Here's why women observe Karva Chauth.
The festival of Karva Chauth comes once a year and has a very rigorous fast observed by ladies from sunrise till sunset for the long life, happiness and safety of their husbands. Karva Chauth is a very prominent festival of North India and this tradition of keeping fast is seen more in women from this region. For those of you who don't know, Karva Chauth has many ancient stories associated with it.
In the Mahabharata, Arjun once went to the Nilgiris for penance. In the meanwhile, Pandavas faced a lot of trouble. Seeing their adversity, Draupadi pleaded to Lord Krishna for his help and he suggested that she observe this fast. She followed the fast with all rituals and the result was Pandavas were freed of their problems.
The day of Karva Chauth starts with daughter-in-law getting a sargi from her mother-in-law. A sargi is basically a collection of variety of food which the daughter-in-law must have before the sunrise. It contains sweets and fruits along with parathas to be consumed before the sunrise. After sunrise, she is not supposed to have even a drop a water until she sees moon in the night. This day holds a very special importance in a women's life since it is her way of showing love and respect to her husband. The women get decked up in their 'laal joda' (a red colour garment), apply mehendi and dress up elaborately like a bride.
In the evening,while breaking the fast, all the women sit in circle and pass around their 'baya'. The 'baya' is a plate full of sweets with a saree given from the woman's mother to her mother-in-law. The katha of the Karva Chauth is read aloud and after the moon is sighted, the woman prays for her husband's well-being. The first sip of water and first bite of the food is offered to her by her husband. After the fast is broken, husbands are expected to gift their wives a certain thing as a gesture of goodwill and as appreciation for the pains they took.
In the north India where this day is no less than Diwali, you have markets flooded with all items related to Karva Chauth and its preparations. Women pamper themselves a day prior to this big day and make sure they look their best on their special day. One of the major reasons, why this Karva Chauth became such an important and famous amongst us, is Bollywood. Many Bollywood movies have shown the Karva Chauth sequence thanks to the Johars, Chopras, Bhansalis and Barjatyas.
Some useful tips for ladies who couldn't keep fast this year but plan to next year-
- Avoid eating fried food like samosa in the morning before you start your fasting. This might make you nauseous.
- Eat lots of fruits like sweet limes, oranges, apricots, dates and figs which will keep you hydrated
- Eat yoghurt. It helps a lot.
- Avoid having coffee or tea. You might need your gelusil after this.
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