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II Karwa
Chauth - The Festival of Married Hindu Women
II
Karwa Chauth 2008 - October 17th
Karva Chauth is a festival of married
Hindu
women. The word 'Karwa' means an earthen pot
with a spout, which is used in prayers. 'Chauth'
means the fourth day and hence the name 'Karva Chauth'. It is a
traditional fast undertaken by married Hindu women who offer
prayers seeking the welfare, prosperity, well-being, and
longevity of their husbands. Karwa Chauth falls about nine days
before diwali on the Kartik Chauth some time in October or
November. It is the most important fast observed by the women of
North India. Fast of Karwa Chauth is quite tough as women are
supposed to go without food or water for the entire day.
The Legends of Karwa Chauth
:
Queen Veeravati -
Long time ago, there lived a beautiful girl by the name of
Veeravati. She was the only sister of her seven loving brothers,
who was married to a king. On the occasion of the first Karva
Chauth after her marriage, she went to her parents' house. After
sunrise, she observed a strict fast. However, the queen couldn't
stand the rigors of fasting and was desperately waiting for the
moon to rise. The seven brothers, who loved her dearly, were
very disturbed watching the distress of their sister and decided
to end her fast by deceiving her. Then the brothers reflected a
mirror through Pipal tree leaves. The sister, taken it as
moonrise, broke the fast and took food. However, the moment the
queen ate her dinner, she received the news that her husband,
the king, was seriously ill. She did not keep the fast properly.
When Veeravati begged forgiveness, Goddess Parvati granted that
her husband would revive only when she completes her fast under
strict conditions. The queen observed the fast and thus revived
the life of her husband.
Satyavan and Savitri - Another story id of the
Satyavan and Savitri. Once Yamraj - the God of Death came to
take Satyavan's life. Savitri - the devoted wife of Satyavan
pleaded for her husbands life which Yamraj refused. Savitri went
on a fast and refused to eat or drink. Looking at her devotion,
Yamraj was forced to grant life to Satyavan. Since then women
started keeping fast for their husband's long life.
Mahabarata - Draupadi, too, is said to have
observed this fast. Once Arjun went to the Niligiris for penance
and the rest of the Pandavas faced many problems in his absence.
Draupadi, out of desperation, remembered Lord Krishna and asked
for help. Lord Krishna reminded her that on an earlier occasion,
when Goddess Parvati had sought Lord Shivas guidance under
similar circumstances, she had been advised to observe the fast
of Karva Chauth. Draupadi followed the instructions and observed
the fast with all its rituals. Consequently, the Pandavas were
able to overcome their problems. On this day, fasting women
listen to Karva Chauth legends with rapt attention.
The Karwa Chauth Rituals and Festivities :
On the day of Karva Chauth married women wake up before dawn.
They take bath and invoke blessings of Goddess Parvati for their
husband's long life. Women are then given a sumptuous meal
called 'Sargi' by mother-in-law to eat before sunrise, as the
fast starts before sunrise and ends only after worshiping the
moon at night. It is a tough fast, as after the Sargi women are
not supposed to take any form of food or liquid. In the day, the
married woman receives the baya or a basket full of goodies from
her mother, which is meant for the mother-in-law. The most
joyous part of Karwa Chauth is the Puja held in the evening. A
large number of elegantly dressed women gather in a temple or in
somebody's house for Puja. Women pray to Goddess Parvati or
Gauri Ma for the well being and long life of their husbands. The
fast is broken once the moon is sighted and special rituals and
prayers marking the day have been offered. At night when the
moon appears, women break their fast after offering water to the
moon.
The Karwa Chauth Puja and Celebrations :
A Day Before: The pooja preparations start a
day in advance. There is huge excitement a day before the
festival as women make elaborate preparations to dress up
elaborately for the occasion. The Married women buy bangles,
bindis, apply mehndi (Hena tattos) on their hand and feets.
Beginning of the Day : Early in the morning
they prepare food and have it before sunrise. The morning passes
by in other festive activities like decorating hand and feet
with heena, decorating the pooja thali and meeting friends and
relatives.
The Puja : In the evening, women dress up in
special clothes, usually a red or pink sari or 'lehenga-choli'
with gold woven 'zari' patterns. New brides often wear their
bridal costume. All deck up in jewelry. Decorative 'bindis' on
the forehead are a must for all women taking part in this
celebration. Fasting women from all over the neighborhood gather
in a group and narrate
the story of Karwa Chauth that underscore the significance
of Karwa Chauth and sing the
Karwachauth song while
rotating
the thalis containing Baya .
Once the moon rises, the women see its reflection in a thali of
water, or through a dupatta or a sieve. They offer water to the
moon and seek blessings. They pray for the safety, prosperity
and long life of their husbands and sing a
Karwachauth ark song. She is then given a piece of
sweet and sip of water by her husband. Hands over the Baya to
the monther-in-law or any elderly lady of the household and
seeks the blessings. Then comes the much awaited sumptuous
dinner. This marks the end of a day long fast.
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