Karva Chauth is a day festival traditionally celebrated by Hindu women in North India. These women fast from the rising of the sun (morning) until the rising of the moon (night) to protect and ask for the long life and safety of their husbands (sometimes also their fiancés). Keep reading to learn more about this ancient Hindu holiday.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Preparing for the Karva Chauth. Festival
Step 1. Be aware that this festival is held in the state of Rajasthan, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab
Other similar festivals are also held throughout India, but Karva Chauth is typical of the north.
Step 2. Start preparing for this celebration a few days in advance
If you participate in the festival, you may have to purchase makeup and cosmetics (shringar), ornaments, jewelry and lamps, and Karva plates. Local shops and bazaars decorate their shops with festive Karva Chauth products so it's not hard to find some fun decoration options there.
Step 3. Get up before sunrise on the feast of Karva Chauth
You have to wake up with other people who are also celebrating before the break of dawn (dawn) and then eat and drink. If you're taking part in a celebration in Uttar Pradesh, you may have to eat feni, a traditional dish filled with chickpeas (Garbanzo) with milk and sugar the night before the celebration. This mixture is believed to help you to resist thirst and not drink the next day. Sargi (ਸਰਗੀ) in Punjab is an important part of this “pre-dawn meal”.
- Sargi is a sumptuous collection of food, and according to tradition, you should send and offer to your in-laws as daughter-in-law.
- If you and your mother-in-law live together, the “pre-dawn meal” will be prepared by your mother-in-law.
Part 2 of 3: Participate in the Celebration
Step 1. Remember that fasting begins at dawn (when dawn begins to break)
This is a tough one, but you won't be eating or drinking all day long. However, the good news is: you don't have to do household chores.
Step 2. Engage in activities with your community during Karva Chauth
In the morning, you can spend time with other women in your community, also painting Henna on each other's hands and feet. Before sunset, you will gather in one place (perhaps at someone's house) to perform rituals related to puja. Together with other women, you pray for your husband's well-being and long life while passing your age with the women.
- Puja is a ritual in which people show respect to God, spirits, or other things related to the Divine.
- Baya is a gift basket that contains several items such as almonds, jewelry, and others.
Step 3. Get your husband (or fiancé) involved
Remember that although this festival is for women, husbands can also actively participate. According to tradition, husbands used to shower their wives with gifts and treats in exchange for their strenuous fasts and prayers. Apart from celebrating the bond between two women who are friends, this holiday is also held as a reminder of the eternal bond between husband and wife.
Part 3 of 3: Reviewing the Historical Background of Karva Chauth
Step 1. Know that married women leave their village or town to live with their husbands
They will share a house and be completely separated from their hometown. This tradition begins when the newlyweds look for another woman to be friends with in a new environment. This bond will become very important and lead to this famous festival.
- The new friend will become a good friend or sister in the life of the newlyweds.
- These women would then encourage one another, and pray for the welfare of their husbands.
- Karva Chauth signifies the bond of love between the newlywed and his sister or best friend.
- Sisters and best friends for life are treated like family members.
- A story about a very devoted wife named Karva who saved her husband's life, became the story behind this celebration.
Step 2. Be aware that this festival begins in the north and northwest of India
Although there are various hypotheses regarding the origin of this celebration, no one really knows why this celebration is only held in northern India in October. Here are some generally accepted opinions:
- The soil is usually dry in October after the rainy season.
- Military campaigns and long-distance travel usually took place in October and November.
- The women began fasting and praying for the long life and safety of their husbands (and sometimes fiancées) as they concluded their journey and obligations.
Step 3. Know that this festival coincides with the sowing season
Large, earthen pots were used to store grain and were referred to as karva. The word "Chauth" means "onwards". There is some speculation that the festival also began as a wish for a good harvest.
Step 4. Remember that Karva Chauth appears on the fourth day of the waning moon in October
The celebration is also known as “Krishna Paksha” in the month of Kartik according to the Hindu calendar. There is no fixed date, but it is always celebrated on a day in October.
Tips
- Don't eat too much when you break your fast. It is important that you drink enough water and eat a healthy diet.
- Do not fast if you have any medical problems related to health problems.
- Do not exercise while you are fasting.
