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The auspicious Hindu festival of Karwa Chauth, which is celebrated with great festive fervour by married women and couples across India, is almost here. Also known as Karak Chaturthi, Karwa Chauth is observed by married Hindu women on the Chaturthi of the Krishna Paksha of the month of Kartik according to the Hindu calendar. This year, Karwa Chauth 2023 will be celebrated on November 1, which is a Wednesday.
It is now very well known, thanks to more cultural awareness as well as its cinematic representations, that Karwa Chauth 2023 is a festival during which married women observe a difficult fast for an entire day for the long life and prosperity of their husbands. The fast, which begins at dawn and continues until the moon shows up in the night sky, is observed without any food and water, and is therefore quite difficult to perform. Here is everything you need to know about the Karwa Chauth 2023 festival.
Video Credit: YouTube/Chef Ranveer Brar
Date And Timings Of Karwa Chauth 2023
According to the Drik Panchang, Karwa Chauth 2023 will fall on November 1, 2023. The Karak Chaturthi tithi will officially start at 9.30PM on October 31, 2023 and end at 9.19PM on November 1. The fasting time is believed to last between 6.33AM to 8.15PM, while the evening puja time is supposed to start at 5.36PM and end at 6.54PM.
Mythology And The Significance Of Karwa Chauth 2023
Hindu mythology is full of stories of devout married women from across India who kept the Karwa Chauth fast and won the boon of longevity, safety and prosperity for their husbands from the gods. From Goddess Parvati to Queen Draupadi, women of all social and cultural status are believed to have observed this fast. Other stories also suggest that Savitri also kept the Karwa Chauth fast for the wellbeing of her husband, Satyavan.
Legend says that there was once a devout and powerful woman called Karva whose husband fell into a river and was caught by a crocodile. She asked Yama, the god of death, to give her her husband back, and the god, out of fear of being cursed by such a devout and “pativrata” woman, agreed. The couple were then blessed with married bliss too, and seeing this, other women also started the practice of being devout like Karva.
Rituals Associated With Karwa Chauth 2023
The rituals associated with Karwa Chauth are mainly those that are observed by married women and their mother-in-laws. Since the married woman is keeping the fast for the wellbeing of their sons, mother-in-laws ritually send a gift of foods and special items associated with being married, which is called Sargi. The Sargi not only includes symbols of matrimony like Sindoor, mehndi and more, but also contains nourishing and traditional foods like Mathri, dry fruits, sweets, etc.
At dawn on the day of Karwa Chauth, married women take a bath, apply mehndi, eat Sargi foods and plenty of water. They then begin a Nirjala fast for the entire day, avoiding food and water completely. Married women keeping this fast come together to worship Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya. Listening to the legends of Karwa Chauth and praising the devotion of devout married women is also a ritual followed by women. Once the moon rises in the evening, these women pray to the moon god and then break their fast with a drink of water from their husbands’ hands.
It must be noted that while Karwa Chauth is supposed to be observed by all devout Hindu married women, those who are unwell, pregnant or going through any medical treatment that requires proper nutrition and care should not keep the fast for their wellbeing. Make sure to consult a doctor before taking up the Karwa Chauth 2023 fast.
