Karwa Chauth is a festival which is celebrated among married women. Women keep fast names nirjala, which mean that they cannot consume water from sunrise to moonrise. It is observed for long life and safety of their husband. Although the festival is celebrated by women all over India, it holds special importance in northern states of the country. It includes Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. Though the fast is majorly kept by women, nowadays many husbands also observe the fast along with their wives for their well-being. Read to known more.

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Karwa Chauth 

It depends on the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Kartik. Karwa Chauth falls on the fourth day after the full moon or Purnima. On this day, women apply henna on their hands and wear new clothes. They, along with other women, narrate folk tales and chant Karwa Chauth vrat stories as well as singing songs.

Karwa Chauth Sargi

Women who observe fast on Karwa Chauth have sargi or pre-dawn meal early in the morning. It is generally given to them by their mothers-in-law. Sargi includes an earthen pot that has dry fruits, snacks and sweets. It also has saree and jewellery. After this, they do not consume water or food for the entire day. In the night women observing fast take a glimpse of the moon through a sieve and then look at their husband through it. The husbands then feed their wives with some sweets and fruits along with water to break the fast of Karwa Chauth. Husbands also offer gifts to their wives as a gesture of love.

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Karwa Chauth date: Thursday, October 17, 2019.

Fasting time: 6:27am to 8:16pm.

Puja timings: As per Drikpanchang, puja will start at 5:46 and end at 7:02 pm. The auspicious time will last for 1 hour and 16 minutes.

Moonrise time on Karwa Chauth: 8:16 pm

Beside from observing fast, as per tradition, women worship Goddess Parvati on the festival. According to mythology, the Goddess is the wife of Lord Shiva, who is considered as the one whose husband has a long life. During the Karwa Chauth puja, Goddess Parvati is worshipped first. After that Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesh and Lord Kartikeya are worshipped.  

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