Karva Chauth significance is a one-day festival celebrate annually by married Hindu women in which they observe a fast from sunrise to moonrise and pray for the well-being and longevity of their husbands. The festival is also observe Karva Chauth traditions 2023: Rituals, Fasting, Significance, and Traditions by unmarried women who pray in the hope of securing a desire life partner. It falls on the fourth day of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksh or the waning phase of the moon) in the month of Kartik of the Hindu lunar calendar. The date roughly falls anytime between mid to late October. It is mainly celebrate in the states of Northern India such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
The word Karva Chauth significance is made up of two words, ‘Karva,’ which means an earthen pot with a spout and ‘Chauth’ which means fourth. The earthen pot is of great significance as it is used by the women to offer water to the moon as part of the festival rituals. It is said that this festival began when women started praying for the safe return of their husbands who went to fight wars in far off lands. It is also held that it is celebrated to mark the end of the harvest season. Whatever be the origins, the festival offers an occasion to strengthen familial ties.
The festival entails keeping a ‘Nirjala’ fast in which women neither eat nor take a drop of water throughout the day and prayers are offered to the Goddess Gauri, an incarnation of Parvati, who bestows blessings for a long and happy married life.
There are various mythological tales related to Karva Chauth traditions. One of the most popular ones is related to Savitri and Satyavan in which the former brought back her husband from the clutches of death with her prayer and determination. Another such story is that of Veervati, the only sister of seven loving brothers. When the brothers could not bear to see her fasting the whole day, they misled her into believing that the moon had risen. Veervati broke her fast and had food but soon got the news of her husband’s death. She prayed for a whole year and the Gods pleased with her devotion gave back her husband’s life.
Karva Chauth History and Significance
There are many stories and beliefs behind Karva Chauth pooja. Some of the famous tales are:
Story of Queen Veeravati:
The most popular legend of all is the one of Queen Veeravati. The story goes that her seven brothers tricked her into breaking her first Karva Chauth traditions significance by posing in a mirror as the moon, out of the love they had for their sister. Soon after breaking the fast, Veeravati got the news of her husband’s death which left her devastated, and she kept crying until a goddess appeared and revealed the truth about what her brothers did. She asked Veeravati to complete the ritual, and then the Lord of Death, Yama, was forced to release the soul of her husband.
Story from Mahabharata:
The Mahabharata connects this day to the time when Arjuna went to the Nilgiris, leaving the other Pandavas alone. They faced a lot of problems in his absence and to help them, Draupadi prayed to Lord Krishna who guided her to keep a fast for the well-being of her husband. She followed all the rituals as per his instructions, and this helped Pandavas overcome all the problems.
The Legend of Karwa:
A woman named Karwa was deeply in love with her husband and that love gave her spiritual powers. Her husband went to bathe in the river once and he was attacked by a crocodile. Karwa bound the crocodile with cotton yarn and remembered Yamraj; the Lord of death. She requested Lord Yamraj to give life to her husband and a death sentence to the crocodile, but Yamraj denied it. In return, Karwa threatened to curse Lord Yama and destroy him. Yama was afraid of being cursed by such a devoted wife, so he gave life back to her husband and sent the crocodile to hell.
Tale of Satyavan and Savitri:
It is believed that when the God of death, Yamaraj, came to acquire Satyavan’s life, her wife Savitri begged to grant her husband’s life in front of Yamaraj. But Yamaraj denied it and saw that she had stopped eating and drinking and followed Yamaraj. Yamaraj gave Savitri a boon of her choice except the life of her husband. Savitri was a smart woman and asked Yamaraj if she could be blessed with children. As she was a devoted and loyal wife, she wouldn’t commit adultery. Karva Chauth 2023 with its rituals, Significance, fasting, and cherished traditions. Explore the cultural richness of timeless festival. Thus, Yamaraj had to restore life to her husband, Satyavan.
Karva Chauth 2023: Puja Rituals/ Vidhi
Karva Chauth is celebrated with rituals and traditions involving families. Some of the popular rituals are:
- There is a ritual called ‘Sargi’ given by the mother-in-law to their daughter-in-law. Women eat Karwa Chauth Sargi in the morning on the day of Karva Chauth.
- Women keep fast for their husbands and listen to Karva Chauth’s stories during the puja.
- In the evening, women offer water to the moon and then drink the water from the earthen pot called Karva.
- The husband stands opposite to his wife and they look at each other through a Chhalni (sieve).
How to Celebrate Karwa Chauth
There are many rituals according to the cultures to celebrate Karva Chauth traditions, but some rituals are common in all. The rituals are:
- Fasting: Women keep fast for their husband’s long life and safety.
- Food: Early in the morning, there is a ritual to have Sargi which includes fruits, dry fruits, milk, and other high-energy foods.
- Dressing: Women wear traditional attires with bangles, sindoor, and mehendi.
- Prayer: Married women worship the Karva Chauth Mata and listen to the stories related to Karwa Chauth.
