Karva Chauth is one of the most important festivals for the married women. It is mostly celebrated in the north and north-western regions of India like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. The literal meaning of Karva Chauth is offering 'Argya' to the moon using a karva/earthern pot. It falls on the fourth month of Krishna Paksha in the Kartika month every year.
Married women celebrate this festival for the well-being and longevity of their husbands. Unmarried girls also celebrate it for the fulfillment of their wish to have good life partners. On this day, women observe fast from sunrise till moonrise. During the evening, women see the moon, do Gauri pooja, listen to the Vrat Savitri Katha and break the fast.
There was various social reasons for the widespread celebration of this festival. In ancient India when child marriage used to be a common practice, young girls and women from adjoining villages would gather at one place on the day of karva chauth and celebrate the festival in a grand way with fun, joy and laughter. They also used to gift each other bangles, sindoor, etc.
Men belonging to the northern parts of the country mostly join the army and military services and stay away from their homes for most parts of the year trying to safeguard the country from enemies. Their wives would observe fast on this day for their safety.
This festival also coincides with the Rabi cropping season. Women fill earthern pots with wheat grains and offer them to God praying for the great Rabi season.
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