In our culture, the Karwa Chauth is an important festival for all married women. From sunrise till moonrise, she keeps a fast for the safety of her husband. Keeping a fast without drinking water and eating any food all through the day seems to be a difficult one but the doting wives performs all these with much love and respect in their head and heart for their husbands. The meaning of Karwa Chauth is offering Argya to the moon using an earthen pot known as Karwa on the Chaturthi of the Karthika month. It falls on the fourth day of the dark fortnight in the Kartika month every year. The origin of this festival is still very hazy but there are definitely some anecdotes associated with this festival. History of Karwa Chauth: There are several stories related to Karwa Chuath and how the festival came into being. While some are from mythology, some are also related to circumstances due to which it started. Once upon a time there was a beautiful queen named Veervati who was the only sister among seven loving and caring brothers. In one of the Karwa Chauth she was at her parents place and began a strict fast after sunrise. In the evening she was waiting eagerly for the moonrise as she was suffering from hunger and thirst. The brothers were pained by seeing their sister in suffering. So, they created a mirror in a Pipal tree that made it look as if the Moon is up in the sky. Now, the moment Veervati broke her fast, the news that her husband is dead arrived. She kept on weeping and that's when a Goddess arrived in front and revealed that she was tricked by her brothers. Now, she kept the Karwa Cahuth fast with full devotion and seeing the dedication, Yama, the lord of death restored life to her husband. There was a woman named Karwa who was deeply in love with her husband and this intense love gave her lots of spiritual powers. Once her husband was bathing in a river and that was when he was attacked by a crocodile. Now the courageous Karwa bound the crocodile with a cotton yarn and remembered Yama the Lord of death. Yama was seriously afraid of being cursed by such a devoted and doting wife and thus he sent the crocodile to hell and gave life back to her husband. The Story of Satyavan and Savitri: It is said that when Yama, the God of death came to acquire Satyavan's life, Savitri begged in front of Yama to grant him life. But Yama was adamant and seeing that Savitri stopped eating and drinking and followed Yama as he took her husband away. Yama now said Savitri that she can ask of any other boon except the life of her husband. Savitri being a very clever woman asked Yama that she wants to be blessed with children. She is a devoted and loyal wife and won't let any kind of adultery. Thus, Yama had to restore the life into Satyavan so that Savitri can have children. Significance of Karwa Chauth- It is believed that once a married woman begins observing the Karwa Chauth fast, she should continue to do so for as long as her husband is alive. Some women who have health issues or are elderly, observe it like a regular fast where they drink water or juice and consume fruits during the day. However, newly-wedded women are expected to observe the fast by giving up food and water the entire day.
