Karwa Chauth

Karwa Chauth is considered to be a traditional Hindu festival for married women and is celebrated in some parts of India. There is a ritual of fasting observed by married Hindu women ( Suhagan) seeking the longevity, well-being and prosperity of their husbands. It is popular amongst married women in the northern and western parts of India, especially, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.The ritual involves keeping a strict fast by married women and they do not take even a drop of water. The day starts with getting up early in the morning, performing their ablutions, and wear new and festive clothes.

In Punjab women start their fast by consuming food items and sweets called sergi which is sent to them or given by their mother-in-law before the dawn. Shiva, Parvati and their son Kartikeya are worshipped on this day along with the 10 'karwas' (earthen pots) filled with sweets. The Karwas are given to daughters and sisters along with gifts. The fast is broken after looking at the moon through the sieve and then looking at her hasband's face. The process involves looking at their husbands just after seeing the moon.

Karwa means earthen pot and chauth means fourth night after the full moon. It is celebrated on the fourth night after the full Moon in the month of kartik in the Hindu calendar. It has great social and cultural significance and is mostly practiced in northern India. Wives start their fast at night just after the appearance of the moon, within sight of their husbands. They then wait until the next night's moonrise to begin the fast breaking ceremonies, without consuming any food or drink. In the evening women dress in their best clothing, and adorn themselves with jewellery and henna. On sighting the moon, they look and offer prayers and worship to it, and then receive their first bite of food and water from their husbands. Thereafter, women consume their special meal prepared for the occasion.

Worshipping the moon involves filling up the karwa with specially prepared food and jewellery and offering it to the god. Karwas are also exchanged with other women after that. Further practices involve telling and listening to stories regarding origin of Karwa Chauth.