Hindu women in Northern and Western India celebrate Karwa Chauth on the fourth day after Purnima (a full moon) in the month of Kartika. On Karva Chauth, married Hindu women fast for their husband's health and safety. They fast from daybreak to moonrise.
Karva means "pot" (as in a tiny clay vessel used to store water) and Chauth means "fourth" in Hindi, therefore together they make "Karva Chauth" It indicates that Karva Chauth occurs on the fourth day after Poornima (full moon).
The clay pot used by women on this day to offer water to the moon is a part of the festival's most important ceremony. When the moon rises, the women see its reflection in the water in the clay pot. They pray and offer water to the moon and then they turn to their husband to get their blessings. This marks the end of their fasting for the day.
Women pray for Lord Shiva to protect their husbands from harm. This celebration is thought to provide married couples harmony, peace, happiness, and joy.
The Karva Chauth festival is connected to several ancient stories. In these tales or stories, women make sacrifices for their husbands and talk about how their love is pure and lasts forever.
A few of the popular Karva Chauth stories are listed here:
1. Veeravati Karva Chauth Story: Once upon a time, there was a lovely queen by the name of Veeravati who was the lone sister of seven devoted and considerate brothers. She started a severe fast after sunrise on her first Karwa Chauth while staying with her parents. She was thirsty and hungry in the evening, and she was impatiently awaiting the moonrise. Her brothers were distressed to see her in such anguish. So, they placed a mirror in a Peepal tree to make it appear as though the Moon is in the sky. The minute Veeravati broke her fast, she received word that her husband had died. Her heart was devastated, She cried all night long, till Mother Parvathi appeared and asked her what was wrong. After hearing the queen's plight, the Goddess told her how she had been deceived by her brothers and gave her the instruction to observe the Karva Chauth fast once again with all her devotion. Veervati's persistence in her fasting eventually convinced Yama to bring her husband back to life.
This Karva Chauth story of Queen Veeravati is very well-known, and women who are fasting often hear it.
2. Story from Mahabharata: Another myth associated with the practice of fasting to ensure the health of one's spouse dates back to the time of the Mahabharata. Draupadi also observed this fast for the sake of ensuring her husband's health and longevity. The tale goes like this: While Arjun was away performing penance in the Nilgiri Mountains, the rest of the Pandavas were forced to contend with several challenges. At that point, Draupadi requested Lord Krishna for his assistance, and Lord Krishna reminded her that Goddess Parvati had once held a fast for Lord Shiva when they were in a predicament very similar to the one they were in now. As a result of this, Draupadi decides to observe Karva Chauth by fasting and performing all of the associated rituals for the benefit of her husbands. And as a direct result of this, the Pandavas can confront their challenges and emerge victorious.
3. Karwa: Karwa was a woman who loved her husband very much. Karwa's devotion to her spouse was unwavering. Her devotion and ardent love for him gave her spiritual power. Crocodiles attacked her husband when he was swimming in a river, and he was ultimately taken by one of them. Karwa bound the crocodile with cotton yarn and petitioned Yama to send the crocodile to hell and give her husband back. Yama declined that. Karwa said that he would curse Yama and kill him. Yama didn't want Karwa a devoted wife to curse him, so he sent the crocodile to hell and gave Karwa's husband long life. Karwa and her husband lived very happily for many years. This Karwa story continues to be told even in modern times, and during the karva Chauth day.
The married ladies pray to Karwa Mata for the health and happiness of their husbands.
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