- Breaking the fast: In the evening, women look at the moon through a Chhalni (sieve) and then offer water to the moon. Then husband feeds the same water and sweets to the wife to break the fast.
Karva Chauth 2023 Celebrations across India
On this day, married women dress up like a bride and apply Mehandi to honor their relationship with their husbands. They begin the fast with sunrise and consume no water or food throughout the day until the sighting of the moon. In the evening, they recite stories based on the origin of Karwa Chauth and pray. When the moon appears, they break the fast by offering water first to the moon and then to their husbands. The husbands then offer water and a sweet to their wives to break their fast.
Married women receive gifts from their in-laws and husbands as a token of love and prosperity. In some parts of India, unmarried women also fast on this day in the hope of getting their desired life partner.
Best Places to Observe Karva Chauth Celebrations in India
Karva Chauth significance is celebrate across the country with huge enthusiasm. Some of the best places to observe Karwa Chauth 2023 are:
Karva Chauth in Punjab
Much like its neighboring states, festivities related to Karva Chauth traditions fasting start early in the morning where married women wake up before the sun rises and get ready. A night before Karva Chauth significance, the woman’s mother sends Bayaa which consists of clothes, coconut, sweets, fruits and sindoor (vermillion) for her daughter and gifts for the mother-in-law. The daughter-in-law is then supposed to eat the Sargi (a meal consumed before sunrise on the day of Karva Chauth) give to her by her mother-in-law. It includes fresh fruits, dry fruits, sweets, chapatis and vegetables.
As afternoon approaches, women come together with their respective thalis (a large plate). It contains coconut, fruits, dry fruits, a Diya (lamp), a glass of Kachhi lassi (a drink made of milk and water), sweet mathri and gifts which will give to the mother-in-law. The thali is cover by a cloth. The women then come together and sit circling the idol of Gaura Maa (Goddess Parvati) and the story of Karva Chauth is narrated by a wise elder woman who also ensures the pooja is perform in the correct manner. The women then start to rotate the thalis around the circle. This is call thali batana. This ritual is perform seven times. While doing this, they sing the following song:
“Veeron Kudiye Karwada, Sarv Suhagan Karwada,
Ae Katti Na Ateri Naa, Kumbh Chrakhra Feri Naa,
Gwand Pair Payeen Naa, Sui Ch Dhaga Payeen Naa
Ruthda manayeen Naa, Suthra Jagayeen Naa,
Bhain Pyari Veeran, Chann Chade Te Pani Peena
Ve Veero Kuriye Kawara, Ve Sarv Suhagan Karwara”
The song highlights the precautions which need to be take while women observe the fast. After the pooja, women touch the feet of their mothers-in-law and give them gifts with dry fruits as a symbol of respect.
Breaking of the fast takes place when the moon shines bright in the dark sky. They carry a Channi (sieve) and a pooja thali which comprises of a diya (made of wheat flour), sweets and a glass of water. Secondly, they go to a place where the moon is clearly visible, usually, Karva Chauth 2023 the terrace. They look at the moon through the sieve and offer kachi lassi to the moon and recite the following prayer for their husband:
Karva Chauth in Uttar Pradesh
Karva Chauth significance traditions fasting starts early as women wake up at dawn on the day of the festival to have a Sargi. In Uttar Pradesh, Sargi comprises of feni (vermicelli) which is dipped in sweet milk, a plate full of sweets and savories, coconut, dry fruits, fara (steam lentil dumplings) and gifts such as traditional Indian wear and jewelry. The most important items of this gift are those which serve as markers of the marital status of a Hindu woman. These include toe rings, anklets, glass bangles, vermillion, bindi/tika and alta (red paint which is apply on feet). Women also apply mehendi (henna) on their hands.
The religious ceremonies begin a little before moonrise, when ladies dressed in their festive attire and bedecked in the traditional jewelry and flowers come together with other ladies of the neighborhood to pray.
After this, women sing songs related to Karva Chauth and exchange their thalis in a circle and offer prayers to Goddess Paravati. In some other areas the mother-in-law and daughters-in-law perform the prayers at home and exchange the karvas with each other. Then the older women bless the younger ones with words such as ‘Akhand Saubhagyavati bhav’ or ‘sada suhagan raho,’ both of which mean ‘may you be a married woman all your life.’
Karva Chauth in Haryana
Karwa Chauth celebrations in Haryana start a night before Karva Chauth when the woman’s mother sends Bayaa which consists of clothes, sweets, fruits, coconut, and sindoor (vermillion) for her daughter. Then the daughter-in-law is supposed to eat the Sargi give to her by her mother-in-law. It includes Karva Chauth 2023 fasting fresh fruits, sweets, dry fruits, vegetables, and chapatis.
Karva Chauth in Delhi
Markets in Delhi join the spirit of Karva Chauth with the decorations, bangles, mehendi and traditional attires. The religious ceremonies begin a little before the moonrise when ladies dressed in their festive attire, traditional jewellery and flowers come together with other women of the neighborhood and society to pray.
