Karwa Chauth: History and Significance Behind the Ritual

LifestyleKarwa Chauth: History and Significance Behind the Ritual

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Karwa Chauth: History and Significance Behind the Ritual

Festivals and rituals abound throughout India. Festivals may be found all around the country, from north to south, east to west. Karva Chauth is a large and significant event observed in the northern section of the country. Karva Chauth is observed by married Hindu and Sikh women who fast in honour of their husbands’ long lives. The purpose of the celebration is to pray and hope for their husband’s well-being, wealth, and longevity.

Karva Chauth consists of two words: Karva, which means clay oil lamp, and Chauth, which means four. Karva Chauth is a Hindu festival that happens on the fourth day of the Kartik month, close to Diwali. The Kartik month commemorates the harvest season, which is a time for social gatherings and celebrations. The Karva Chauth is a festival honouring a husband and wife’s lovely link of love and togetherness. Karva Chauth has evolved into a celebration rather than a prayer.

Karwa Chauth: History and Significance Behind the Ritual

Karva Chauth starts as a celebration honouring sisterhood and societal significance. Girls were married at a young age in the past, and according to tradition, the girls had to leave the family to live with their in-laws. After the wedding, the females will be lonely with no one to share their troubles or love with. On the wedding day, a little ceremony was held in which a woman was named the bride’s Godsister for the rest of her life.

For a lifetime, women were considered soul sisters and enjoyed a sacred tie of kinship. In times of struggle, stress, and suffering, the Godsister would share and empathise with the bride, discussing their difficulties with one another. The Karva Chauth event was developed to honour friendship, sisterhood, and unity. Karva Chauth began as a fast observed by married women for the well-being and longevity of their husbands. Still, as time passed, it evolved into a fast observed by married women for the well-being and longevity of their husbands.

Read also: Pooja Banerjee never celebrated Karwa Chauth with family

Importance

Karwa Chauth is one of the most significant Hindu celebrations, especially for married women, according to Hindu custom. It generally starts with a little early morning prayer and is followed by “Sargi,” a metal plate with dried fruits, parathas, curries, and coconut water. It keeps them energised and allows them to go the entire day without eating or drinking.

History

The festival of Karva Chauth is related to several old stories. These legends or myths depict how women have made sacrifices for their spouses and how their love is pure and enduring. According to one tradition, there once was a lovely queen named Veervati. She was married to a gorgeous king and had seven brothers. She marked her first Karva Chauth by following a rigorous fast throughout the first year of her marriage.

She began to feel nervous as the night came nearer due to acute thirst and hunger. She, on the other hand, refused to eat or drink anything. Her brothers had had enough of seeing her suffer and decided to take action. They used the pipal tree to make a mirror in their garden and fooled Veervati into thinking the moon had risen. She gave in to their persuasion and ended her fast. Unfortunately, word of her beloved husband’s death arrived.

Veervati was heartbroken and began heading towards her husband’s house. Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati stop her on the way and explain how her brothers deceived her. Veervati receives a few droplets of Maa Parvati’s sacred blood after Maa Parvati chops off her finger. She warns Veervati to be cautious during her next fasts. Veervati pours sacred blood on her husband’s corpse, and he miraculously comes back to life. Veervati was reunited with her husband in this way due to her enormous love, sacrifice, and dedication.

Karwa Chauth: History and Significance Behind the Ritual

Read also: Benefits of applying Mehendi on hands

Legends surrounding Karva Chauth: 

Legend of Karva:

The mythology of Karva has been linked to Karva Chauth. Karva was a happily married woman who adored her spouse. On a beautiful day, his hubby went for a swim in the river. A crocodile captured him, and when Karva heard him cry, she dashed to her husband. She held a cotton yarn in her hand after viewing the crocodile. She hurried towards Lord of Death, Yama, and leapt into the crocodile with the cotton yarn. Yama was asked to send the crocodile to hell. Yama was adamant about not doing so. Karwa was furious and vowed to curse him. Yama granted her wish and exiled the beast to hell. Yama likewise gave Karwa’s spouse a long life.

The Legend of Satyavan and Savitri:

Another well-known mythology related to the event is that of Satyavan and Savitri. It is said that Lord Yama came to take Satyavan’s soul one day. Satyavan’s wife implored Lord Yama to leave him at that point, but he refused. Savitri gave up food and drink because she was furious and disappointed. Seeing her in this position, Lord Yama granted her the power to wish anything away from her husband’s life. She wanted children to satisfy Lord Yama’s request of resurrecting her husband.

Rituals:

The fast begins at daybreak when women consume “sargi,” a morning meal prepared by their mother-in-law. Women go without drink and food for the rest of the day after eating the Sargi until the moon rises. The mornings are frequently filled with community meetings, henna applications, and other activities. Every evening, all the ladies give a prayer for their husbands’ long life and well-being.

When the moon appears, the fast is broken. The women look at the moon through a filter before looking at their spouse via the same strainer. The husband breaks the fast by giving the wife water and chocolates. Single ladies often notice how quickly they want a kind and loving partner. When a solitary lady sees the first star in the sky, the fast is broken. The festival honours the lovely bond between a husband and wife and is widely observed in Northern and Central India.

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