Karwa Chauth Ki Baat

 

Karwa Chauth is an annual Hindu festival that is celebrated mostly in the Northern part of India. It falls on the fourth day of the waning moon in the month of Kartik, according to the Hindu calendar. This festival is named after karwa which is an earthen pot in which an sacred offering (arghya) is made to the moon, and chauth (fourth) which refers to the fourth day after Purnima or Krishna paksha. The moon is one of the most significant factors in this festival. Karwa Chauth has two main parts: the upavasa or the fasting period, and the pooja which is when the prayers and offerings are done.

Karwa Chauth is a celebration of marriage where the wife, praying for a long and healthy life for her husband, fasts throughout the day and ends it by making an offering to the moon. Women begin their “nirjala" (without water) fast at sunrise and it is very strictly maintained because not even water is allowed during this period until the moon rises. The fast is broken by the women passing the karwas among themselves and seeing the reflection of the moon in the water of the karwas. A karwa chauth pooja thali is prepared for the occasion. The women pray to the goddess Gauri, asking for a long and happy married life, and water is offered to the moon. This is followed by the husbands offering water to their wives after which they can finally eat.

Karwa Chauth is considered to be a celebration of familial relationships and in particular, the romantic love between husband and wife. It is supposed to strengthen the bond of a married couple and signify a lasting attachment. This festival has been heavily glamourized and represented in Bollywood movies and serials. Due to its popularity in Indian pop culture, it is now no longer confined to Northern India, but has become widely popular in other regions as well.