*~*~Happy karva Chauth ~*~*

Karva Chauth is a Hindu festival celebrated in Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. On this day married women keep a fast for the welfare, prosperity, longevity and well being of their husbands. This festival comes 9 days before Diwali on 'kartik ki chauth', the fourth day of the dark moon.

In Karva Chauth, karva (karuaa) means a clay pot, and chauth (from char meaning four) corresponds to the fourth. Specifically, in this case Chauth (signifying the day of Karva Chauth festival) is the fourth night (day) after the Full Moon in Kartik month (of Hindu calendar) following the Autumnal Equinox.

It is believed that a Pati-Vrata (devoted) woman has the power to confront the God of Death, Yama. A lady called Veeravati broke her fast and her husband died. She preserved the body of her husband and he came back to life the next Karva Chauth. The story of Karva is well known. Her husband was caught by a crocodile. Karva bound the crocodile with a cotton yarn. She then asked Yama to send the crocodile to hell. Yama refused. Karva threatened to curse Yama. Yama, afraid of being cursed by Pati-vrat wife, sent the crocodile to hell. Karva and her husband enjoyed many years of wedded bliss. The fact that Yama was afraid of being cursed by a devoted wife showed the power a good faithful woman.

There is great festivity on this day. Early in the morning, before sunrise, the women bathe, wear new clothes and eat a meal of select grains and fruit. For the rest of the day, they abstain from food and even water, though the more strict rules of observance are not always kept. They pray to Shiva and Parvati, hoping that their own married lives will be as successful as that of the divine couple. In every neighbourhood, women gather together in the afternoon to perform a puja and to recite the story of 'Karva Chauth'. Most women are dressed in beautiful red or pink clothes and traditional jewelry. Moonrise is eagerly awaited. Once the moon is sighted, women gather on the terrace and pray for their husband and family's welfare, an elderly woman in the house narrates the story of Karva Chauth, and all the fasting women end their fast with a sip of water.

It is a day of celebration, decoration and exchanging the Karwa Chauth gifts. On this occasion, the woman keeping the fast receives lots of gifts from all family members and friends. Traditional karwa chauth gift include that of 'sargi' given by Mother-in-laws that consists of various types of sweetmeats, and sometime clothes and 'Baya' given by parents of their son-in-law. This Baya contains few Mathris, Almonds, and some gifts. This is one Indian festival, which has great significance and also brings the family together.