Published 11:38 IST, October 17th 2019
Karwa Chauth 2019: Vrat Katha of Savitri's dedication for Satyavan
Karwa Chauth is a festival celebrated by married women for the long life of their husbands. Read more to know about the story of Satyavan and Savitri.
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Karwa Chauth is a Hindu festival celebrated by married women for the long life of their husbands. These married women keep a full day fast, and once the sun sets perform various Karwa Chauth rituals and break the fast by their husbands’ hands. From several generations, these rituals are followed religiously. In these Karwa Chauth rituals, one of the main rituals is the story or the Katha said before worshipping the moon and breaking the fast. The famous story that is widely followed and believed is the story of Satyavan and Savitri.
The story of Satyavan and Savitri
Karwa Chauth is believed to have originated with the story of Satyavan and Savitri. The people have a belief of it to be a true story. The story is about Savitri who brought her husband Satyavan’s life back from Yamraj, the god of death.
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At the time of Satyug, there lived a king and queen who had no children. After making a lot of effort, they came across a powerful Sage. He blessed them with the boon of having a son but later the Sage discovered that this couple was cursed in their previous life. Therefore, he modified his boon. He granted their wish to have a son but gave him a life of short span.
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The Kind and Queen felt sad and regretted being cursed. After a few days, the queen gave birth to a beautiful baby who was named ‘Satyavan’. Fate defeated the King and Queen and they lost their kingdom to the enemy. They started residing in a forest.
Years later, a beautiful princess name Savitri came to the forests for a visit and discovered a handsome man cutting wood. She fell in love with him and enquired about him. Savitri, even after being aware of the boon and curse, insisted to marry him. This is how Satyavan and Savitri got married.
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Savitri left her luxurious life for Satyavaan and started living in the forest. Savitri used to pray for her husband’s life to Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. Days passed and the life span of Satyavan came to an end. One day, when Satyavan was in the forest cutting woods, he had a deep pain in the heart and died. Savitri saw Lord Yama coming for his husband’s soul and begged him not to take him from her. Lord Yama was impressed by her and granted her 3 wishes. Savitri was known for her witty nature and she was smart enough to take the right decision.
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She made her three wishes and her last wish was to grant her 100 sons which she knew wasn’t possible without her husband. Yama was impressed by her smartness and granted her husband’s life. Lord Yama said that in future, the married women who keep fast on this day and pray to a banyan tree will get the boon of the longer life for their husbands.
Karwa Chauth, according to the Hindu calendar is celebrated during the Krishna Paksha Chaturthi during the month Karthik month. Karwa Chauth 2019 will be celebrated on October 17 this year, according to the Hindu calendar.
08:21 IST, October 17th 2019