~ 🄾🄲🅃🄾🄱🄴🅁 24, 2021 ~

"Karwa Chauth- a normal day with lots of significance,
The deep color of mehendi in hand makes the love enhance
The tunes of heart are signified by the bangles in hands,
The vermillion in head is the epitome of commitments,
The mangalsutra in neck is the thread of trust between companions,
The bindi on forehead indicates the relation's pure essence,
The smile on the face indicates your jouissance,
The water in Karwa is the time, patience, love, sacrifice...
that it takes to give the relation more strength,
and In all the moon witnesses your relevance."

Do you all know which month is going on, according to Hindu calendar? It's the month of 'Karthika'/'Kartik', the 7th month of the Hindu calendar, generally overlapping October and November. Kartik maasam is predominantly famous as Diwali comes in this month. But, the fourth day after Purnima in Kartik month is called KARWA CHAUTH- a festival about which we all have heard, seen in television, read about in newspapers and have even seen our Samaina celebrating it.

Today, as we all at FamiliaDeYUDKBH gather here to celebrate this festival with you all, we have come along with some known and unknown stories about it. Some interesting facts about Karwa Chauth to make this festival a little more informative for you all. ✨

When we listen to the word karwa chauth, things that come in our mind are fasting, applying hena, getting ready, pooja thaals and embellishing oneself. No doubt that these all are true but there is much more about it which most of us don't know.

Karwa chauth not only celebrates the relationship between married couples but also other relations. Now you all must be thinking how. Hence, in this chapter, we are going to cover all about Karwa Chauth, as much as we could.

Marriage is a life-long journey which thrives on love, commitment, trust, communication, patience, and companionship. Karwa Chauth celebrates these human emotions existing between married couples. Karwa Chauth is a day long fast without even having a sip of water (Nirjala Vrat), observed by married women for the welfare and longevity of their husbands. The festival is also observed by unmarried women who pray in the hope of securing a desired partner. There are various stories which describe the starting and significance of this festival. It is also believed that in old times, communication was also a big obstacle. So to ease this problem, women started celebrating Karwa Chauth in a grand way where married women of the whole village and some nearby villages used to congregate in one place and spend the day in joy and laughter. They befriended each other and called each other God-friends or God-sisters. One can say that this festival started as a means of enjoyment and to forget the fact that they are alone at their in-laws place. They celebrated the union among themselves on this day and gave each other bangles, lipsticks, sindoor, etc. to remind each other that there is always a friend somewhere for them.

"Tyohaar ek, rang anek"
You all must have listened to it. Likewise, Karwa chauth is also celebrated in different ways. Not all the rituals are different but still some rituals give a different taste in their own aspects.

In the old times, Karwa Chauth was generally celebrated in the North India, but now it is a festival which is observed by most of the Hindus. During Karva Chauth, the married women in Punjab wake up before sunrise and eat their food and drink. Women include "sargi" as a necessary item in their pre-dawn meal. This traditional item called "sargi" is usually given by the mother-in-law to her daughter-in-law and is also prepared by her if the daughter-in-law lives with her.

Accompanying "sargi" is another essential item called "fenia" which is basically a kind of vermicelli, popular in the areas in and around North India and Pakistan. In areas such as Uttar Pradesh, the women primarily consume soot feni with milk and sugar. This is considered beneficial as it helps the celebrants stay hydrated during the entire fasting period.

In traditional practices, the women who are fasting do not perform any household tasks during Karwa Chauth. The women adorn themselves with jewellery and make up, they apply "mehendi" or henna and meet their friends and relatives. The celebrants also buy new clothes such as sarees and lehengas. In some states the fasting women prefer their traditional attire during Karwa Chauth. In certain parts of India among women, a tradition of exchanging painted clay pots filled with ribbons, bangles, cosmetics, scarves and home-made sweets or candies is practised.

In rural areas, since Karva Chauth immediately follows their crop harvest festival, this day is considered a favourable occasion to exchange gifts and pleasantries. The maternal parents also send gifts to their married daughters and their children during Karva Chauth.

