Karwa Chauth
करवा चौथ
A day-long fast observed by married Hindu women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. The fast is broken after sighting the Moon through a sieve in the evening.
Why We Celebrate
Karwa Chauth falls on the fourth day after Purnima in the month of Kartik. The word "Karwa" refers to an earthen pot and "Chauth" means fourth. The festival celebrates the bond between husband and wife. According to legend, Queen Veervati's husband was brought back to life by her devotion and unwavering fast. The Moon holds special significance as Chandra Dev is considered a witness to the marital vow.
Karwa Chauth celebrates the power of marital devotion. The most famous legend tells of Queen Veervati, who accidentally broke her fast by looking at a fire behind a sieve, mistaking it for the Moon. Her husband immediately fell gravely ill. Heartbroken, she kept an unwavering fast for a full year, and when Karwa Chauth came again, her sincere devotion restored her husband to health.
Another legend tells of Savitri, who followed Yama (the god of death) when he came to take her husband Satyavan's life. Through her wit, devotion, and perseverance, she won back her husband from death itself. A third story tells of Karwa, a devoted wife whose husband was attacked by a crocodile — she bound the crocodile with cotton thread through the power of her devotion, and Yama himself was moved to grant her husband a long life.
On Karwa Chauth, married women rise before dawn to eat sargi (a pre-dawn meal), then fast without water for the entire day. In the evening, they dress in their finest clothes, gather together to hear the Karwa Chauth katha (story), and break their fast only after sighting the Moon through a sieve and then looking at their husband's face. The festival celebrates love, sacrifice, and the sacred bond of marriage.
How It's Celebrated
Wake before sunrise and eat sargi (pre-dawn meal prepared by mother-in-law)
Observe a strict nirjala (waterless) fast from sunrise until moonrise
Apply mehndi (henna) on hands and dress in bridal/festive attire
In the afternoon, gather with other women and listen to the Karwa Chauth katha (story)
Offer prayers with the decorated karwa (earthen pot) filled with sweets
In the evening, wait for moonrise. View the Moon first through a sieve, then look at your husband
Husband offers the first sip of water and morsel of food to break the fast
Regional Variations
What You Need
- Karwa (decorated earthen pot)
- Sieve (chalni) for viewing the Moon
- Thali with diya, kumkum, rice, sweets
- Mehndi (henna)
- New bangles and sindoor
- Festive clothes (red/pink preferred)
- Sargi items: mathri, dry fruits, sevaiyan, fruits
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Did You Know?
- ✦The tradition of looking at the Moon through a sieve before looking at the husband symbolizes filtering out impurities — seeing your partner with pure love and devotion.
- ✦Karwa Chauth was traditionally observed only in North India, but Bollywood movies like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham popularized it nationwide and among the diaspora.
- ✦In modern times, many husbands also fast alongside their wives on Karwa Chauth, turning it into a mutual celebration of love rather than a one-sided observance.
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