Hindu women in North India celebrate Karva Chauth on a single day.Women fast from sunrise to moon to protect and encourage their husbands' longevity and safety.Read on to learn more about the holiday.
Step 1: The festival is held in a number of states.
Karva Chauth is unique to the northern region.
Step 2: Prepare for the festivities a few days in advance.
You might want to buy make-up and cosmetics, adornments, jewelry, and Karva lamps and plates if you're participating in the festival.Local shops and bazaars decorate their stores with festive Karva Chauth products so you won't have a hard time finding fun options.
Step 3: On the day of Karva Chauth, wake up before sunrise.
Before dawn, you should have something to eat and drink with your fellow celebrants.On the night before the celebration, you'll most likely eat soot feni, a traditional Garbanzo bean and milk dish, with milk in sugar.The next day, the mixture helps to not drink water.The sargi is part of the pre sunrise meal in Punjab.The sargi is a collection of sumptuous food items sent to your mother-in-law by you.The pre-dawn meal will be prepared by your mother-in-law if you live in the same house.
Step 4: The fast begins at dawn.
You will not eat or drink throughout the day.Good news: you won't have to do household chores.
Step 5: During Karva Chauth, engage in community activities.
In the morning, you'll spend time with the other women in your community, and paint each other's hands and feet.You'll get together at someone's house before the sun goes down to perform the rituals associated with the puja.While passing bayas to one another, you'll pray for your husbands' well-being and longevity.People show reverence to a God, a spirit, or any other aspect connected to the Divine during the puja.Almonds, jewelry, and other items are included in the baya.
Step 6: You should get your husband involved.
Even though the festival is geared towards women, husbands still participate.They give their wives gifts and treats in exchange for fast and prayers.A reminder of the eternal bond between husband and wife can be found in this holiday.
Step 7: Women who got married left their village or town to live with their husband.
They would be cut off from their hometown if they shared their in-laws' home.Newly wed women look for a woman to befriend in their new environment.This bond would lead to a well-known festival.In the newly wed's life, the new friend would become a god-friend.The women would pray for the well-being of their husbands.The newly-wed and her god-sister are referred to as Karva Chauth.They were treated like family members.A narrative background to the celebration can be found in a story about a wife who saved her husband's life.
Step 8: The festival began in the northern and north Western parts of India.
No one knows why this celebration was only observed in northern India in the month of October.The land was usually dry by October after the monsoon season.Military campaigns and long-distance travel usually happen in October and November.As they resumed their travels, women began to fast to pray for their husband's longevity and safety.
Step 9: The wheat sowing season coincides with the festival.
The pots used to store wheat were called karvas.Chauth means 'forth'.The festival may have started as a plea for good harvest.
Step 10: Karva Chauth occurs on the fourth day of the waning moon in October.
The Hindu calendar states that the 'Krishna paksha' is celebrated in the month of Kartik.It's always sometime in October, but there isn't a specific date.