Karwa Chauth is probably one of the best-known festivals in India although it is traditionally a festival of North India. Karwa Chauth is always 4 days after Poornima or full moon of Karthik month of the Hindu Calendar. Here we will discuss why Karwa Chauth is celebrated?
When is Karwa Chauth 2020?
In 2020 it is going to be on 4th November which is 4 days after full moon. Karwa Chauth puja muhurat for 2020 is from 05:34 PM to 06:52 PM. And, Karwa Chauth upvas time 06:35 AM to 08:12 PM.
Karwa Chauth is traditionally a festival of married Hindu women wherein they pray to Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva for a happy married life and pray that their partners have health, wealth, and prosperity for their life.
Why do we celebrate Karwa Chauth?
Karwa essentially means earthen pot while Chauth reference to 4th day. There are many stories associated with this festival the main one is Princess Veervati. Princess gets married to a king and on her first Karwa Chauth, she fasts for her husband but by the evening because of thirst and hunger she became unconscious. She is the only sister of seven brothers. All the brothers are worried about princess health and she is tricked into believeing that the moon is up and she can break her fast.
Princess believed her brother and broke the fast and soon got the news of her husband’s sudden demise.
On her way back to her husband she cried and cried and prayed to Goddess Parvati and Goddess visited her and told her how her brothers had tricked her and that if she wants her husband back she will have to complete the Karva Chauth fast and that this fast has the power to bring her husband back. Princess Veervati did exactly as instructed by the Goddess and completed the fast forcing Yama to return her husband, and they lived happily ever after.
Another legend is associated with Mahabharta times, in which Draupadi asked for Lord Krishna’s help while the Pandavas were in exile. So, Lord Krishna narrated the story of Karva Chawth and asked Draupadi to keep this fast for Pandavas and ultimately Pandavas won the war and established Dharma. So, now we know why do we celebrate karwa chauth.
Who does Karva Chauth?
Although Karwa Chauth is essentially a festival of married women these days a lot of unmarried women and their male partners also do karva Chauth vrat and in the evening together they seek the blessing of the Shiv and Parvati Ji. For unmarried women, they pray to god and goddess so that they get ideal husbands or partners. So, for them, the rituals are slightly different.
How to celebrate Karwa Chauth?
Karwa Chauth celebration require a lot of planning. The buzz around Karva Chauth starts weeks in advance. The markets are buzzing by women buying clothes, dresses, bridal accessories, Pooja ingredients. This is the day the women are dressed up like a bride with bridal colour clothes and ornaments jewellery bangles and all. In Hindi we call is Sholah Shringar. Mehendi or Heena’s application is an important part of this festival. Some amazing options to look out Karwa Chauth dresses are here.
So, as I was saying the market is abuzz with ladies buying all types of things to glamorize and accessorize. It starts with buying dresses in shades of red, maroon, or pink. There are some colours which are big no-no for example: black and white.
Next comes up with other accessories to complete the look for the night. Mehandi is important ritual for this day. You should apply that a day earlier. So that was all dressing up for the evening but what about before the evening. So that’s why karwa chauth is celebrated.
What do we do on Karva Chauth?
So on Karwa Chauth celebrations starts before sunrise, ladies get up very early in the morning around 3 am to get ready have a bath, and usually their mother-in-law prepares a kinda food hamper called Sargi for their beloved daughters-in-law. Sargi in karwa chauth has special mention. The timing to have sargi is before sunrise.
Sargi in karwa chauth is not only food but it contains everything from makeup items to pooja samgrih. Have lots of water during sargi time. Because, this fast is nirjala which means no water till the pooja is complete. So to keep yourself hydrated drink loads of water before the start of the fast. Sargi in Karwa Chauth represents mother-in-law love for their daughter-in-laws.
So once the sargi tradition is over the entire day goes to the preparation for the evening puja. In some areas, ladies gift each other earthen pots filled up with signs of matrimonial gifts like bangles and sindoor. That evening all the ladies gather at one place and make a circle. And, in the middle of the circle an idol of Goddess Parvati kept in the middle and worshipped. The pooja starts with prayers for Lord Ganesh followed by worshipping of Goddess Parvati. Ladies pass on pooja thali to each other. Pooja thali which has a sieve, water pot, and some other pooja material. Once the pooja thali is passed on to all ladies they listen to karma Chauth vrat Katha and wait for the moon to rise.
So, after the pooja is over the ladies were for the moon to rise. Once the moon is out in the night, the ladies pray to the moon for their partners, and they see the moon through the sieve and then their respective partners. Finally, they drink water from their partner’s hand to break the fast. This is why karwa chauth is celebrated.
Karwa Chauth for Unmarried Girls
For non-married girls keeping fast, the rituals are slightly different. Since Sargi is traditionally from Mother in law for non-married girls they can replace it with anything else other than Sargi maybe juice or fruits.
For non-married girls, they should break the fast seeing north star and not the moon. So, that’s how Karwa Chauth for unmarried girls should be done.
If you are alone for some reason on Karva Chauth 2020, no worries with Corona and all use Technology. Although, it may not be exactly the same as being physically present. But, something is better than nothing.
Just like any other festival, Karva Chauth 2020 is a festival of happiness and about family and togetherness. It is different in a way that here we are praying for our partner and our better half. And the best part is dressing up like a bride and praying to the moon. It is in true spirit Karwa Chauth represents the bond of love and marriage. Looking for some amazing ideas for Diwali Gifts check this out!
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