Despite the feminist ire over Karva Chauth fast being a sign of women subjugation, the celebrations continue to thrive! From the most memorable, heart melting Bollywood scenes to the most lavish, high society, ‘all-women’ parties, the grandeur of Karva Chauth festivities is here to stay. Lets find more about the meaning and significance of Karva Chauth falling on 13th October’22. Also the stories around it and the rituals of celebration.
For this day, majority of women from India’s North/North-west (where Karva Chauth originates) start festive preparations, days in advance. Not only this, Karva Chauth as a festival has caught the fancy of cosmopolitans thanks to all the glamour surrounding it.
Meaning of Karva Chauth
Also known as Kark Chaturthi, Chauth stands for the fourth day of Hindu lunisolar month Karthik after Purnima (full moon), about 9 days before Diwali.
Karwa Chauth is a fast (vrat) that North Indian women observe from dawn to night (until the time the moon is visible) for the long healthy life and welfare of their husbands. It is widely celebrated in the states of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu, Chattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Meaning of Karva :
Karva is the name of the small earthen pot decorated with Roli (Kumkum) and Sindhoor (red auspicious powder) and Moli (sacred thread that is tied to the wrist) and filled with raw milk, water and sugar. This Karva is used in the Puja of Goddess Karva/Gauri and also Chandra Deva (the Moon)
Significance of Karva Chauth
The significance of Karva Chauth could have historically evolved due the following factors that has kept this tradition alive and vibrant:
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A spiritual shield against constant wars:
The North/North-west borders of India being open to external aggression, men were mostly at war. So, the wives articulated a system of sending out collective positive energies to protect the welfare of their husbands.
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A day to celebrate friends/ god-sisters:
Indian girls were married off at a very young age in the past. They came from far away villages/towns and completely lost touch with their roots post marriage. So, during the wedding, they were formally assigned God-sisters/ friends who were similar aged from the new in-laws’ vicinity. Karva Chauth is an evolution of the day that was assigned to celebrate such friendships.
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Women’s pivotal role as a spiritual- caretaker.
Hinduism attributes the role of Goddess Shakti to the woman of the house. So, while she tends to them, she assumes the de-facto role of the health and safety keeper of the family both from the diet and spirituality perspective.
Fasting (vrat) is considered a means to gain greater spiritual power to commune with the Gods. Hence regular fasting dedicated to deities on auspicious days for various goals is a regular practice for Hindus.
Karva Chauth fasting is dedicated towards the objective of powerfully praying and securing the long life and welfare of the husband from Goddess Gauri/Parvati
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A Day to bury differences within the family and celebrate sisterhood.
On Karva Chauth women within joint families , mom in laws daughter in laws, sister in laws , co sisters all dissolve their other identities and get together for the singular purpose of safeguarding their respective husbands. They even address each other by a common name ‘suhagan’ during the rituals
This is a great revival for strained as well as thriving relationships. Also, a great way to induct a new bride into the family
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A Day of relative freedom.
Kava Chauth is a great way to break away from the drudgery of daily chores as women are forbidden to do any this day. Instead, they spend time decking up with finery, make-up, and henna, meeting up with friends, gifting karva, attending the katha/rituals, and even shopping at times.
A much-awaited break from the daily rigmarole especially in the ancient India context.
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A day to shine.
The women who take up the fast not only literally shine with their bridal wear and accessories but also as the leading persona of the day.
This day is all about the woman herself, she eats first, she spends time taking care of herself, she does the rituals herself (one of the only Hindu festivals that allow that). A personal reminder of her individuality.
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A day symbolic of the sacrifices women make.
It is hard indeed to sacrifice food and water for almost a whole waking day. Karva Chauth symbolizes and highlights the many sacrifices that a woman makes for her family in her various roles when she constantly puts their needs first.
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Role reversal, greater support and attention:
This is the day when all the people she takes care of start taking care of her instead.
The Mom-in-law sends her Sargi (the pre-dawn meal with fruits, paranthas, coconut water, sweets) so that she is strong enough for the day. The husband dotes on her and keeps a more watchful eye. The kids keep watch on the moon and run around to relay the news so that their moms can break the fast. Elders and others take over the reins of the house, while the woman occupies herself in the festivities. Also, the husband, in-laws, parents, siblings, friends pamper her with gifts.
