Karwa Chauth: A Special Day for Married Women
Karwa Chauth is a significant Hindu festival celebrated by married women in India and around the world. In 2024, Karwa Chauth will be observed on Sunday, October 20, and it is also known as Karak Chaturthi. The festival is named after the ‘Karwa’ or ‘Karak’, which is an earthen pot used in rituals to offer water, known as Argha, to the moon.
On this day, married women fast from sunrise to moonrise, praying for the long life and well-being of their husbands. The earthen pot used during the rituals holds special importance, symbolizing prosperity and well-being in the family.
Worship and Rituals
During Karwa Chauth, women worship Goddess Parvati, known as Chauth Mata, along with Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kartikeya. They perform the rituals together, listen to the Vrat Katha, and offer prayers for the long life of their husbands. After seeing the moon, women break their fast by offering water (Argha) to the moon.
Timings for Karwa Chauth 2024
- Date: Sunday, October 20, 2024
- Moonrise Time: Around 7:54 PM (may vary by location)
- Puja Muhurat: 6:23 PM to 7:45 PM (1 hour 21 minutes)
- Fasting Time: 7:56 AM to 7:39 PM (11 hours 43 minutes)
- Chaturthi Tithi: Begins at 3:16 AM on October 20 and ends at 12:46 AM on October 21
Karwa Chauth 2024: The Significance of Moonrise and Breaking the Fast
On Sunday, 20th October 2024, women across India will celebrate Karwa Chauth, a deeply significant festival marked by prayers, rituals, and a day-long fast. As per tradition, married women fast from sunrise to moonrise, seeking blessings for the well-being, longevity, and prosperity of their husbands. The fast is broken only after sighting and worshiping the moon, a ritual that holds great spiritual and cultural significance.
The Moonrise Ritual
After the Karwa Chauth Puja, which takes place during the designated evening hours, women eagerly await the rising of the moon. It is believed that the moon, considered a manifestation of Lord Chandra, holds special powers on this night, symbolizing peace, prosperity, and well-being.
When the moon finally rises, women traditionally:
- Offer prayers to Lord Chandra: Using a sieve, they look at the moon and their husbands, symbolizing protection and connection.
- Make offerings: Water, sweets, and flowers are offer to the moon in a thali (plate) as a gesture of devotion.
- Break the fast: After the prayers, the fast is conclude by drinking water and having the first morsel of food from their husband’s hand, signifying mutual love and blessings.
Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha
Once upon a time, in the city of Indraprasthapur, there lived a Brahmin named Vedsharma. He was happily married to Leelavati, and they had seven sons and one daughter named Veeravati. Being the only sister of seven brothers, Veeravati was loved and pampered by her family.
When Veeravati grew up, she was married to a Brahmin boy. After her marriage, she returned to her parents’ home and decided to observe the Karwa Chauth fast for her husband’s long life. She joined her sisters-in-law for the fast, but Veeravati couldn’t bear the hunger and eventually fainted from weakness.
Seeing their beloved sister in such a weak state, her brothers became worried. They knew that she would not eat until she saw the moon, as breaking the fast before that was against the tradition. To help her, the brothers decided to trick Veeravati. One of the brothers climbed a tall tree with a lamp and a sieve, pretending that the moon had risen.
When Veeravati regained consciousness, her brothers took her to the roof and pointed to the lamp behind the sieve, telling her it was the moon. Believing them, Veeravati broke her fast and ate food. However, as soon as she took her first bite, she found a hair in her food, in the second bite she sneezed, and in the third bite, she received a message calling her to her in-laws’ house.
When Veeravati arrived at her husband’s home, she found him lying dead. Heartbroken, she cried and blamed herself for making a mistake while observing the Karwa Chauth fast.
Goddess Indrani suggest for Karwa rituals
She mourned deeply, and hearing her cries, Goddess Indrani, the wife of Lord Indra, appeared to console her.
Veeravati begged Goddess Indrani to bring her husband back to life. Indrani explained that Veeravati had broken her fast without offering Argha (an offering) to the moon, which caused her husband’s untimely death. However, the goddess advised her to observe the Karwa Chauth fast properly each month for a year. Indrani assured her that if she did so with full devotion, her husband would return to life.
Following the goddess’s advice, Veeravati observed the fast every month with complete faith and dedication. In the end, her prayers were answered, and her husband was brought back to life.
The Karwa Chauth fast is dedicated to Goddess Parvati, who is known for her eternal marital bliss. Women worship Goddess Parvati, along with Lord Shiva, Lord Kartikeya, and Lord Ganesha, praying for the long life and well-being of their husbands
The Moonrise Ritual
After the Karwa Chauth Puja, which takes place during the designated evening hours, women eagerly await the rising of the moon. It is believe that the moon, considered a manifestation of Lord Chandra, holds special powers on this night, symbolizing peace, prosperity, and well-being.
How Moonrise Time Varies by City
Moonrise times can vary significantly based on geographical location. Here’s a guide to moonrise timings in major Indian cities for Karwa Chauth 2024:
| City | Moonrise Time |
|---|---|
| Delhi | 7:53 PM |
| Noida | 7:52 PM |
| Mumbai | 8:36 PM |
| Kolkata | 7:22 PM |
| Chandigarh | 7:48 PM |
| Punjab | 7:48 PM |
| Jammu | 7:52 PM |
| Ludhiana | 7:52 PM |
| Dehradun | 7:24 PM |
| Shimla | 7:47 PM |
| Patna | 7:29 PM |
| Lucknow | 7:42 PM |
| Kanpur | 7:47 PM |
| Prayagraj | 7:42 PM |
| Indore | 8:15 PM |
| Bhopal | 8:07 PM |
| Ahmedabad | 8:27 PM |
| Chennai | 8:18 PM |
| Bengaluru | 8:30 PM |
| Jaipur | 8:05 PM |
| Raipur | 7:43 PM |
A Sacred Tradition
Karwa Chauth remains a cherished festival, celebrated with enthusiasm and devotion. The ritual of waiting for the moon symbolizes patience, endurance, and the deep connection shared between spouses. As the moon rises and prayers are offer, the festival reaches its climax, filling the night with joy, blessings, and gratitude.
