Karva Chauth Festival - The Story of Dhanatrayodashi - LifeGuru

The festival of love and devotion is called Karwa Chauth. Married women in India conduct a fast from sunrise to moonrise on this auspicious day to ensure the health and longevity of their husbands. People around the nation honor the celebration with great zeal and devotion because of its enormous cultural and religious significance. Women only break their fast after seeing the moon, rituals are performed and connections are made with tremendous dedication. The interesting Vrat Katha, an ancient story that women tell during the puja, is another fascinating aspect of the event. Prepare accordingly and carry out the procedures with the utmost devotion as you celebrate this lovely occasion with your loved ones.

The story of Karva Chauth

Long ago in India, there was a beautiful queen named Veeravati. She deeply loved her husband. On Karva Chauth, a day when married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for the well-being of their husbands, Veeravati too decided to fast. As the day progressed, she became very thirsty and weak. Her caring brothers, unable to see her suffer, tricked her into believing the moon had risen by reflecting a mirror through trees. Thinking the moon had risen, she broke her fast.

Tragically, she soon received news that her husband had fallen ill. Heartbroken, she prayed to Goddess Parvati, who explained the trick her brothers had played and granted her a boon to revive her husband. From that day, Karva Chauth became a significant festival where women fast for their husband’s long life and well-being, remembering the dedication of Queen Veeravati.

Why do women celebrate Karva Chauth?

Most married Hindu women cherish the Karva Chauth ritual, which is most popular in North India. They avoid even drinking water throughout the 12-hour fast, which they practice to pray for their husbands' health, wealth, and longevity. Women show their devotion and ask for divine blessings for their partner's long life by participating in Karva Chauth festivities, which represent the deep affection and everlasting connection between a husband and wife.

Significance of Karva Chauth in India

Married women in India observe the traditional Hindu festival called Karwa Chauth. They fast for the entire day and offer prayers for their husbands' health and longevity on this day. Two crucial elements of the festival—Sargi and Baya—have a profound cultural and religious significance. Women eat sargi in the early morning hours before beginning their fast. It is typically made by the mother-in-law or another elder female family member and consists of a variety of sweets, fruits, and savory snacks. The lunch gives the women the nourishment and energy they need to get through the demanding day of fasting. Normally, the women get the Sargi from their mother-in-law or husband as a sign of their love and concern.

Contrarily, a baya is a gift basket that the mother-in-law gives to her daughter-in-law. The basket is filled with fruits, sweets, toiletries, and other necessities for the fast. The Baya, which represents the connection between the two families, is given to the daughter-in-law as a sign of appreciation and affection. Both have significant emotional importance and serve as a means of expressing love, concern, and respect for the daughter-in-law.

Rituals, Pujas and Mantras of Karva Chauth

Rituals of Karva Chauth

Early in the morning, women eat a meal known as Sargi before daybreak. Until they see the moon in the evening, they execute a daylong fast during which they do not even drink water. Women get dressed up and decorate their hands with henna or mehndi. They carry out the puja ritual in front of other women in the family or neighborhood. The worship of Lord Shiva and his consort, Parvati, kicks off the puja. Following the puja, the women break their fast by gazing at the moon through a filter while lighting diyas as prayers to the moon. They lead devotional songs and offer prayers.

They exchange sweets while taking a sip of water from their husband's hands. As a sign of his love and admiration for his wife, the husband gives her a piece of jewelry or apparel. Karwa Chauth ceremonies have enormous religious and cultural significance.

Pujas of Karva Chauth

For Hindu married women in India, Karva Chauth is a significant day. The puja, or prayer ceremony, is the highlight of the day. Women meet in the evening, right before moonrise, with their friends and neighbors. They carry out the Karva Chauth pooja while seated in a circle. They listen while a priest or an elderly woman narrates the Karva Chauth story. They pass around a platter filled with treats like a lighted lamp, water, flowers, and chocolates during this time. They wait until the story is finished and the moon has risen before breaking their fast. They first glance at the moon through a net before turning to their husbands.

Mantras of Karva Chauth

These mantras are recited by the fasting women during the puja to seek blessings for their husband's long life and well-being. One of the most common mantras is the one that praises Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and their son Lord Ganesha. By chanting these mantras, women are asking for the divine couple's blessings and protection. Another important mantra is recited when the women offer water to the moon before breaking their fast. This act of offering water and chanting the mantra is a way of showing gratitude to the moon for its beauty and its role in the Karva Chauth ritual.