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Greater bonding with the better half:
Apart from the fact that it is taboo not to observe Karva Chauth in relevant communities, there are greater driving factors for the woman observing the fast.
First very few women want to flout tradition with respect to a sensitive topic such as this. Second, earlier women were completely dependent on men financially and also with respect to their societal status.
Lastly, for a woman the resolve and determination that goes into making this difficult fast happen helps her be at peace. She now knows that from the spiritual and religious perspective too she has done everything to safeguard her husband’s life.
As for the husband, he feels happy and grateful that his wife has gone through this ‘test of fire’ and proved her love yet again for him. This is also his chance to renew his feelings for his wife who is perpetually busy with the housework, especially in the traditional joint family context.
Result: greater love between the two.
Let’s briefly explore what this festival is all about.
How is Karva Chauth celebrated:
Married women wake up pre-dawn, shower, dress up and have their first meal (Sargi) before sunrise. The mother-in-law send both gifts and Sargi; a special basket full of goodies like dry fruits, fruits, paranthas, coconut water for the daughter in law to prepare for the fast ahead. In return for this the married woman’s mother gifts the mother-in-law Baya (sweets and gifts).
Now the vrat (fast) without food or water begins till the moon comes out. Women are not allowed household chores on this day. Some part of the day is spent in dressing up (heavily in red, gold, pink, yellow, orange bridal sarees and lehengas and jewellery) and making henna designs (mehndi) on hands and legs and make -up
Women decorate Karvas for all their friends and pack it with goodies like Roli, Moli, candy, ribbons, bangles, sweets, small clothings and gifts and then exchange with them.
Katha Ritual
Later, they get together for Katha with their puja thalis and Poya/Bayana (special sweets) at the house of the hostess from the neighbourhood. They sit in a circle around an idol of Goddess Gauri set on a stool while an elder recites Karwa Chauth folk lore especially the one about princess Veeravati.
The Karva song is sung collectively about 7 times while the puja thali (with the diya, rice and small wheat dolls of Goddess Parvati) is passed around (feris) saying ‘le suhagan’ as in ‘take this plate, married woman’. In older times Goddess Gauri idols made from earth and cow-dung were worshipped. In the end, a small portion of the Poya/Bayana is offered to the Goddess.
Back home the Poya/Bayana, money, gifts are given to the Mom-in -law or any other elderly lady.
When news arrives that the moon is out, the fasting woman looks up at it or at its reflection in water through a sieve. Then she looks at her husband through that sieve. Water from the puja thali is offered to the moon and its blessings sought for the husband’s long life.
The sieve here is symbolic of a mental filter that eliminates all negative emotions in the loving relationship. The husband feeds the wife the first sip of water from the thali to break the fast. He also hands her a gift.
Legends/folk lore/ Stories attached to Karva Chauth:
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War between Gods and Demons:
Once while the Gods and demons were engaged in a terrible war, the wives of the Gods collectively sought God Brahma’s advice for the safe homecoming of their husbands. It was then that Brahma advised them to observe Karva Chauth and worship Goddess Parvati on the said day. When the wives followed his advice, the gods returned unscathed.
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Draupadi, Arjuna and Lord Krishna
Once when Arjuna took off to the Nilgiris for penance Draupadi worried for his safety, asked for Krishna’s advice. Krishna recommended the Karva Chauth fast to her adding that Parvati observes the same for Shiva.
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The lady named Karva
Another legend says once Karva’s husband who was bathing in a river was caught by a crocodile. Karva rushed to his rescue and tied up the crocodile’s mouth with cotton yarn. She then prayed to Yama to take the crocodile to hell. When Yama refused, she threatened to curse him. Scared of a pious woman’s curse, Yama relented.
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Savitri and Satyavan.
Savitri’s husband was cursed to die within a year of his marriage. When that actually happened, Savitri begged and pleaded to Yama (God of death) but to no avail. Upon this she gave up food and water in a bid to fast unto death. Yama relented and granted Satyavan’s life again.
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Queen Veeravati and her fast
Queen Veeravati who was fasting on this day was having a hard time due to extreme weakness. Her brothers who couldn’t watch her suffer any longer, tricked her into believing that the moon was out by putting up a mirror on a pipal tree. But the moment she took a sip of water she got the news of her Kings death. Distraught, she prayed to Goddess Gauri/ Parvati who disclosed to her what had happened. However, the Goddess asked her to fast again and blessed her with her husband’s life.
