Karwa Chauth करवा चौथ
About Karwa Chauth
Karwa Chauth is a day-long fast observed by married Hindu women for the longevity and well-being of their husbands. Falling on Kartik Krishna Chaturthi, the fast begins before sunrise and ends after sighting the moon through a sieve in the evening. Women dress in bridal finery — red or pink attire, mehndi (henna), and traditional jewelry — and gather in groups to listen to the Karwa Chauth Katha. The ritual of moon sighting is deeply romantic: the wife first looks at the moon through a decorated sieve, then at her husband's face, after which the husband offers her water and the first morsel of food to break her fast. The festival has gained popular cultural status through Bollywood films, making it one of the most recognized Indian festivals worldwide.
करवा चौथ विवाहित हिंदू महिलाओं द्वारा अपने पतियों की दीर्घायु और कल्याण के लिए रखा जाने वाला दिनभर का व्रत है। कार्तिक कृष्ण चतुर्थी को पड़ने वाला यह व्रत सूर्योदय से पहले शुरू होता है और शाम को छलनी से चाँद देखने के बाद समाप्त होता है। महिलाएँ दुल्हन की तरह सजती हैं — लाल या गुलाबी पोशाक, मेहंदी और पारंपरिक गहने — और करवा चौथ की कथा सुनने के लिए समूह में एकत्र होती हैं। चंद्र दर्शन का अनुष्ठान अत्यंत रोमांटिक है: पत्नी पहले सजी हुई छलनी से चाँद को देखती है, फिर अपने पति के चेहरे को, इसके बाद पति उसे पानी और व्रत तोड़ने के लिए पहला निवाला देता है।
Spiritual Significance
Karwa Chauth celebrates the deep bond of marriage and a wife's devotion to her husband's well-being. The festival has evolved to embrace mutual respect, with many modern couples observing the fast together. It symbolizes the strength of marital commitment and the power of love and prayer.
करवा चौथ विवाह के गहरे बंधन और पत्नी की अपने पति के कल्याण के प्रति भक्ति का उत्सव है। यह त्योहार पारस्परिक सम्मान को अपनाने के लिए विकसित हुआ है, कई आधुनिक जोड़े मिलकर व्रत रखते हैं। यह वैवाहिक प्रतिबद्धता की शक्ति और प्रेम तथा प्रार्थना की ताकत का प्रतीक है।
Key Rituals & Practices
- Begin the fast before sunrise after eating sargi (pre-dawn meal)
- Dress in bridal attire with mehndi, bangles, and sindoor
- Gather with other women to listen to the Karwa Chauth Katha
- Sight the moon through a decorated sieve (chalni) in the evening
- Look at husband's face through the sieve, then break the fast
Frequently Asked Questions
Can unmarried women observe Karwa Chauth?
Traditionally, Karwa Chauth is observed by married women. However, in modern practice, engaged women and those in committed relationships also observe the fast for their partner's well-being. Some unmarried women fast for their fiancé or for seeking a good life partner. There is no strict religious prohibition against unmarried women observing the fast — the intention and devotion are what matter most.
What is sargi in Karwa Chauth?
Sargi is the pre-dawn meal eaten by the fasting woman before sunrise on Karwa Chauth. It is traditionally prepared and sent by the mother-in-law and includes nutritious foods that sustain energy throughout the day: mathri (savory crackers), dry fruits, coconut, fresh fruits, feni (vermicelli), and sweets. The sargi also includes sindoor, bangles, and other items of marital significance. Eating sargi with the blessings of the mother-in-law marks the beginning of the fast.
Why do women look at the moon through a sieve?
Looking at the moon through a sieve (chalni) on Karwa Chauth has both symbolic and mythological significance. The sieve represents a filter that removes impurities — just as the wife's prayers filter away obstacles to her husband's life. Some legends say that Queen Veervati mistakenly broke her fast by seeing a fire behind a sieve, thinking it was the moon. To avoid such mistakes, the tradition of using a sieve to sight the actual moon was established. The husband's face seen through the sieve symbolizes the intertwining of their lives through the lunar cycle.
Festival Details
- Category
- Bonds & Relationships
- Regions
- North India, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh
- Calendar Basis
- Hindu Lunar (Panchang)
- Hindu Month
- Kartik — Krishna Paksha, Chaturthi
- Importance
- major