Ramesh Sarraf Dhamora
Karva Chauth is an important festival for all married women. From sunrise to moonrise, wives fast for the well-being of their husbands. Fasting for the entire day without drinking or eating anything is not easy, but loving wives perform all these rituals with complete love and respect for their husbands. This festival is celebrated every year on the Chaturthi of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) of the month of Kartik. Karva Chauth is a fast observed by women for their husbands, and it is not just a festival but a celebration of the sacred relationship between husband and wife. Though Karva Chauth is a fast, it is a perfect example of women’s power and capabilities. Because if a woman can bring back her husband’s life from Yamraj with her determination, then what can’t she do? Even in today’s modern times, women in our country observe the Karva Chauth fast every year with the same devotion and emotion as before.
Even in a modern society, women remain conscious of their husband’s longevity. That is why they never forget to observe the Karva Chauth fast, praying for his long life. No matter how many grievances a wife may have with her husband, as Karva Chauth approaches, she forgets them all and observes the fast with a focused mind, praying for her husband’s long life. The word Karva Chauth is derived from “Karva” (earthen pot) and “Chauth” (fourth day). The earthen pot holds special significance on this festival. Married women wait for this festival throughout the year and perform all its rituals with devotion.
Our country is a religious country. Here, all days of the year have significance and every day is considered sacred. Karva Chauth is a major Hindu festival in India. It is celebrated in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab. It is celebrated on the Chaturthi (fourth day) of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) of the month of Kartik. The fast begins around 4 a.m. before sunrise and concludes at night after the sighting of the moon. From rural women to modern women, Karva Chauth is observed with great devotion and enthusiasm. This fast is observed annually for 12 or 16 consecutive years. After the completion of the fast, the fast is concluded. Married women who wish to observe it for life can observe it for life.
Only fortunate women of any age, caste, creed, or sect are authorized to observe this fast. Married women who wish for their husband’s longevity, health, and good fortune observe this fast. Establish idols of Shiva-Parvati, Lord Kartikeya, Ganesha, and the Moon on a sand or white clay altar. In the absence of an idol, tie a cord to a betel nut and, while remembering God, install it. Afterward, worship the deities as per your capacity. Place laddus in your hands and offer them as naivedya. Conclude the puja by offering a pot, a piece of cloth, and a special karva as dakshina. Read or listen to the story of the Karva Chauth fast during the day.
According to the scriptures, Bhalchandra Ganesha is worshipped on this day to attain long life and eternal happiness for the husband. On Karva Chauth, it is customary to fast throughout the day and eat only after offering water to the moon at night. Nowadays, most women observe the Karva Chauth fast according to their family tradition.
However, most women fast and wait for the moonrise. After the moon rises in the evening, worship the moon and offer water to it. Afterward, feed Brahmins, married women, and your husband’s parents. After the meal, give dakshina to the Brahmins as per your capacity. Gift your mother-in-law clothes and a special karva and seek her blessings. If she is not present, offer this to another woman of equal status. After this, you and other family members should have food.
On the night of Chandra Uday Vyapini Chaturthi of the Krishna Paksha of Kartik month, i.e., the Chaturthi when the moon is visible. On that day, bathe in the morning and vow to pray for your husband’s longevity, health, and good fortune, and fast throughout the day. Worship Lord Shiva, Parvati, Lord Kartikeya, Ganesha, and the Moon. Bake flour in pure ghee and add sugar or jaggery to it to make laddus for offerings. Mix sugar syrup with black clay and place 10 or 13 karavas (earthen pots) made from that clay, or copper, depending on your capacity.
Women observing the Karva Chauth fast recount a story. Once, Arjuna, son of Pandu, went to the Nilgiri Mountains to perform penance. Meanwhile, Draupadi was deeply distressed. Unable to find any news of him, she meditated on Lord Krishna and expressed her concern. Lord Krishna replied, “Sister, a similar question was once posed to Lord Shiva by Mother Parvati. After worshipping, the Moon is offered water and then food is consumed.” Gold, silver, or clay pots are exchanged, fostering mutual love. After worship, women bow to their parents-in-law and elders and seek their blessings. Then, Lord Shiva revealed the Karva Chauth fast to Goddess Parvati.
By observing this fast, women can protect their married lives from all dangers, just as a Brahmin did. In ancient times, there was a Brahmin. He had four sons and a virtuous daughter. Once, the daughter was at her parents’ home when the Karva Chauth fast fell. She observed the fast as prescribed. She remained without water the entire day, not eating or drinking anything. However, her four brothers were worried that their sister might be thirsty or hungry, but would only drink water after moonrise. Unable to resist, the brothers, as evening approached, showed her a simulated moonrise. One brother climbed a peepal tree with a sieve, lit a lamp, and produced light through the sieve. Just then, the second brother called out to his sister from downstairs, “Sister, the moon has risen. Worship it and eat.” The sister ate. As soon as she ate, her husband died. She was overcome with grief and began to lament. Just then, Queen Indrani was passing by. She couldn’t bear to see her grief. The Brahmin girl grabbed her feet and asked the reason for her grief. Indrani explained that she had broken her Karva Chauth fast without seeing the moon, which is why she suffered. She observed the Chauth fast regularly throughout the year, and her husband would return to life. She observed the Chauth fast as Indrani had instructed and became fortunate again. Therefore, every woman should observe this fast for her husband’s long life. Draupadi observed this fast, and Arjuna returned safely, having achieved his desired goal. Since then, Hindu women have observed the Karva Chauth fast for their unbroken marital bliss. It is said that if a person abandons deceit, arrogance, greed, and avarice and observes the Chaturthi fast with faith and devotion, they are freed from all sorrows and sufferings and lead a happy life. The most renowned Chauth Mata temple in India is located in Chauth Ka Barwara village in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan. The village was renamed from Barwara to Chauth Ka Barwara after Chauth Mata. Maharaja Bhim Singh Chauhan commissioned the establishment of the Chauth Mata temple here. |