Karwa Chauth Date & Pooja Timings
Karva Chauth Date: Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Karva Chauth Puja Muhurat – 05:36 PM to 06:54 PM
Moonrise for different cities for Karwa Chauth Pooja and Breaking the fast is give below:
| Place | Moonrise |
| Ahmedabad | 08:41 PM |
| Bengaluru | 08:40 PM |
| Chandigarh | 08:06 PM |
| Chennai | 08:29 PM |
| Hyderabad | 08:28 PM |
| Indore | 08:28 PM |
| Jaipur | 08:19 PM |
| Jammu | 08:09 PM |
| Kolkata | 07:37 PM |
| Lucknow | 07:58 PM |
| Mumbai | 08:48 PM |
| Nagpur | 08:18 PM |
| New Delhi | 08:09 PM |
| Patna | 07:44 PM |
| Surat | 08:44 PM |
Karwa Chauth Pooja: Do’s & Don’ts
As per the Hindu tradition, Karwa Chauth traditions is the most crucial festival for women, especially those who are marry. On Karwa Chauth traditions fasting, women wake up early, finish their morning chores, and then worship Lord Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha as per the Karwa Chauth Pooja vidhi, and then they eat something, but this is done before Sunrise.
This day begins with a small early morning prayer and proceeds with “Sargi”- a food platter containing curry, parathas, coconut water, and dry fruits. Women eat sargi after the bath as it prepares them for the whole day of fasting. It keeps them energetic and allows them to stay without food and water the whole day.
Once the Sun rises, women start their fast and do not even drink a drop of water. After Sunset, when the moon rises, they look at the face of their husband through a sieve and then break their fast. Women also don clothes of Auspicious colours for Karva Chauth rituals.
On Karwa Chauth, the women are generally advise not to indulge in strenuous activities. Moreover, Karva Chauth 2023 fasting even after breaking the fast, light food should be consume. Women observing Karwa Chauth are also advise not to use scissors, needles, or knives in the food preparations either. Women of different Zodiac Signs celebrate Karwa Chauth differently, too.
Legends Behind Karwa Chauth
Karwa Chauth falls in the wheat sowing season, which is at the beginning of the Rabi crop season. In ancient times, the wheat was store in huge earthen pots, also called ‘Karwa’. And since it falls on the fourth day of the Kartik month. It began to be call Karva Chauth rituals. Women would pray for their husbands to reap a rich harvest. Then there is the belief that if unmarried women observe a fast on this day, they are likely to get the partner of their dreams.
Karwa Chauth symbolizes the spirit of romance and affection between a wife and her husband. Some Bollywood films have also beautifully depicte how Karwa Chauth fasting is celebrate across the country.
Undoubtedly, like every festival, Karva Chauth rituals fasting has many ancient stories behind it. Most of these tales show how women made sacrifices for their husbands and how their love is pure and eternal.
One of the popular stories is about a beautiful queen name Veervati. She marry to a king and had seven brothers. In the first year of marriage, she observed the first Karwa Chauth by conducting a strict fast.
As the night proceeded, Veervati started experiencing thirst and hunger. She became uneasy, and it was difficult for her to keep fast. However, she still refused to eat or drink anything. Her brother could not see her suffering and decided to come up with a solution. Karva Chauth 2023 fasting with its rituals, Significance, fasting, and cherished traditions. Explore the cultural richness of timeless festival.
They created a mirror with a pipal tree in the backyard and made Veervati believe that the moon had risen. She believed them and broke the fast. Immediately, she got the news that her husband was dead. She was completely devastating and left for her husband’s house.
She stopped by Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, who told her the entire truth. Maa Parvati cut her finger and gave a few drops of blood to Veervati. Veervati sprinkled the holy blood on the dead body of her husband. Her husband became alive due to the sacrifice, immense love, and devotion of Veervati, the values we associate today with Karwa Chauth.
Gifts Suggestions for Karva Chauth
In Karwa Chauth, wives fast for their husband’s longer. Karva Chauth rituals 2023 fasting life and in return husband presents a gift to their wife. Here are some suggestions for Karva Chauth 2023 gifts:
- Clothes: You can buy a beautiful saree or anything she loves to wear. You will find a lot of options in the Karwa Chauth online shopping category.
- Plan a trip: Take your wife on a romantic holiday to have a stress-free time from the daily hustle of life. There are many beautiful places in India which can be a perfect idea for your gift.
- Footwear: Women love buying shoes, so it would be a great idea to buy them a pair of shoes. Some of the varieties are stilettos, heels, sneakers, ballerina flats, boots, etc.
- Make-up: For some women, a set of good makeup accessories can beat all other alternatives.
- Dinner date: A quality time with your loved one is always the best option. A romantic dinner date at her favourite restaurant with some flowers. And music might just be a perfect gift for your wife.
