Karwa Chauth is a traditional Hindu festival of married women, and is celebrated in India and some parts of Pakistan. Married women fast one whole day without food or water for the long life of their husbands. The ritual signifies extreme love and devotion to the husband, as evidenced by the wife's willingness to suffer for his well being. They are not supposed to eat or even drink water during the day. In the evening the ladies listen to the Karwa Chauth Katha (the legend). The fast is over after the moonrise.
Karwa Chauth Celebration
Karva Chauth is celebrated on the chaturthi tithi after the full Moon in the month of kartik as per the Hindu calendar. Karwa means clay pot and chauth means fourth night after the full moon. It has great social and cultural significance and is mostly practiced in northern India. Married women start their fast at night just after the appearance of the moon, within sight of their husbands. They then wait until the next night's moon to begin the fast breaking ceremonies, without consuming any food or drink.
In the evening women dress in their best clothing, and adorn themselves with jewellery and henna. On sighting the moon, they look and offer prayers and worship to it, and then receive their first bite of food and water from their husbands. Thereafter, women consume their special meal prepared for the occasion. Worshipping the moon involves filling up the karwa with specially prepared food and jewellery and offering it to the god. Karwas are also exchanged with other women after that. Further practices involve telling and listening to stories regarding origin of Karwa Chauth.
Karwa Chauth Date 2014
Karwa Chauth is one of the sacred festivals being celebrated in all across the India as per the Kartik and Amanta calendar. Every year the Karwa Chauth is celebrated before the nine days from Diwali on the kartik ki chouth that is the fourth day of the waning moon. As per the Karwa Chauth date 2014 the festival is held on 11 October 2014.
This festival is also known by Karak Chaturthi which depict the sacred process of offering water to the moon through the earthen pot where the whole process is called by Argha. The spiritual hymn is usually followed during the whole process where at the end of worship, money, fruits or other substances offer to the Brahmins or to the elder member of the family.
It is the day dedicated to the husband for his long life where every wife on this day follows the fast for the complete day that ends on seeing the moon while doing karwa chauth puja in the presence of his husband. This worship is to Lord Shiva and their family including Lord Ganesha for the peace and happiness in the family. It is strict for every married wife to have fasting during the same day of karwa chauth in order to have best married life. Where after the sunset on seeing the moon they can have food while breaking their fast. This date of karwa chauth is not only auspicious but also proves to be sacred for those who believe in the blessings kartik ki chauth.