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Karwa Chauth
Karwa Chauth
is celebrated on the fourth day of the month of Kartika. The term ''Karva''
implies an earthen pot of water and the word ''chauth'' means fourth,
signifying that Karva Chauth falls on the fourth day after Poornima (full
moon), in the month of Kartik, according to the Hindu calendar. On this day,
women pray for the long life of their husbands by not eating or drinking
anything and offering prayers to Lord Shiva. They break their fast after
making various offerings, and sighting the moon, which is also one of the
most important celestial bodies as per Hindu mythology.
Women, mostly married women commence the day with a small
early morning prayer, usually followed by 'Sargi', a festive breakfast consisting of Jalebis, milk and Fenis etc.
It is actually a pre-dawn traditional meal, a thali, or an assortment of
different food items that married women receive from their mother-in-law on
the day of Karva Chauth. The sargi thali or platter typically consists
of seven, nine, or 11 types of bite-sized food items, probably to provide
ample energy for women to sustain themselves without food and water
throughout the day.
Food Item Ideas For A Sargi Thali
After this, they observe a fast till the fourth
day's moon becomes visible in the skies. During the fast, they do not drink
water. When the moon rises, the women offer Puja to it.
They offer water
to the moon sixteen times, and pray for a long life for their husbands. A little
painted clay pot (Auli) is filled with rice and other things and offered
to the mother-in-law. Unmarried girls too observe a fast on this day
so that they may get a good husband.Karwa Chauth is a celebration of love, marriage and the
unbreakable bond shared between a husband and wife.
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