Karva Chauth is one of the most popular festivals celebrated in India. This annual festival is observed mainly in the northern states, such as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, etc. What makes this festival unique among all the other festivals celebrated in our country is that it is primarily a day of rigorous fasting undertaken solely by devout Hindu women, specifically married women! Sometimes, even unmarried girls undertake this ritual of Karva Chauth to get blessed with a suitable life partner.
Top 10s Only takes a brief look at the significance of celebrating the Indian festival of Karva Chauth.
Karva Chauth Festival: Blessings For The Pativrata’s Love & Devotion
In Indian culture, the term Pativrata denotes a loyal woman who is absolutely devoted to the safety, happiness and well-being of her husband or pati. Thus, the Karva Chauth festival commemorates the devotion pativrata women have for their spouses.
The Karva Chauth festival occurs in the month of Karthika, on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha, or four days after the full moon (Purnima). On this auspicious day, women observe a day-long nirjala fast for the well-being and longevity of their husbands. The term nirjala means ‘without water’. Thus, this type of fasting requires people to abstain entirely from food and drink during the duration of the fast.
During Karva Chauth, women have food before sunrise and then avoid consuming water and food till the sun sets, and the moon rises. During the day of Karva Chauth, women undertake many rituals and prayers. This fasting ritual is completed when the women see the moon, traditionally through a sieve or a dupatta, and then accept water or food from their husbands.
Karva Chauth Origins: Celebrating The Strength Of Women’s Devotion
Legend has it that the Karva Chauth festival commemorates the love and devotion of a woman named Karva, who saved her husband from the clutches of a vicious crocodile through the strength of her resolve. Her intense prayers to Yama, the God of death, forced him to send the crocodile to hell, thereby saving the life of her husband and ensuring many more years of marital bliss.
Another legend associated with the Karva Chauth festival is that of Queen Veervati, who regained the life of her dead husband by performing the Karva Chauth fast and appeasing the Goddess.
The Karva Chauth fast is also mentioned in the epic Mahabharat. Draupadi is believed to have performed the Karva Chauth fast as a means to ensure the well-being of her husbands, the Pandavas.
The festival of Karva Chauth is a time of great importance for many wives across the country. Let us know in the comments how you spent the day during the auspicious festival of Karva Chauth.
Want to read more about the other festivals celebrated across India? Read this interesting article we wrote about the Hindu New Year Traditions Across India.