Karva Chauth is a day when married Hindu women traditionally keep a fast for their husbands’ long and healthy lives. 'Karva Chauth' conjures images of women standing on roofs, dressed in sarees, performing puja for their husbands on sighting the moon, but what is this extravagant festival about? Read further to know. This year, the Karva Chauth Vrat will be observed on 17 October.
Karva Chauth is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by women in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan. As per the tradition, married women keep a nirjala vrat (a fast without consuming any food or water) throughout the day. The Karva Chauth Vrat is concluded by the moon sighting following the customary puja.
Sometimes unmarried women also observe the fast for their fiancé, boyfriends and even for themselves.
Karva Chauth Vrat 2019: Date
The fast is observed on Chauth or the fourth day after the Purnima (full moon night) of Kartik month in the Hindu calendar. This year, the Karva Chauth Vrat will be observed on 17 October.
Women apply henna on their hands and dress up in their bridal attire to celebrate this day. They get up early in the morning to eat sargi and refrain from eating or drinking anything the rest of the day. They wait eagerly for the moon to appear and worship it by offering Argha (offering water to the moon). Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati and Lord Kartik are also worshipped on Karva Chauth.
There are several mythological stories attached to Karva Chauth. According to one based during the Mahabharata, Draupadi was worried when Arjuna when to the Nilgiris to meditate. She asked Krishna for help. Krishna told her to keep a strict fast like Goddess Parvati for her husband’s health and safety. Draupadi is said to have followed Krishna’s instructions sincerely and this resulted in Arjuna returning home safely. There’s also another legend in which Savitri begged Yama, the god of death, for her husband’s soul back.
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