The fourth day after the full moon in the month of Karthik according to the Hindu lunar calendar marks a very auspicious day for Indian women – especially married or those reaching nuptial age. This day is celebrated as ‘Karva Chauth’ in many parts of India like Rajasthan, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. The festival takes on different forms in different regions with Chhath being observed in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and western Bihar, Teej celebrated in Sindh and Atla Tadde commemorated in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
This age old tradition of a wife fasting from sunrise to moon rise for the longevity of her husband, or the fiancé and desired spouse in case of an unmarried one, is even mentioned in the epic poem, Mahabharata. The festival dates back to the time when Savitri begged the god of death, Lord Yama for her husband, Satyavanth’s soul. Another legend is that of Princess Veeravati. It is said that on her first Karva Chauth, Princess Veeravati decides to visit her parental home. But the strenuous activity of fasting all the day leaves her weak and she faints. Her seven brothers, unable to see her condition, wake up and make her eat by tricking her to think that the moon has risen. But just as she breaks her fast, she gets to know that her husband, the king, is dead. Distressed she rushes back to her husband. Enroute she meets the goddess Parvati who preaches her on the penance that is Karva Chauth and if she observes it solemnly she will get her husband back. And so Veeravati, fasts with discipline till the whole of Karva Chauth, and is joyfully met by her alive and healthy husband.
Another reason that this festival is celebrated is to symbolise the beginning of the rabi crop cycle or the wheat sowing time for farmers. Hence they pray for a good harvest season and this may also be the reason why this festival is mostly celebrated by the Northern states. Karva Chauth in itself means karva (pot) and chauth (fourth.) The pot also signifies Sargi which the mother in law gives to her daughter in law on this day.
Karva Chauth also finds women decking up in the best of their sarees and painting their hands with henna (mehendi.) They then prepare the puja thali and wait for the moon to rise when they can finally break the fast. Once the moon rises, they see it through the veil of a sieve and then through the same veil look at their husbands. Finally, the first gulp of water and the first bite of food is given by their significant others. Thus the fast is broken with many many prayers for a long lasting and healthy life for their husbands.
Various legends and myth may encircle this festival but at the end of the day what matters is that it is a beautiful day that brings a wife and her husband closer.
