Karva Chauth or karwa Chauth is an important Hindu festival celebrated in different parts of India by married women to show their affection for their spouses. The auspicious day is commemorated with one day long fasting, elaborate rituals and eventually waiting for the moon to rise which they don’t eat the entire day and don’t drink the water too before worshiping the moon and offering Arghya as well. Karva Chauth in 2023 will occur on November 1st within the Chaturthi paksha of Kartik fortnight. This article contains everything regarding the date, history, significance, rituals, as well as moon-rise timings of Karva Chauth in India.
Karva Chauth showing date and Puja Muhurat in major cities.
According to Drik Panchang, Karva Chauth falls on Wednesday, November 1, with the puja scheduled to be between 5: 36 a.m. and 6:54 p.m. The Chaturthi Tithi for Karva Chauth commences on October 31 at 9:30 p.m. and finishes at 9:19 p.m. on November 1.
The moonrise, which marks the end of the long day fast, is the most awaited moment of Karva Chauth. The time of moonrise varies by city. The time varies from city to city. The puja muhurat is given below:
- New Delhi – 5:36 pm to 6:54 pm
- Pune – 6:02 pm to 7:17 pm
- Hyderabad – 5:45 pm to 7:00 pm
- Ahmedabad – 6:02 pm to 7:18 pm
- Noida – 5:36 pm to 6:53 pm
- Jaipur – 5:44 pm to 7:02 pm
- Chennai – 5:42 pm to 6:56 pm
- Kolkata – 4:59 pm to 6:15 pm
- Mumbai – 6:05 pm to 7:21 pm
- Gurgaon – 5:37 pm to 6:55 pm
- Bengaluru – 5:53 pm to 7:07 pm
- Chandigarh – 5:35 pm to 6:54 pm
Origin of Karwa Chauth Celebration:
Listed below are some of the popular Karwa Chauth stories which show the reason behind this celebration:
- Story of Queen Veeravati: It is said that her seven brothers tried to fool her into breaking her first Karva Chauth because they loved their sister and therefore, posed in a mirror pretending to be the moon or a lamp. Veeravati started to cry as soon as she had broken her fast when a goddess showed up and informed her of what her brothers had lied about. Veera Vathi had to finish the ritual and Yama who is the ruler and god of death had to let go of the soul of her husband who passed away.
- Story from Mahabharata: This day is linked in history with Arjuna who went to Nilgiri, leaving other Pandavas alone. During this time, they faced many difficulties and to relieve their burden, Draupadi looked for help from Lord Krishna, who instructed her to fast so that her husband would be safe. Pandavas had some obstacles, but she strictly obeyed his instructions, which allowed Pandavas to overcome them all.
- The Legend of Karwa: There was a woman named Karwa who loved her husband so much and the love gave her spiritual power. Once her husband went to bathe in the river and was attacked by a crocodile. Karwa tied a cotton yarn around the crocodile so that he could call upon Yamraj – the Lord of death. Yamraj denied her request to give life to her husband and kill the crocodile. As a result, Karwa warned that he would curse Lord Yama and demolish him. Since the devoted wife might curse him, Yama gave life to the man and sent the crocodile to hell.
- Tale of Satyavan and Savitri: There is a belief that on coming to demand the life of Satyavan, her wife, Savitiri went down on her knees before Yamaraj and begged him for the lives of her husband. However, Yamaraj declined and he saw that she had refused to eat and drink and had followed Yamaraj. Yamaraj granted Savitri a boon except for the life of her husband. Savitri was intelligent and she requested that Yamaraj give her children. She wouldn’t be unfaithful to her husband, as she was devoted. Therefore Yamaraj had to revive life into Satyavan’s husband.
Karva Chauth and its significance:
On this day, married women will dress up like a bride and apply Mehandi as a gesture of honor to their husbands. The fast begins at dawn and they will not eat food or drink water until they see the moon. They do Katha(Tales) based on the Karwa Chauth and then offer prayers at night. Then, women will come together and sit and narrate the story of Gauri Maa with a wise elderly woman. After the prayers, there is an anxious wait for the moonrise. Husbands offer water to their wives and something sweet to break their fast.
Puja Rituals/ Vidhi on Karva Chauth:
Families are involved in rituals and traditions associated with Karva Chauth. Some of the popular rituals are:
- The mother-in-law also offers a ritual called to her daughter-in-law. In the morning of the Karwa Chauth, women take the Sargi and they eat it before fasting.
- During Puja, women keep fast to offer prayers for their husbands, while they also hear tales of Karva Chauth.
- In the evening, the women pour water into a vessel or a pot, which is named Karva, for the moon and after that, they drink from the same Karwa.
- She stands opposite her husband while looking at him through a Chhalni (sieve).
Conclusion:
Here is the overview of Karwa Chauth 2023, in this article, we covered the significance, timings, rituals, and history of Karwa Chauth. This blog will give specific information for the auspicious occasion.
FAQs.
Q. What is the significance of the Karwa Chauth sieve?
Using the sieve, women began to observe the true moon and worship it in hopes of extending their husbands’ lives, health, safety, and happiness.
Q. What is the custom of Karwa Chauth?
This fast begins at sunrise and continues until they spot the moon in the evening. The fasting period is a test of devotion and love, and it is customary for the husband to break his wife’s fast by offering her the first bite of food after the moonrise.
Q. What is Karwa Chauth in Hindu scriptures?
Karva Chauth has been around for thousands of years in India. Lord Krishna reminds Draupadi in the Mahabharata of 4000 BC to perform the Karva Chauth vrath (fasting) rite for Arjuna before he goes to battle.
Q. What is the historical significance of Karwa Chauth?
Karva Chauth is related to several mythological stories. One of the most well-known is about Savitri and Satyavan, in which the former rescued her husband from the jaws of death by prayer and determination.
Q. What are the scientific benefits of Karwa Chauth?
Fasting allows the body to detox and renew. It provides a pause for the digestive system, which can promote digestion and overall well-being. Fasting can also aid in weight loss by lowering calorie intake and encouraging the utilization of stored body fat for energy.
