Karva Chauth is a prominent Hindu festival that married women in North India celebrate. It falls on the Chaturthi Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik. During this occasion, married women observe a nirjala fast, refraining from food and water from sunrise to moonrise, with the intention of ensuring the well-being and long life of their husbands.
The Karva Chauth fast is considered extremely stringent, as the observing women do not drink even a drop of water during the entire day. They eat sargi, the pre-dawn meal, to kickstart the fast. In the evening, they dress up in fine clothes and jewelry and perform the Karva Chauth puja. The fast is concluded only upon sighting the moon and making offerings to it.
When is Karva Chauth 2024?
According to the Hindu calendar, on the fourth day of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik, Karva Chauth 2024 will commence on Sunday, October 20th, 2024.
Karva Chauth 2024 Shubh Muhurat
- Start of the Chaturthi Tithi - October 20, 2024, at 07:54 PM
- Auspicious time for Karwa Chauth: from 04:44 PM to 05:35 PM
- Abhijit Muhurat time: from 11:43 AM to 12:28 PM
- Vijay Muhurat time: from 01:59 PM to 02:45 PM
- Chandrodhyay time on Karwa Chauth - October 20 at 07:54 PM
The Significance of Karva Chauth Vrat
Karva Chauth is a significant Hindu festival with great social and cultural importance for married couples in North India. During this day, married women maintain a rigorous nirjala fast from sunrise to moonrise, offering prayers to seek the long life, well-being, and prosperity of their husbands.
The fast is considered highly sacred and is believed to strengthen the marital bond between spouses. Women dress up in wedding fineries and henna and perform rituals before breaking their fast only after sighting the moon at night. It shows their devotion to their husbands. The festival brings families together to celebrate relationships. Mothers-in-law gift sargi to daughters-in-law and husbands present gifts to wives.
Karva Chauth 2024 Puja Vidhi
Here is the complete Karva Chauth Puja Vidhi to be followed during the auspicious muhurta in the evening:
- Before the puja, freshen up with a bath and put on new festive attire and jewelry.
- Prepare an altar for the puja by placing idols or images of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Parvati. Keep a chowki with a sieve, mat, earth urn (karva), roli, rice, incense sticks, diyas, flowers, sweets, etc.
- Light a diya and place earth-filled karvas on both sides of it. Place some rice in a sieve.
- Apply tilak on the idols and karva. Present flowers to the deities and ignite incense sticks, positioning them in front of the idols.
- Take a banana or handkerchief from your husband and tie a knot in the center, treating it as your husband's. Place it in front of the karva.
- Invoke Lord Ganesha and Goddess Parvati and seek their blessings for a happy married life. Seek forgiveness for any mistakes committed during the puja.
- Listen to the Karva Chauth Katha being narrated. Pass the sieve over the karva seven times after the story ends.
- Look through the sieve at the moon and then at your husband's face. Offer arghya to the moon.
- Touch your husband's feet to seek his blessings. He will offer you the initial sip of water and food to conclude the fast.
The First Karva Chauth
As per legend, the Karva Chauth fast was first started by Veervati, Satyavan’s wife. When Satyavan died, Veervati was inconsolable. She then sought help from Lord Shiva, who advised her to observe a strict fast by not consuming food or water. Veervati attended the fast and offered prayers to Shiva. Impressed by her dedication, Shiva brought Satyavan back to life. Delighted to have her husband back, Veervati and other women began celebrating Karva Chauth.
Importance of Sargi on Karva Chauth
Since the Karva Chauth fast starts at sunrise, women wake up before dawn to eat a large meal. This is the only meal eaten during the entire day of fasting. Mothers-in-law traditionally prepare the sargi thali for their daughters-in-law. It includes foods like methi parathas, and milk products like mathri, malpua, etc. Sargi provides nourishment and energy to sustain the rigorous fast.
What is Included in Karva Chauth Thaali?
The Karva Chauth Thaali contains all the puja samagri used during the rituals. The main items in a typical thali are:
- An idol or image of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Parvati
- A larva - an earthen pot decorated with beads, mirrors, and thread
- Matthi, or handmade toys depicting a newly married couple
- Roli, rice, and mauli for tilak
- Sindoor, lipstick, and a small mirror
- Flowers, diyas, and sweets
- Kalash, a small earthen pot filled with water
- Chowki to place the thaali on
- Sieve containing roli and rice
- Bayana or handkerchief of husband
- Food items like mathri, malpua, dry fruits, etc.
Getting Ready for Karva Chauth
Women preparing for Karva Chauth take special care of how they dress and look. Here are some tips for women to get ready for this festival:
- Buy or take out your festive lehenga, saree, or suit well in advance. Go for bright reds, maroons, pinks, or other bridal colors.
- Book appointments for manicures, pedicures, facials, hair spas, and body treatments ahead of time. Pamper yourself thoroughly a few days before.
- Mehndi is a must for Karva Chauth. Get intricate mehndi patterns like peacocks, paisleys, floral designs, etc. applied to your hands and feet.
- Shop for matching bangles, earrings, neckpieces, mang tika, and other jewelry sets for the perfect bridal look.
- Style your hair by leaving it open, and making a bun or braid. Wear parandas or chapattis with the hairdo.
- Apply makeup like foundation, lipstick, eye shadow, liner, mascara, and bindi. Use a sindoor and wear a red chooda.
