Why is Karwa Chowth Celeberated? Significance and Stories.
Karwa Chauth is a famous Hindu festival mainly celebrated in northern and western India. It is followed by married women. In fact, it has been a day of praying for husband's long life and good health. The festival falls on the fourth day of the dark fortnight in the lunar month of Kartika. However, it occurs during October or November. The Karwa Chauth rituals signify olden customs of love, sacrifice, and commitment that are the core of marriage.
Karaka Chaturthi, also known as Karwa Chauth, is a festival widely followed due to ancient customs. As the name goes, "Karwa" refers to an earthen pot, which is the most important part of the rituals, and "Chauth" stands for the fourth day. It has gained a greater meaning for women, especially those married in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, as a ritual to celebrate love and fidelity.
Karwa Chauth fasting date &time according to Drik Panchang
This year Karwa Chauth fasting is on Sunday, 20 October 2024.
Karwa Chauth Pujan Shubh Muhurat - 5:17 pm to 6:33 pm
Karwa Chauth time - 5:17 am to 7:29 pm
Moonrise time on Karwa Chauth fast - 7:29 pm
The origins of Karwa Chauth go back in the lines of various historical practices. In the times of the Rajputs, when their men used to go on military expeditions, the wives would pray for their safe return. This act of devotion has now transfigured into a day of love and commitment.
The festival also coincides with the agricultural calendar, where the Rabi crop cycle starts. Earlier, the women used to pray for good harvests, which were brought alive through storing wheat in earthen pots. Though the essence of the festival has changed from the results of agriculture to the spiritual bonding of couples, the core themes of devotion and commitment remain intact.
These rituals of Karwa Chauth are very intricate with a lot of symbolisms associated with them. In North India, before sunrise, women have these pre-dawn meals called "sargi" prepared by their mothers-in-law. Such a meal is full of nourishments that can help them hold on all through the night till moonrise. Women fast from sunrise till moonrise to convey their unfathomable love and dedication towards their husbands.
In some places, the younger daughters-in-law prepare meals for the family of the elder daughters-in-law of the house and then the elder daughters-in-law give money and gifts to the younger daughters-in-law of the house thus reinforcing the loving bond between women of the house in joint families.
The evening puja could be a group activity wherein women can be dressed in beautiful Indian traditional dresses like sarees, lehengas, suits, etc. They conduct rituals, narrate stories, and sing songs showcasing the importance of the festival itself, including the puja, preparing a thali, a plate full of sweets, along incense and clay pots filled with water.
Once the moon is visible, women go through the activity of seeing through a sieve before looking at their husbands. This action symbolizes the acceptance of the blessings bestowed upon their husbands by the moon to live for a long time. The husband offers water to his wife, which terminates her fast and shows the kind of respect and love shown mutually in their relationship.
Karwa Chauth is a celebration of womanhood and collectivity. It creates friendship ties among women, who are gifted to one another and are indulged in sweets to strengthen social bonding and communal cohesion.
In the recent past, the festival has also garnered participation from unmarried women, who observe the fast with the hope of attracting a suitable life partner. This change reflects the changing social values and aspirations of young women, which symbolizes the festival's dynamism.
Stories of Karwa Chauth:-
Karwa Chauth is filled with some beautiful folklore that talks about love, sacrifice, and faith. These stories place a deeper meaning on the festival from just the myriad of rituals but a tradition that needs to be kept up in the pursuit of cultural heritage.
- The Story of Queen Veeravati: The story revolves around Queen Veeravati who, it is said, on her first Karwa Chauth, abstained from food and water to pray for her husband's safety from her parental home. Her brothers, anxious and desperate, made an illusion of the moon by using a mirror before her to break the fast. She ended up breaking her fast a little before the due time but met her husband dead. full of sorrow she asked some goddess for guidance and was ordered to follow the fast strictly again. After this her husband's life is restored to his body again too, showing that love and devotion can be very powerful.
- The story of Draupadi is Karwa Chowth fast of Mahabharata: When her husband Arjuna was gone in respect of penance, the other Pandavas had to suffer various ordeals. Desperate, Draupadi recalled how Parvati once had seen a penance equal to Karwa Chauth. Inspired by this and instructed by Sri Krishna, she started fasting in the hope that her husband would return to her safely, stressing faith as a potent weapon against adversity and he came back safely after the ordeal.
- The Karva Story: Karwa was cast wife. She was devoted totally to her husband. Her husband was attacked by a crocodile while bathing. With her spiritual powers, she tied up the creature and threatened Yama that he should bring her husband's life in return for her devotion. The determination made Yama afraid and yielded to her wish, letting her know the power of a devoted wife and the values of loyalty and sacrifice.
- The Legend of Savitri and Satyavan: Another very significant legend that is related to folklore is Savitri's story. She was a devoted wife who fasted on Karwa Chauth when her husband, Satyavan, was destined to die. She chased Yama, the god of death, declaring that nothing could happen to her husband until he took his soul off him. With all her persuasive talks and unwavering commitment to love, she made Yama return Satyavan to life, and thus this gives emphasis to the great theme that love conquers death.
Though Karwa Chauth is a much-storied festival, it also provokes much criticism in modern society. Some argue that the festival ensues upon the idea of tradition and encourages only limited, context-bound gender roles, which, in turn, implies women depend totally on men. For its critics, it may force women to sacrifice their needs before their husbands' desires.
On the other hand, most women like the festival because it serves as an opportunity for them to be free from the usual responsibility cycle and enjoy themselves. In cities, the festival has become a cultural event where both tradition and modernity are embraced, with great elaborate celebrations combined with socialization.
Karva Chauth is definitely more than the simple act of observance. It is love, sacrifice, and devotion being celebrated. Rituals are a rich tapestry and the compelling stories in the festival highlight the larger motifs of marriage bonds. Every tale becomes a reminder of the commitment and emotional strength involved in marital relationships.
With the change in social norms and what is perceived to be desirable, the concept and ritual of celebrating Karwa Chauth change with time. This age-old tradition has attempted to merge into contemporary times with the idea of underlining love and partnership as equal. Therefore it stands out as a celebration for enduring commitment, and Karwa Chauth is one of the most important celebrations for many while reflecting their cultural heritage and personal aspirations.
References:-
- https://www.etvbharat.com/en/!lifestyle/karwa-chauth-vrat-2024-fasting-times-moonrise-and-celebration-details-enn24101901068
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/love-sex/when-is-karwa-chauth-in-2024-story-history-significance-importance-and-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/114354519.cms
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karva_Chauth
- https://www.fnp.com/article/karwa-chauth?srsltid=AfmBOooDg5x2C-3ZIQJbOqlob9Luru6M00Af7CQBMIxlLiYjQeZizcd7
- https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/how-is-karva-chauth-celebrated-in-different-parts-of-india-1729411416-1
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