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Karva Chauth / Karaka Chaturthi

Karva Chauth is the only festival in the world that signifies the love and affection of a woman towards her husband. On this day, the wife keeps fast for the whole day to wish for a long life of their husband.
Karva Chauth

Karwa Chauth is celebrated all across the world by Hindu and Sikh women. it is a one-day festival that signifies the love and affection of a woman towards her husband. On this day, the wife keeps fast for the whole day for showing their devotion and wishes for a long life of their Husbands. As per the lunisolar calendar of Hindus, the Karwa Chauth festival is observed in the Kartik month (in October or November). In many states of India, fast on this day is also kept by unmarried women for getting the desired life-partner. Karwa Chauth 2020 will be observed by all women in India and abroad on 4th November which is falling on Thursday.

History of Karva Chauth

There are many contexts which shows the reason why thousands of women keep fast for their husband long life till today.

Many years ago, there was a beautiful queen named Verratti who was the only sister among her seven brothers. One day, she kept a fast for her husband's long life. She was feeling very hungry and was eagerly waiting for the sun to rise. Her brothers could not see their sister in this position, therefore they created an illusion of a moon with the help of mirrors and pipal tree leaves. Veeravati took that as a moon and broke the fast. Soon after, she received the news that her husband is seriously ill. She rushed to her husband's palace and on her way she met Lord Vishnu and Parvati. They informed her that her husband died because she broke her fast. She apologized and asked them to make her husband well. In return, Lord Vishnu asked her to keep Karva Chauth fast with strict rituals. After she completed all the rituals, her husband got absolutely.

The belief in keeping fast and doing puja by women for their Husband every year on the occasion of Karva Chauth goes back to pre-Mahabharata times. Draupadi was said to observe this fast. One day, Arjun went to Nilgiri for penance and the rest of the Pandava faced many problems in his absence. Draupadi was very upset and she remembered Lord Krishna and asked for help. Lord Krishna reminded her that on an earlier occasion when Goddess Parvati had sought Lord Shiva's guidance under similar circumstances, she had been advised to observe the fast of Karva Chauth. Draupadi followed the instructions and observed the fast with all its rituals. Consequently, the Pandavas were able to overcome their problems. On this day, fasting women listen to Karva Chauth legends with rapt attention.

According to other text, woman named Karva was deeply devoted to her husband. One day while bathing, her husband was caught by a crocodile. Karva to protect her husband bound with a cotton yard. She then went to Yamraj, the Lord of death, and requested him to send crocodile to hell. When Yamraj refused, she threatened to curse him. Afraid by the devotion of wife, Yamraj sent the crocodile to hell and blessed her husband with a long life.

 

Click here for Karva Chauth Traditions in India

 

Karva Chauth