Introduction

Karwa Chauth is a significant festival for married women of Hindu in India. The festival is celebrated for the long and healthy life of a woman’s husband. It is observed on the Chaturthi tithi of Kartik month after the full moon day. The women keep fasting on this day and break it with water after the first view of Chand and their husband. The fist sip of water is to be served by the husband. The significance of the Karwa Chauth can be observed in the fact that perhaps nowhere in the world does a wife go without food or water just to pray for the longevity and well-being of her husband.

Legends Associated with Karwa Chauth

There are many folks lore related to the festival of Karwa Chauth. One among them is that Karva was a pious woman devoted to her husband. His husband was once taking bath in a pond when a big crocodile caught him by his feet. Karva bound the mouth of crocodile with a cotton yarn and she went to Yam; the God of Death and prays for the life of her husband and to sent the crocodile to the hell. But, Yam refused to oblige her. Karva then threatened to curse him. Yam apprehensive of being cursed by a Pati Vrata woman blessed her husband with long life.

The second legend is associated with Savitri and Satwahan. Savitri was a lady who loved her husband very much and was very devoted to him. One day Satwahan died and Yam carried his dead body with Yamlok. She followed him to the heaven and prayed for his life. When Yam refused to return the life of her husband, she spent endless day their without taking any food or water. At the last amused with her devout persuasion Yam gave back her husband’s life on the day of Karva Chauth. The women all over the country celebrate these legends with religious fervor and traditional rituals on the day of Karva Chauth.

Rituals and Customs

Krava means Clay pot which is an important accessory of the Karva Chaith festival. Women buy spherical clay pot from the market prior to the day of festival. They decorate it in beautiful designs and fill it with bangles, ribbons, handkerchiefs, sweets. The Karava is exchanged on the day of festival. On the day of festival women keep fasting and are not suppose to eat or drink anything. The festival begins with the worship of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati. In the evening of the day women dress up like newly wed bride in often in red color Sari decked with lavish jewelry. The women receive Baya or the break fast from her mother meant for her mother in law. The women of neighbor gather on a chowki meant to perform Pooja and paying offerings. The Chowki is elaborately decorated. All the women sit around their Baya and Karva. The thread is tied around the Karva. This is followed by the worship of Goddess Gauri. The narration of Vrata Katha is then said and attentively listened by the devotee women. After the completion of Pooja, women break the fast after the first view of the moon. The first bite or sip of the Prasad is taken from the hand of one’s husband.