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Karwa Chauth, the Hindu festival is one of the most awaited celebrations for married women. The festival involves observing a nirjala (without water) fast, primarily by women to pray for their husband’s long and healthy life. Fasting from sunrise to moonrise, Karwa Chauth holds a treasure trove of personal stories, shared experiences, and unique traditions passed down through generations.
While the essence of Karwa Chauth remains timeless, the rituals right from eating the pre-dawn meal called Sargi to having a post-vrat feast differ in many ways. To have a deep dive into the evolving traditions through the years, Slurrp interviewed women of different generations across the country.
Usha Chugh, 77 Years Old
Born and brought up in Northern India, Usha Chugh, the 77-year-old homemaker has been religiously celebrating Karwa Chauth for the past 55 years of her marriage. Reminiscing the Sargi traditions Usha Chugh shares, “Starting from getting up before sunrise, we used to set our Sargi thalis. While the one that we used to give to the priests had ‘suhaag ki nishaani’ like sindoor, mehendi, nail paint, etc., the food items feature fruits, paratha with aloo sabzi, pheniya, coconut, and some mithai. Breaking a fresh coconut is mandatory in our households. The dark spots of the coconut are considered to be its eyes, and it’s considered to be auspicious to ‘sacrifice’ the fruit on Karwa Chauth.”
“In the evening, after the Katha, I have a cup of tea and lots of water. My generation didn’t have husbands accompanying their wives to break the fast while worshipping the Moon. To date, I would just pray looking at the Moon ‘Jitni lambi umar tumhari hai, utni mere pati ki ho,’ (may my husband’s life be as long as the Moon’s). After having jal and meethi matthi, for dinner, I prepare maa sabat dal, chawal, and aloo sabzi,” tells Usha Chugh.
Ritu Johar, 50 Years Old
Ritu Johar, the Head Academics Junior Wing at a coaching institute in Punjab shares her rituals for Karwa Chauth, “I wake up at around 4 AM and start Sargi with a cup of chai. For the thali, I prepare a paratha with sookhi aloo gobi sabzi with a bowl of curd. I also like to have pheniya followed by glasses of water.
In the evening, at around 4 PM, we have a Katha, where I set a thali with feeki and meethi matthi for my mother-in-law along with a gift as a shagun. Then comes my favourite part of Karwa Chauth, going to the roof with my husband, doing a Pooja, having some water, and clicking some pictures. As a staple Karwa Chauth dinner, at our home, we prepare Moong sabat dal, chawal, paneer sabzi, and dessert. After dinner, I love having some matthi with aam ka achar before going to bed.”
Aarti Sehgal, 39 Years Old
“Katti na terin na,
Khumb charakha feri na,
Vaan pair paaye na,
Sutra jagai na,
Rusra manai na,
Bhen pyaari veeran,
Chan chare te paani peevan,”
Aarti Sehgal, a 39-year-old muralist from Punjab shares a Karwa Chauth-special Punjabi Geet that she to date has by heart. The artist explains the meaning as, “On Karwa Chauth, the fasting women are urged not to cook as it’ll make them thirsty and only have the first sip of water after the Moon rises.”
When asked about the Sargi rituals, Aarti Sehgal says, “I have seven food items on my Sargi – Aloo sabzi, paratha, coconut, pomegranate, pheniya, milk, and matthi. My husband and I fast for each other and have the Sargi early in the morning. We have been fasting for 20 years now and for me, Karwa Chauth is simply a gesture to convey the importance my partner has in my life that I can even live without water to pray for his long life. After having a cup of tea and a banana in the evening, my husband and I go out for dinner with our kids for a feast after the fast.”
Nikita Bhagat, 32 Years Old
Nikita Bhagat, a 32-year-old Digital Marketing Manager at a tech company has been fasting for Karwa Chauth for 15 long years. She joyously shares a story, “I started to fast on Karwa Chauth with my mother even before getting married because of the craze of the festival. Waking up before sunrise, I just wear something comfortable and eat my Sargi which includes having a bite of paratha with aloo gobi sabzi I prepare without onions, some fruits, nariyal, a sweet, and some pheniya.
To remain busy and not feel thirsty during the day, I love to slip into traditional wear and click a lot of pictures with my friends and family. While I see people having some water in the evening, I refrain from having anything and wait for the Moon to rise. When it’s dark outside, the duty of checking up on the Moon falls on the men of the house, while we women get ready. As a tradition, I break my fast with a bar of chocolate, touch my husband’s feet, and step outside to have an authentic North Indian or South Indian meal after the fast. Also, having an ice cream on my way back home is non-negotiable.”
