Karva Chauth is an important Hindu festival celebrated in the Northern parts of India. It is usually celebrated by married women who fast for the entire day and pray for the safety, prosperity and long life of their husbands. However, in some parts like Punjab and Haryana, even unmarried girls observe this festival to get good life partners.
The latest trend is even husbands have started observing Karva Chauth to show love and commitment towards their better halves.
Karva Chauth falls on the fourth day after the full moon (according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Kartik). Karva means diya (earthen lamp) and chauth means four in Hindi. This term overall means that the festival falls on the 4th day after the full moon.
Karva Chauth book: This is required to read the story (katha) in front of other women who are fasting. The story is usually read by an elderly woman or priest.
The Karva Chauth Pooja Thali: The puja thali is decorated beautifully. It consists of the roli, vermilion, sacred water, dry fruits, earthen clay pots, diyas and different types of Indian sweets. The thali can be of any material silver, brass or steel thali depending on one’s choice. Even the items can vary from culture to culture. Women in Rajasthan put wheat, matthi. In few cultures, steel strainer is used to view the moon whereas in other cultures, women directly look at the moon and break their fast. So, different places follow different traditions.
Beginning of Vrat: The day of Karwa Chauth begins very early morning when the women of the family have a sargi i.e. the pre-dawn meal. The sargi consists of several scrumptious dishes. Once the married woman has eaten her share of sargi, her phase of fast begins. Now on wards she is not supposed to eat or even drink water for the entire day. The entire day is celebrated like a festive occasion with community gathering, songs, henna rituals and other such things.
Women get all decked up to celebrate the most awaited festival. They mostly wear red colored sarees or lehengas and dress up like brides. Mehendi is one of the most important shringar items. It is very crucial to apply mehendi on the palms.
Food items: Different sweets are made in every household. While few prepare dishes like kachori, sabzi, there are many who go for special delicacies. Even sweets vary from culture to culture.
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