- Get henna designs on your hands or feet a day or two before the festival. They will darken nicely by the day of Karva Chauth.
- Rest and relax to avoid stress, headaches, or fatigue on the strict fasting day. Consume plenty of liquids, such as water, juices, and soups, leading up to the start of the fast.
Karva Chauth 2024 Rituals and Customs
Karva Chauth is observed with tremendous enthusiasm and a multitude of rituals. Here are some of the common traditions and customs:
- Women receiving their first Karva Chauth as new brides are gifted their sargi by mother-in-laws. Others prepare their own sargi.
- Married women decorate their hands with henna and wear ratjaga, which are red glass bangles symbolizing the saat pheras.
- Only red and ethnic outfits are worn on this day. New clothes and jewelry are a must.
- Using a sieve and a lit earthen lamp, women see the moon and their husband's faces.
- Elders narrate the legend of Veervati and perform rituals for the protection of their husbands.
- Breaking the fast by drinking water and eating sweets from husband's hands is an important ritual.
- Husbands present gifts like jewelry and clothes to wives celebrating their first Karva Chauth after marriage.
- Couples reaffirm their marital bonds by exchanging gifts.
- Women pass their banana thaali around in circles while singing songs.
- If the moon is not visible, wives don't break their fast and wait to see the moon the next day.
- Widows and unmarried women can also observe the fast for their own welfare and that of a good spouse.
Karva Chauth Celebrations
Karva Chauth calls for celebrations full of joy and togetherness. Here’s how families come together for this festival:
- Women apply mehndi, get ready, and dress up in fineries to look like new brides.
- Groups of women gather for the puja, narrate folk tales, exchange kavas, and perform rituals together.
- Songs, dances, and competitions are held while they wait for the moonrise.
- After the fast, families enjoy grand festive meals and feasts together. Dishes served are puran poli, dal baati, ghevar, and seviyan.
- Gifts, sweets, and food hampers are exchanged between the woman observing her first Karva Chauth and in-laws.
- Husbands present jewelry, clothes, and gifts to the fasting wives as a token of love.
- In many families, daughters who are newly married are invited over for their first Karva Chauth post-wedding.
- If the moon is not sighted, groups of women wait and celebrate together once it finally shows up.
- The festival brings couples and families together to celebrate the special bond between married couples.
Precautions for Karva Chauth Fast
Though Karva Chauth Vrat is highly rewarding, women must take some precautions, as fasting without water can be dangerous.
- Avoid strenuous activities throughout the day and rest as much as possible. Don’t stand for too long.
- Pregnant women, those feeding babies, and individuals with health conditions must consult a doctor before observing the strict fast.
- Have light, nourishing foods in sargi like porridge, milk, yogurt, fruit, etc. This will provide energy.
- Eat the sargi properly before dawn. Do not overeat sweet or fried foods that may cause acidity.
- Avoid tea, coffee, and aerated drinks in Sargi, as caffeine causes dehydration. Stick to juice, milk, or lassi.
- Take care if you are observing fast during pregnancy. Drink milk, buttermilk, or fruit juice to prevent dehydration.
- Break your fast immediately at the moonrise with proper food. Don’t eat too many sweets or oily snacks.
- In cases of dizziness, weakness, nausea, or headaches, stop fasting and have fluids. Seek medical aid if needed.
The Karva Chauth fast may seem challenging, but following it with devotion brings abundant blessings for couples. With the right precautions and preparations, women can undertake this vrat and enjoy the festivities. The auspicious rituals, vibrant outfits, and celebrations make Karva Chauth a beautiful festival to be cherished.
On Karva Chauth, make sure to adhere to these rules throughout the day:
- Avoid wearing black clothing on Karva Chauth.
- Refrain from wearing completely white attire on Karva Chauth's day.
- Do not use scissors or cut fabrics on Karva Chauth; avoid altering clothes.
- Avoid sewing or knitting on this day, as women often engage in such activities.
- Spend your time on Karva Chauth reading religious books like the Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, or other sacred texts, listening to devotional music, and singing bhajans.
- Refrain from speaking ill of anyone, engaging in gossip, or criticizing others on this day, as it can nullify the benefits of the fast. Avoid showing disrespect, even unintentionally, to elders.
- On this day, focus your thoughts on your husband, and avoid thinking about anyone else.
- If any of your bangles break while getting ready, immerse them in flowing water, instead of keeping them in the house.
- These guidelines are observed to honor the significance of Karva Chauth and maintain its sanctity.
Karva Chauth 2024 Date: Best Gift Ideas for Wives
Here is a list of Gifts For Karwachauth that your wife is sure to appreciate. It includes a variety of outfit ideas, such as sarees, suits, and anarkali suit sets, carefully curated after thorough research. Gifting these items on Karva Chauth 2024 Date will surely bring a radiant smile to your wife's face.
Conclusion
To conclude, Karva Chauth is an important festival celebrated with much fervor and faith in North India. The strict fast undertaken by married women and the beautiful rituals performed signify the sacrifices they make for their husbands. Karva Chauth strengthens marital bonds and brings families together. The festival is a celebration of traditions, culture, attire, food, and the eternal love between wives and husbands. With its elaborate customs and colorful festivities, Karva Chauth holds a special place in Hindu culture.
