Though most of us are unmarried in this forum yet I wish to share the significance of a festival which has become quite popular as it has been shown in our daily soaps too...
Karwa Chauth fasting is done during Krishna Paksha Chaturthi in the Hindu month of Kartik and according to Amanta calendar followed in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Southern India it is Ashwin month which is current during Karwa Chauth. However, it is just the name of the month which differs and in all states Karwa Chauth is observed on the same day.
Karwa Chauth coincides with Sankashti Chaturthi a fasting day observed for Lord Ganesha. The fasting of Karwa Chauth and its rituals are observed by married women for the long life of their husband. Married women worship Lord Shiva and His family including Lord Ganesha and break the fast only after sighting and making the offerings to the moon. The fasting of Karwa Chauth is strict and observed without taking any food or even a drop of water after sunrise till the sighting of the moon in the night.
Karwa Chauth day is also known as Karak Chaturthi . Karwa or Karak refers to the earthen pot through which water offering, known as Argha , is made to the moon. Karwa is very significant during Puja and it is also given as Dan to the Brahmin or any eligible woman.
Compare to South Indian states, Karwa Chauth is more popular in North Indian states. After four days of Karwa Chauth, Ahoi Ashtami Vrat is observed for the wellbeing of sons.
Karwa Chauth Puja Process
Karwa Chauth Puja ProcessThe fast of Karwa Chauth is kept 9 days before Diwali. It falls on the fourth day of the Kartik month by the Hindu calendar (fourth day of the waning moon or the dark fortnight).
The Ritual
Karwa Chauth is considered one of the most important fasts observed by the married Hindu women. On this day the women pray for the welfare and long life of their husbands. The festival is followed mainly in the northern parts of the country.
Married women eat food early in the morning, before sunrise. 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.
The Puja Process
The pooja preparations start a day in advance. Married women buy the shringar or the traditional adornments and the other pooja items like the karwa, matthi, heena etc.
Early in the morning they prepare food and have it before sunrise. The morning passes by in other festive activities like decorating hand and feet with heena, decorating the pooja thali and meeting friends and relatives.
In the late afternoon women gather at a common place like temple or a garden or someones' place who has arranged the pooja. An elderly lady or the pujarin narrates the legend of Karwa Chouth.
The essentials of this gathering and listening of the Karwa chauth story , a special mud pot, that is considered a symbol of lord Ganesha, a metal urn filled with water, flowers, idols of Ambika Gaur Mata, Goddess Parwati and some fruits, mathi and food grains. A part of this is offered to the deities and the storyteller.
Earlier an idol of Gaur Mata was made using earth and cowdung. Now just an idol of Goddess Parwati is kept. Every one lights an earthen lamp in their thalis while listening to the Karwa story. Sindoor, incense sticks and rice are also kept in the thali.
At this time the women wear heavy saris or chunries in red , pink or other bridal colors, and adorn themselves with all other symbols of a married women like, nose pin, tika, bindi, chonp, bangles, earrings etc.
Once the moon rises, the women see its reflection in a thali of water, or through a dupatta or a sieve. They offer water to the moon and seek blessings. They pray for the safety, prosperity and long life of their husbands. This marks the end of the day long fast.
History of Karva Chauth
Although Karva Chauth is now restricted to keeping fast for the husbands, but its origin is little different from what it is now. It is said that earlier since there were very less means of transportation, when a new bride used to get married, she was having no one with whom she can share her problem if she is facing some in her in laws house. So during that time the concept of god sister started. Bride used to make a strong friend in her laws house and she use to discuss any problem with her. When their relationships grow stronger, they were called as the god sisters and for that a ceremony was organized. But later as time changed the tradition of keeping fast for the husband started and that is how the origin of Karva Chauth came.
How People celebrate the Karva Chauth tradition
Earlier the Karva Chauth was all about women keeping fast for their husbands and breaking it after seeing the full moon. But as time passes, thing tends to change. Now what picture we see today for the Karva Chauth, is totally different from the earlier days. Now as most of the population still does the same practice of keeping fast, but quite good part of population apart from keeping fast does other thing also. In various restraints, there are special packages for husband and wife for this day. In several places, dance competitions and eat out are also carried put. But still the sole idea of keeping fast and breaking it only when seeing full moon is still intact.
Here is lovely scene of Viren and Nivedita in the CCBM celebrating Karwa Chauth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG1rQkG88ho
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=gG1rQkG88ho[/YOUTUBE]
comment:
p_commentcount