Karwa Chauth: Rituals and significance

Karwa Chauth is the next big festival in the month of festivities. The auspicious time of this festival, which is one of the major festivals of married women, is on Krishna Paksha Chaturthi which is the fourth day after Purnima in the month of Kartik. According to the Thakur Prasad Calendar, this year, the event of Karwa Chauth is to be held on October 13.

The festival is observed by married women to pray for the longevity of their husbands. 

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Karwa Chauth is also known as Karak Chaturthi and is observed with a lot of ebullience by women especially belonging to the northern part of the country. On some occasions, engaged and unmarried women also celebrate the festival for their prospective husbands.

On this day, the women who wish to observe the ritual keep nirjala upvas or fast without food and water from the morning till the moment of moon sighting in the evening.

The first step of the entire process is the women indulging in a plateful of delicacies called sargi, presented to them by their mothers-in-law.

The women consume these items before dawn, after which their fast begins. Throughout the day, they do not intake any food or even water. They apply mehndi on their hands and wear traditional attires. After sunset, they observe the main rituals of the festival and intake food and drinks only after they have offered their prayers to the moon, wishing for the longevity of their husbands. On this occasion, women also pray to Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga and Lord Ganesha.

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Karwa Chauth has immense significance in the lives of Hindu women. Apart from keeping the fast and observing the ritual, women also take part in a shopping spree prior to the day of the event.

On the occasion of Karwa Chauth, women are advised to wear red as it is considered to be the auspicious color of the day. Needles, scissors and blades are items that are advised to be avoided during this festival.