Karva Chauth is one of the most celebrated festivals in Northern India on the fourth day in the month of Karthik. On this day, married women fast for an entire day and pray for the long lives of their husbands.
Karva Chauth is also known as Karak Chaturthi. Karva or Karak refers to the 'earthen pot through which water offering is made to the moon'.
One hypothesis about Karva Chauth is that military campaigns were often conducted by men in far-off places whereby men would leave their wives and children at home to go off to the war. Their wives would often pray for their safe return.
It is also said to be celebrated as the end of the harvest season.
In mythology, it is believed that Savitri fasted for the whole day and prayed for the life of her husband Satyavan, and brought him back from the clutches of death.
Women begin preparing for Karwa Chauth a few days in advance, by buying adornments, jewelry, and puja items, such as the Karwa lamps, matthi, and the decorated puja thali. They get ready with solaah shringaar, traditional dresses, and apply henna on their hands.
The fera ceremony concludes the ritual, the women await the rising of the moon. Once the moon is visible, the fasting woman views the moon or its reflection in a vessel filled with water through a sieve or through the cloth. Water is offered to the moon to secure blessings. It is believed that at this stage, spiritually strengthened by her fast, the woman can successfully confront and defeat death.
The husbands then take water from the thali and offer it to the wives breaking their fasts.
Different regions celebrate the festival in different ways. Let's recall some iconic Karva Chauth scenes in Bollywood.
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