Karwa Chauth

Considered as an auspicious festival for the women of Northern India, Karva Chauth is one of the most important festivals for a married Hindu lady. Celebrated almost nine days prior to the festival of lights - Diwali, Karva Chauth is a festival where women pray for a happy married life and the longevity of their husbands.

How the Celebration Starts
Pre-celebrations for the Karva Chauth festival include applying henna or mehendi. Daughters-in-law buy new clothes and gifts for mothers-in-law and in return mothers-in-law present them sindoor, new bangles and make-up kits thus wishing them a long and happy married life. On the day of the festival, married women wake up before the sun rises, cover their heads with pink or red duppatta and pray for the long lives of their husbands. After which they touch the feet of their mothers-in-law to seek her blessings and then everybody feasts on a scrumptious meal traditionally known as sargi. This comprises of eatables like vermicelli garnished with dry fruits, sweets, mathri (savoury snacks), fruit and a piece of coconut. Another important part of Karwa Chauth celebrations is dressing up as a bride for the festival. All the married women wear traditional dresses in reds and maroons, adorn themselves in matching jewellery, bangles and do the traditional shringar.
Fasting(Vrat)
Fasting is the most important part of Karva Chauth celebrations which the married women observe after the sun rises. Women on this day fast throughout the day for the longevity of their husbands and also for their marital bliss and take a break from their daily household chores. In the morning women prepare for their evening puja by decorating their thali and adorning themselves in traditional dresses like saris, lehengas or salwar kameez. The evening puja is another important ritual of Karwa Chauth. All the married women gather in the compound before sunset between 4 and 5pm where according to the tradition a two -inch tall idol of Goddess Gauri is made using wheat flour and the ladies sit in a huge circle encircling the idol. Ladies sing the Karva Chauth song and pass their thalis around and listen to the Karva Chauth story. After the puja the young married ladies touch the feet of older ones and seek their blessings for a happy married life.
Rituals after Moon-rise
After the Karva Chauth puja is over, women wait for the moon to rise so that they can end their fasts. Once the moon is sighted by one of the family members women carry their puja thali and a sieve and see the moon through this sieve and offer rice and water to the moon praying for the long life of their husbands after which they break their fast by drinking water. Once the Karwa Chauth fast is broken sweets are eaten to celebrate the successful culmination of the fast and then the feast begins.