Karwa Chauth is celebrated across the country, especially in the northern corridor of India, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.
Introduction
While Karwa means earthen pots, and Chauth means the fourth day. During this jubilee, wedded women buy new earthen pots to embellish with seductive designs and put sweets and lavalieres outside. They also do solah Srinagar ( like sindoor, lavalieres, bindi, etc.) to dress up like a recently married bridegroom, wear brand new traditional clothes in red color, and apply mehendi/ henna on their hands.
Karwa Chauth Rituals
On this day, women wake up beforehand, bathe, have Sargi before daylight, and observe a fast for the entire day. They break their fast only after looking at the Moon and immolation’ arghya’ to it using an earthen pot and having a bite of food and a taste of water from their consorts’ hands.
Karwa Chauth 2023 date and Karva Chauth Shubh Muhurat
Karwa Chauth is celebrated on Chaturthi Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu timetable month of Kartik. This time, it falls on November 1, Sunday. According to Drik Panchang, the Karwa Chauth puja muhurat is from 536 pm to 654 pm. The great time is from 633 am to 615 pm, and the moonrise time is at 815 pm. Meanwhile, the Chaturthi tithi will begin on October 31 at 930 pm and end on November 1 at 919 pm.
Legends of Karwa Chauth
According to Hindu tradition, a queen named Veeravati visited her sisters during Karwa Chauth. As time passed, Veeravati started feeling faint and eagerly awaited to break her fast by observing the Moon. Seeing her plight, Veeravati’s sisters tricked her into breaking the vrat by showing her an object that recalled the Moon. She broke the fast after observing the object suggesting the Moon. Unfortunately, the moment she did, the news of her hubby’s death arrived. After learning about the trick, Veeravati pledged to keep the fast every month with complete devotion and supplication to the Gods. Eventually, her tolerance paid off, and by the end, her hubby came back.
The origin of the jubilee can be traced back to Karva Devi, whose hubby got attacked by a crocodile, and Savitri, who had asked the god of death, Lord Yama, to return their hubby’s soul. Another legend says that when Arjun went to the Nilgiris to meditate, Draupadi got upset and asked for Lord Krishna’s help to ensure his safety. Krishna advised her to gormandize for Arjun, just like Goddess Parvati did for her hubby, Lord Shiva.
Significance of Karwa Chauth
Karwa Chauth is celebrated with the belief that it emulates Goddess Parvati, who observed a fast to gain Lord Shiva as her hubby. Wedded women keep the vrat to ensure the life of their misters and an enduring marriage. The fast also brings good luck and substance to the family. Piecemeal from Goddess Parvati, women also supplicate to Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Kartikeya, and Karwa Mata.
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