Karva Chauth sees married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for the safety and long life of their husbands. The fast is observed on the fourth day after the full moon, in the month of Kartik.
Karva means diya and chauth means ‘fourth’ in Hindi. Women prepare by buying cosmetics, jewelry and puja items. They fast through the day. In the evening, a women-only ceremony is held. Women dress in fineries sit in a circle with their puja thalis. The story of Karva Chauth is narrated and the song is sung around an idol of Gaur Mata or Parvati.
Once the moon is visible, the fasting woman view its reflection in a vessel filled with water, through a sieve, or cloth. Water is offered to the moon for its blessings. She then views her husband’s face in the same manner.
On this occasion of Vrat (Fast) a Kalash (small container) is filled with either milk or water. In that Kalash Pancha Ratna (Five different pieces of different metals (gold, silver, copper, brass and iron) then this kalash is presented to Brahmin and also it was exchanged with other married women. After it women offer prayers to Shree Lord Ganesh : “Let the offerings of this Karva bring life to my husband and may my Saubhagaya be everlasting “and express such desire that ‘May my death precede that of my husband so that I can enter the chitaa (funeral pyre) as a bride (not as a widow).
According to legends this narrative was took place between Shiva and Parvati. Shiva told its significance.
Queen Veervati was misled into breaking her fast and the king, died. The Goddess instructed her to repeat the Karva Chauth fast and Lord Yama was forced to restored the King’s life. In another variant of the Goddess Parvati gave back the life of the King.
In Mahabharata, i.e Dwapar Yuga, Draupadi is said to have observed this fast on the advice of Lord Krishna. In another legend there was a woman named Karva, who was deeply devoted to her husband. While bathing at a river, her husband was caught by a crocodile. On Karva’s prayer Yama revived and blessed them with long life.
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