A "women only" celebration is held in the evening of the Karwa Chauth. The women sit in a circle with their puja thali. The puja thali in the hands of women participants contain "Baya", which is money, sweets and a small earthen pitcher (karwa). Sacred song goes on for six "feras" (circles) and is performed until the plate has been passed onto each hand and everyone has their own "thali" with them eventually. However, there is a different song for the seventh circle and in this the thalis are rotated anti-clockwise.

The first song for the first six feras is as follows:
"Veero Kudiye Karvara, Sarv Suhagan Karvara, Aye Katti teri naa, Kumbh chakra feri naa, Aar pair payeen naa, Ruthda maniyen naa, Suthra jagayeen naa, Vee veera Kuriye Karvara, Ve Sari Suhagan Karvara."

These lines generally infer to the practices deemed taboo for a woman observing fast during Karva Chauth, which include activities such as weaving cloth, pleading and or attempting to please others and awakening any person who is sleeping.

For the seventh circle the song changes to the following:
"Veero Kudiya Karvara, Sarv Suhagan Karvara, Aye Katti naya teri neee, Kumbh Chrakhra feri bhee, Suthra jagayen bhee, Ve veero kuriye Karvara, Ve Sarv Suhagan Karvara."

The above stanzas generally imply the lifting of all restrictions imposed during the day as the fast comes to an end.

In places such as Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, the women exchange Karwas among themselves. In other places like Rajasthan, "Dhapi ki Ni Dhapi?"(are you satisfied?) a ritualistic question is asked before exchanging water seven times to which the subject replies, "Jal se Dhapi, Suhag se na Dhapi." which implies that she is satisfied with water but she is not satiated from the love of her husband.

Another ritual followed by others in Uttar Pradesh is the worshipping of mother earth which is "Gaur Mata" in their local lingo. In this type of ritual the women take a little bit of soil, sprinkle it with water and then apply kumkum on it. After this they worship it as an idol manifestation of mother earth. In places such as Rajasthan, the idol manifestation of "Gaur Mata" was made using earth and cow dung but the recent trend of worshipping mother earth has shifted to the idol worship of Parvati.

Stories of Karva Chauth are passed on by the elder women to the younger ones during this occasion. Each woman has to light a "diya" (lamp) during the Karva Chauth story. In Uttar Pradesh usually a priest or the elder indulges in the narration of the story of "Beejabeti" or "Veervati". After the story sessions, the women get involved in making mud idols of Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha. These idols are then decorated with colourful clothing and accessories after which the exchanging of "Karwa" resumes.

While they exchange the "Karwa" seven times, the following song has to be sung:
"Sada suhagan karve lo, pati ki pyari karve lo, saat bhaiyon ki behen karve lo, vart karni karve lo, saas ki pyaari ka karve lo"

The lines roughly translate to the offering of "Karva" to the woman who would never lose her husband, to the doting husband's wife, to the sister of seven brothers, the women fasting on Karva Chauth and to the mother-in-law's beloved daughter-in-law.

"Arka'' or water is offered by the wife to the Moon God known as "Chandra" and this lunar deity is believed to bestow his blessings unto the women. The women while offering water pray for the well being and long life of their husbands. At this stage, the woman is believed to have gained immense spiritual strength through her fasting. So much so that she is believed to be stronger than the God of Death, "Yama".

The women of Rajasthan, during this time chant the following lines;
"Like the gold necklace and the pearl bracelet, just like the moon, may my suhag (husband) always shine brightly."

In the evening, the women see the moon, while carrying a plate decorated with lit earthen lamps and a container of water. They look at the moon through either a dupatta, or in the reflection of the water in a bowl, or a sieve. The diya is thrown backward as offerings. Water & Mathri is offered to the moon, and blessings are requested.

The time of this festival coincides with the initiation of the Rabi cropping season which is the wheat sowing season in these aforementioned areas. The women of the families fill the earthen pot or Karwa with wheat grains and offer to the God praying for a great Rabi season. Though the women are allowed to break their fast after they see the moon, it is preferred if they can also see the faces of their husbands before they eat or drink. So, Once the ceremony is over the husband has to take the water from the thali (plate) and has to give it to his wife. This is the first sip of water the woman has taken the entire day, which effectively breaks her fast too. Now the wife can eat a complete meal.

