Hindu Women Observe Karwa Chauth

A Fast in the Month of Kartik for the Longevity of Husbands

Oct 2, 2009

The Karwa Chauth is a rigorous fast traditionally undertaken by women alone. Now, husbands are joining in as well.

Karwa Chauth is celebrated by Hindu women, primarily in the northern regions of India. They observe a fast to pray for a husband's long life. The fast is broken only after seeing the moon at night. Karwa Chauth also becomes an occasion for the whole family to get together and bond.

The festival is celebrated on the fourth day (Chauth) of the fortnight of the waning moon in the Hindu month of Kartik. The Karwa refers to an earthen pot that is traditionally used in the festivities.

The Rituals of Karwa Chauth

Since the Karwa Chauth fast is a severe one, in which the women neither eat nor drink anything, it is customary to eat something before sunrise. This food is known as “sargi” and is usually prepared by the mother-in-law. It consists of foods that can sustain the women throughout the day like fruits, puris and potatoes.

Then the women get dressed up in their finery. The newly married women, who are celebrating their first Karwa Chauth, usually wear their bridal clothes. It is customary for the larger family to get together and have the celebrations at one place. The women spend the day in singing traditional songs and getting henna applied to their hands and feet.

The “baya” is an important constituent of the festivities. It is a sort of hamper prepared by the woman’s mother and sent to the parent as a way to mark the occasion. It includes traditional sweets, dry fruits, money, clothes, vermillion, sacred water, and above all the Karwa. All this is artistically arranged on a Puja thali, also known as a Karwa Chauth thali.

Rituals and Worship of Pavarti During Karwa Chauth

The deity worshiped during Karwa Chauth is Gauri, an incarnation of Parvati. Traditionally, her idol was made from cow dung, but now, more permanent idols are used. All the fasting women congregate around the idol and then an elder in the family narrates the legend of Karwa Chauth to them. They then sing the traditional bhajans.

Finally, they seek the blessings, first from the Goddess and then from their mother-in-law. At this time. they hand over the bayas to their mother-in-law.

After the moon rises the women see the moon through a fine sieve, offering ablutions and seeking its blessings. In certain communities it is customary that they also see their husbands’ faces through the sieve. Then all the gathered women break fast together and enjoy a sumptuous traditional meal.

The Legend of Karwa Chauth

There are several legends associated with Karwa Chauth. The one most popular is that of Veeravati. Veeravati was observing her first Karwa Chauth at her parents’ home. Her brothers could not bear to see her remain hungry so they reflected light from a mirror behind some trees. Veeravati thought she had seen the moon and broke her fast. Immediately, she was informed that her husband was seriously ill.

Veeravati rushed home. On the way she met Shiva and Gauri. They told her that she would have to undertake the fast seven times, and only then would her husband’s health be permanently restored. Veeravati undertook the seven fasts, and as promised by Gauri, her husband became well again.

Contemporary Celebrations of Karwa Chauth

Today, the festival is becoming more commercialized. In the more affluent and larger families event managers are engaged to conduct the entire proceedings. The basic rituals are also getting more glamorized. The earthen Karwa is painted in bright colors with traditional motifs and decorated with ribbons. The Karwa Chauth thali has also taken a new form. It is usually made from silver. It has ready-made depressions to hold the various accessories of the rituals.

At first glance, the festival would seem sexist, with the wife having to fast and pray for her husband’s longevity. It is not known when this festival took on the form of only married women fasting. In the Kartik Mahatyam (importance of the month of Kartik) of the Padma Purana, Narada tells King Prithu, “In order to atone for all indiscretions one should observe the spiritually cleansing fast of fourth lunar day of the dark fortnight in the month of Kartik. All people including men, widows, married women, unmarried maidens, mature ladies and girls above the age of eight years should not neglect the observance of this auspicious fast.”

However, Karwa Chauth has taken a turn for the better. Today, many husbands join the fast in a bid to keep their wife company. Others spend the day with the wife and participate in the festivities. Men will feed their wife with their hands when the fast is broken. Husbands also present their wives with gifts as a token of their appreciation. Karwa Chauth is also celebrated by second and subsequent generations of Hindus who now live outside India.

The copyright of the article Hindu Women Observe Karwa Chauth in Hindu Ceremonies is owned by Harsh Nevatia. Permission to republish Hindu Women Observe Karwa Chauth in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.