Karwa Chauth is a occasion which has been inspiring Indian women for years and has been a emotional nucleus for many marriages. In present day, the concept and form of this festival has taken a great change.
When this ritual of celebrating Karwa Chauth started, the wife was dependent on the husband and this was one way of showing love and expressing gratitude. But today, in most cases, the wife is working and is no longer financially dependent on the husband. Stating the above, I would still like to believe in the emotion behind the fast and feel that though times have changed this festival has still kept the tradition of wife's undaunted love for her husband alive. In modern society and with high tech life style, we are losing small moments of happiness in relationships. This festival is one way to bring two loving hearts together and reminding each other that marriages are made in heaven but hearts beat on earth.
So all you busy husbands and wife, please find time to wish each other 'Happy Karwa Chauth' and celebrate the beautiful bond which God created. Make your partner feel wanted and get away from the myth that Karwa Chauth is only for women.
By: Priti Srivastava
It is heartening to know that Hindus have always believed in worshiping the Male and Female aspect of God together and that Sri Ram was a staunch devoted husband. Not only that, one says Seeta Ram and Radha Krishna and as one can see the female name gets precedence.
Karva Chauth Day falls on the 4th day of the Kartik month every year. On this day it is customary for the wife to fast the whole day. She does not drink water either. She paints her hands and feet with henna, dresses generally in red apparel and on her hair parting she smears vermilion powder. All the above is the 'Shringar' of a bride.
A lady called Veeravati broke her fast and her husband died. She preserved the body of her husband and he came back to life the next Karva Chauth. It is believed that a Pati-Vrat woman has the power to confront the God of Death, Yama. This Karva Chauth fast is undertaken by the wife, so that the husband enjoys a long and prosperous life.
The story of Karva is well known. Her husband was caught by a crocodile. Karva bound the crocodile with a cotton yarn. She then asked Yama to send the crocodile to hell. Yama refused. Karva threatened to curse Yama. Yama, afraid of being cursed by Pati-vrat (devoted) wife, sent the crocodile to hell. Karva and her husband enjoyed many years of wedded bliss. The fact that Yama was afraid of being cursed by a devoted wife showed the power a good faithful woman!
Maybe you have heard the story of Savitri. The latter followed Yama, who carried away her dead husband. Yama said that she could ask for any other boon except for the life of her husband. Savitri asked that she be blessed with children. Yama agreed. Being a Pati-Vrat wife, Savitri would never any other man, be the father of her children. Yama was left with no other choice but to restore Savitri's husband to life.
In the olden days, a woman was dependent on a man. Whether he was her father, brother, husband or Guru. Without a man she was considered incomplete. Today that may not be the case. But it is still refreshing to see a loving wife or a loving husband.
By: Seema
On Karva Chauth day, which is observed in North India, tens of millions of women keep a fast, taking neither food nor water, for the well being and long life of their husbands. Only after seeing the moon do the women break their day-long fast in the evening/night. Normally women go out of their houses and on their roof tops to see if the moon is up yet. Even the 'I, Me, Myself' generation now celebrates the 'My Family' spirit, with Karva Chauth having become a cool fad among teenagers. Ultra-hip 17-year-olds observes a Karva Chauth fast, so what if traditionally it's a north Indian custom where married women keep off food and water for the long lives of their husbands. For some of these youngsters it's a trend, for others it's pure devotion, and there are still others for whom it's just fun giving company to her mother who observes the fast.
By: Abhinav
In India and Nepal, Hindu married women observe a fast on Krishna Chaturthi of Kartik (October-November) for the welfare of the husband, his health and long life. This traditional fast bestows happiness and well being of the children too. In some places, Shiv and Parvati are worshiped on this day. The only aim of this fast is to save the husband from an untimely death and have a long married life.
After ablution and other daily necessities, and after taking bath in the early morning, before sunrise, women should undertake a vow for welfare of the husband, sons and grandsons. Shiv, Parvati, Kartikeya, Ganesh and the moon (Chandrama) are worshiped. After worship, rice, black gram pulse auspicious articles like Comb, mirror, vermilion, bangles, ribbon, are put on a copper plate or on an earthen plate, along with fruits and kept ready till the fast is broken. The fast is broken only after seeing the moon.
The fast is a rigorous one as the wife does not even drink water on this day. In the evening, all married women, dressed in gorgeous wedding garments and jewelery, undertake worship. As the moon rises, they bow down at the feet of their husbands and give the decorated plate with fruit and other material to their mother in law. This festival deepens the relation between the wife, the husband and the mother in law.
By: Sheetal
Here is the puja song sung by punjabi women, while they exchange thalis seven times. They place 'Bayen' in the thali....
Veero Kudiye Karwada,
Sarv Suhagan Karwada,
Aye Katti Naya Teri Naa,
Kumbh Chrakhra Feri Naa,
Aar Pair payeen Naa,
Ruthda maniyen Naa,
Suthra Jagayeen Naa,
Ve Veero Kuriye Karwara,
Ve Sarv Suhagan Karwara....... (6)
This Stanza is sung 6 times i.e. It keeps on repeating till the time Thalis have been exchanged and all women have their own thalis... it goes on six times, 6 feras / circles. The seventh fera or circle or exchanging goes like this...
Veero Kudiye Karwada,
Sarv Suhagan Karwada,
Aye Katti Naya Teri Nee,
Kumbh Chrakhra Feri Bhee,
Aar Pair payeen Bhee,
Ruthda maniyen Bhee,
Suthra Jagayeen Bhee,
Ve Veero Kuriye Karwara,
Ve Sarv Suhagan Karwara.......
Copyright © 2004- www.karwachauth.com. All Rights Reserved