Karva Chauth is a festival that represents the joy, splendour, brightness and happiness of married life, and it is one of the most awaited festivals of the year. Married women observe fast for the entire day, not having as much as a sip of water, until the moon is spotted. That is when the husband feeds her the first bite. Married Indian women have great faith in the festival, and keep the fast for long life and well being of their husbands.
Karva means ‘diya’ or lamp, and Chauth means ‘fourth; therefore, the name implies that the festival falls on the fourth date of the dark fortnight of the month of Karthik (Oct-Nov) – fourth day of the new moon immediately after Dusshera and 9 days before Diwali.
Traditions
The fast is the most important part of the festival. Hindu women prepare for the fast beforehand by shopping and preparing the diyas and putting Henna or Mehandi designs on their hands and legs.
On the day before the festival, the brides are presented with ‘Sargi’ baskets from their mother-in-law, which contain the foods they need to eat before sunrise. Fasting women of the neighbourhood get together before sunrise to eat the Sargi, which consists of foods such as fruits and potatoes with puris.
On the day of Karva Chauth, the women wear bright beautiful clothes, heavy jewellery and bangles. Henna designs adorn their palms, hands and feet. ‘Baya’ is a gift given by the mother, which includes sweets, money, clothes and a ‘Karva’, and the women offer this Baya to their mother in laws. Karva Chauth brings the women in the family together.
In the evening, Puja is performed for ‘Gaur Mata’, who is Goddess Parvati (the holy consort of Lord Shiv). For the Puja, an elderly lady usually recites a tale about Karva Chauth, which is about a woman who lost her husband the instant she breaks her fast prematurely as she was tricked into it. The enraged woman implored Gaur Mata to resurrect her husband, and he came back to life after 7 Karva Chauths.
On moonrise, the women gather with their husbands to see the moon through a sieve or a mesh. Water is offered to the moon, and then the husbands need to feed their wifes the first bite of food of that day. Women receive gifts from their husbands and relatives as a gesture of their love and care. A new bride usually adorns herself in her bridal attire.
Tourist Essential
Karva Chauth is a personal celebration, although the festival does offer a lot to tourists visiting. Shopping malls and boutiques are filled with latest festival wear as everybody loves to be decked up for the festival. Bangles and heavy jewellery match the garments. You can also find sweets, henna, and bindis, and all such bridal things on display.
