What Is Karwa Chauth: Date, Time, Story, and Importance
Karva Chauth is an age-old Hindu festival where the main focus of the celebration is on married women, mostly from northern and western regions of India. On this day, women fast from sunrise to lines of sight with the moon to pray for the health, wealth, and long life of their husbands. This festival is normally celebrated on the fourth day after the full moon day as per the Hindu calendar month of Kartik which mostly falls in October or November of the Western calendar.
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| Karwa Chauth |
Date & Time
Karwa Chauth on Sunday - October 20, 2024
Karwa Chauth Puja Muhurat - 05:46 PM to 07:02 PM
Duration - 01 Hour 16 Mins
Karwa Chauth Upavasa Time - 06:25 AM to 07:54 PM
Duration - 13 Hours 29 Mins
Krishna Dashami Moonrise on Karwa Chauth Day - 07:54 PM
Chaturthi Tithi Begins - 06:46 AM on Oct 20, 2024
Chaturthi Tithi Ends - 04:16 AM on Oct 21, 2024
On the occasion of Karwa Chauth, married women keep a fast from dawn to twilight for their husbands’ health and longevity. Then after looking at the moon, they drink water after their husbands as a sign of consummation of the fast. The day also involves certain procedures and offerings to the gods (especially bows down to the goddess Parvati) as a demonstration of love and support for the institution of marriage.
Observances Associated with Karwa Chauth
- Fasting: Women begin the fast at sunrise and do not partake of any food or water until the sight of the moon later in the evening. This class of fasting is directed towards their husbands as a mark of faithfulness and affection.
- Sargi: As the day comes to an end and before the rise of the sun, married women enjoy eating sargi which is feted by most to be prepared by their in-laws. This seeks to soften the difficulties caused by the fast which will last for the better part of the day.
- Evening puja: In the evening women do their hair and wear traditional dresses, mostly red or bright-colored sarees, and come together with other women to offer the Karwa Chauth puja. They also pay attention to the Karwa Chauth katha story explaining how and why this festival started.
- Moonrise Ritual: After the moon is out, women try to focus on the moon through a veil or cloth and then on their husbands locking up the same cloth veil. The husbands then give the women first water and some food and thus complete the fasting period.
Importance of Karwa Chauth
Indeed, Karwa Chauth is observed as a day that brings happiness to one’s married life. It is intended to strengthen the relationship between a husband and wife, promoting values of love, sacrifice, and devotion. Although it is only practiced as a culture, a lot of romantic devotion is attached to Karwa Chauth and people lavishly celebrate it.
The festival of Karwa Chauth, in the narrative sense, encompasses devotion and love and no doubt self-sacrificing love between married partners. There are many stories behind this festival, but one of the well-known ones is that of Queen Veeravati:
Story of Queen Veeravati
Veeravati was the only sister of seven brothers who doted on her. After marriage, she went to her father’s house and fasted for the first time on Karwa Chauth. She was nearly fainting by the evening as she was feeling weak by the extent of fasting she had undergone. Therefore, her brothers decided to play a trick on her to prevent her from suffering anymore — they even devised a plan to make her break her fast with ease. Then they set up a large bonfire on the other side of the hill, to create some magic on the zestful moon. Veeravati having seen the moon broke her fast in eager anticipation.
She almost immediately got the news that her husband had passed away. This news affected her greatly so she turned to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati for help. In response to her prayers, Parvati however told her that the reason for her husband's death was her breaking of the fast before the moon appeared. To correct this error, Veeravati undertook the fast of Karwa Chauth with perfection this time, doing all the customs appropriately. Consequently, her husband was restored to life.
Other Legends
Other notable legends include the story of Karva, a faithful wife whose husband while bathing in a river was taken away by a crocodile. As the crocodile raided her husband, Karva grabbed the crocodile tied it with a cotton string, and begged Yama, the god of death, for her husband's survival. Yama, touched by her devotion, did not kill her husband and instead blessed them with longevity.
These tales talk about the faithfulness and endurance of women considering Karwa Chauth as a festival depicting the relationship of a couple and the love of a wife for her husband.
Frequently Ask Questions
What is the meaning of Karwa Chauth?
Karwa Chauth is a Hindu festival that celebrates the love of a married woman for her husband by her keeping a fast for an entire day. This usually entails going a whole day without both food and water from before sunrise to after the moon rises.
What Day is Karwa Chauth in 2024?
In the year 2024, the festival of Karwa Chauth will be observed on the Fifth Sunday of the month, that is on the 20th day of October, in the year 2024. The fast is done at dawn and completed after the moon is seen with the moon rising at approximately 7:54 PM.
What is the importance of Sargi in the context of Karwa Chauth?
Sargi is the meal, consumed before dawn, offered to the woman who is fasting by her in-laws’ family. It contains healthy snacks that will keep her energized all day and is also representative of the mother and daughter-in-law relationship
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