Karwa Chauth is called Atla Tadde in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. There it is kept by both married and unmarried women. In the early morning before the sunrise, they have suddi (rice cooked day before night) with perugu (curd) and Gongura chutney. They sing the song Atla Tadde on streets. The ceremony includes 11 ladies who already took this vayanam and if menatta (aunt of your mother's side) took this vayanam the rituals continues. To all these 11 ladies you give each 11 atlu with deep you offer each lady the vayanam by holding with your sarees pallu. After looking at the moon, they break the fast by having tiny atlu (dosa).

So, what do you people think about these rituals? Which ritual did you find to be the most interesting?

We all have seen some of these being performed in bollywood movies. You all know there are many songs made on Karwa Chauth, out of which 'Ghar Aaja Pardesi', 'Chand Chhupa Baadal Mein', 'Bole Chudiya' are the most famous ones.

There are many mythological stories that tell us about the significance of Karwa Chauth:

1. Tale of the Queen Veeravati:
(This story is generally recited by most of ladies)

This beautiful girl was the only sister of her seven brothers. Being the only sister and the youngest, she was loved and cherished by all of them. Soon it was time for this sister to get married, and go away to her husband's home. With a heavy heart, the brothers bid farewell to the sister. A year passed, and on the day of Karwa Chauth, as per tradition, the girl returned to her mother's house. Her brothers were overjoyed at having her back with them. However, when they saw their beloved sister suffering with hunger and thirst undergoing the strict fast for Karwa Chauth, they were anguished. They begged her to eat one meal with them, but she reused saying she would eat when the moon came out.

They put their heads together and came up with a plan. One of the brothers climbed up to the highest tree in their courtyard and held up a sieve with a flame behind it. The other brothers took their sister out to show her the so-called moon. The sister believed them and broke her fast with some water and sweetmeats.

The moment she sat down to eat, news arrived that her husband was dead. Heartbroken, she prayed to the Goddess, who appeared in front of her and told her about the trickery. She then told her to return to her husband's house and to wait with her husband's body for a whole year. When the next Karva Chauth would arrive, she would have to observe the fast with complete devotion which would bring her husband back to life. Veeravati just did as the Goddess instructed and was reunited with her husband.

2. The Tale of Mahabharata:

This Karwa Chauth story dates back to the legendary tale of Mahabharata. Draupadi is believed to have observed this fast as well. When Arjuna went to the Nilgiris for penance, the rest of the Pandavas were facing many problems. Draupadi remembered Lord Krishna and asked for help. Lord Krishna narrated the story of Goddess Paravati, wherein she kept the Karwa Chauth fast in a similar situation. On Krishna's advice, Draupadi observed the fast religiously, and consequently, Pandavas were able to overcome their problems.

3. The Karwa Story:

There was a woman named Karwa. She was deeply devoted to her husband. Her love and dedication to her husband gave her spiritual powers. One day while bathing in the river, his husband was caught by a crocodile. To save his husband, Karwa tied the crocodile with cotton yarn and asked Yama to send him to hell. When Yama refused, Karwa threatened to destroy him. Yama, terrified of her curse, agreed to send the crocodile to hell and blessed his husband with a long life. After that, Karwa and her husband spent many years of wedded bliss together. To this day, Karwa Chauth is memorialized with belief and honesty.

The story of Satyavan and Savitri, Chatakminar (Ganesha) and His Kheer (Rice Pudding) is also recited by some.

However, there is no significant evidence of the legitimacy of these stories. We all know that life has to end. But still Karwa Chauth is the belief, it is the hope that your loved one will always be there for you.

Hope you all liked this session of some known and unknown information about Karwa Chauth. Sometimes it's not necessary to only get acknowledgment about the things that will help us in exams, sometimes it is good to know about the things that connect us with our culture.

Mummy ko batao Karwa Chauth ke baare mein, Mummy bhi kahengi "Haaye mera baccha kitna sanskari ho gya". (Bad Joke 😂😂)

ON THIS BLESSED NIGHT, MAY THE JINGLING OF CHURIS, FILL YOUR LIFE WITH GOOD LUCK, THE TWINKLING OF PAYAL, ANNOUNCE YOUR LOVE FOR HUM. HAPPY KARWA CHAUTH!!

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