Karva Chauth – Make the best with these Important Tips

karva chauth

The festival of Karva Chauth is a popular fasting festival in Hinduism and is mainly observed in North India, mainly Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Himachal. It is [popularly known as Indian Valentine Day.  This festival celebrates the love between husband and wife. It is celebrated by both Hindu and Sikh women for long life of their husband. It is considered the most important festival for married women. This festival falls on the fourth day after full Moon (Krishna Paksha), as per the Hindu calendar in the Hindu kartik month. Sometimes unmarried girls also keep the fast for their desired life partner.

Here is a brief idea on how to do or perform Karva Chauth Vrat? Karva Chauth is performed by married woman for the well being and long life of her husband. This fast is seen as a symbol of love and celebrated for a good husband and wife relationship.

On the day of this fast, a married women is supposed to wake up before sunrise and take a bath and offer their usual prayers. As you are not supposed to eat or drink, she will consume food before Sunrise also known as “Sargi” in Punjab.

What is Sargi in Karva Chauth

Sargi” is the food that is eaten before Sunrise. It includes fruits and can also be Indian sweets. You can consume roti, bread etc but non-vegetarian food is totally avoided on this day. No food is consumed after sunrise in this fast till evening when you sight the moon.

Married women apply ‘mehndi’ on their palms and feet. Women wear traditional saris and other garments.  Most of the day is spend with relatives and friends.

An important part of this Karva Chauth fast is the ‘baya’ send by the mothers of the women keeping the fast. The Baya (is a gift for the mother-in-law) usually consist of puas, halwa, and clothes and can also include some cash. The ritual of Karva chauth fast, vary from region to region.

The Karva chauth puja starts around 4 Pm in the evening. The puja place is decorated with ‘kharia matti.’ A ‘chowk’ is decorated on the floor and atop it a seep chowk is decorated with ‘aipun.’ The chowk is placed against the wall and on a decorated ‘patta,’ Goddess Parvati is installed. This is the traditional form of decorating the puja room for Karva Chauth. If the above is not available then the simple method is to install the picture or an idol of Goddess Parvati in the usual Puja room or at the designated place.

The karva (Earthen Pot) is decorated with aipun , kharia, and roli. A red thread is tied around the neck of the karva. The karva is filled with little water and seven broken pieces of pua. The puja thali consists of puris, puas, dry fruits, halwa and water. The thali is kept over the karva (Earthen Pot). Now each woman does the puja. This ritual is also known as mansana. One woman narrates the story of Karwa Chauth and other women listen.

In the evening when the moon is sighted, the reflection of the moon is seen in the water in the puja thali or through a sieve. The woman holds a lamp in the left and offers water to the moon – pouring water on the ground seven times and also throwing seven broken pieces of freshly broken puas.

The fast is broken by eating a pua and by drinking water in between.

Karva Chauth Gift to Wife:

In return for this love and affections of the wife for long life and safety of her husband, it becomes obligatory for the husband to give a small gift to his wife in return as a token of his love. The gifts can include a Jewelry, flowers, perfumes, makeup items, clothes.

Kindly be Noted:  As this is a fast where generally no water is supposed to be had. If your health does not permit then you can take some tea, juice, coffee in between. It is advisable to consult your doctor before undertaking this fast.

What are the Karva Chauth Fast Dates:

Given below are the Dates for Karva Chauth for 2016 and 2017

2016 DateOctober 19, 2016

 2017 DateOctober 8, 2017

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