chauth Pooja and listen to Katha. They pray to goddess Parvati, the epitome of an ideal wife according to Hindu mythology. Listening to Karwa Chauth Katha brings happiness to marriage and ensures the long life of their husbands.

6. 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.

7. Karva Chauth Vrat Katha

There are a number of 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 the good health and life of your husband. There are many variations of the story because of the diversity in our culture, but the essence remains the same everywhere.

Karva Chauth Puja Thali

Veeravati’s Story

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 more and more hungry and weak.

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 went and climbed a faraway Peepal tree with a sieve and a lamp. He 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.

Veeravati looked out and saw the fake moon her brothers created and thought that it was real. Therefore, she made offerings to it and started eating. However, with each bite, more and more bad omens came to her. The news came from her inlaws that Veeravati’s husband was now 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 gave Veeravati a blessing that if she kept the Karva Chauth fast the next year, it would bring her husband back to life. She did as told, and it brought her husband back to life.

Conclusion

We have now learnt all about how to celebrate Karva Chauth. Knowing the significance behind our festivals can help us develop our connection with spirituality. It also makes us aware and respectful of all cultures. This festival is a reminder for us that the greatest feelings can be conveyed with the smallest acts. To make your Karwa Chauth 2023 celebrations more meaningful, we have our dedicated Pandits to help you on the InstaAstro website and app!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which god is worshipped in Karva Chauth?

Women worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati on Karwa Chauth. Lord Ganesha and Karwa Devi are also worshipped during this festival.

2. What to eat on Karwa Chauth?

During the Karw Chauth fast, one cannot consume food or water. However, you should eat Sargi early in the morning before the fast to keep you energized and full throughout the day.

3. What is the significance of the moon in Karwa Chauth?

Women break their fast after seeing the moon through a sieve during the Karwa Chauth Puja. One of the reasons why the moon is so important is because it rests on Lord Shiva’s head.

4. Can unmarried girls keep Karwa Chauth fast?

Yes, unmarried girls can keep Karwa Chauth fast for the longevity and well-being of their partners. However, the fasting rules for unmarried women are not that strict. You can break your fast by looking at the pole star instead of the moon.

5. Why do women wear red on Karva Chauth?

Red is an auspicious colour in the Hindu tradition. Many brides in Hindu weddings wear red dresses. Women wear red on Karva Chauth because it symbolises married life.

6. Can men keep Karwa Chauth fast?

Karva Chauth fast is usually kept by women because of the historical significance of men going to war. However, in today’s times, men can also keep Karwa Chauth as a gesture of love and appreciation for their partners.

Also Read: Ahoi Ashtami 2023

For interesting Astrological Facts and Videos, follow us on Instagram and read your daily horoscope.