Karwa Chauth. is a Hindu festival that is observed by the women in the northern part of India. Very popular in the States of Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, this festival usually comes in Kartik month in the Indian calendar. Celebrated by unmarried girls and women too, the festival is symbolic of women praying to have a good husband.
The name Karwa Chauth comes from the words Karwa meaning pot and Chauth meaning fourth in Hindi. Thus, the festival comes on the fourth day of the Krishna Paksha or darker night of the Indian month of Kartik. It is not exactly known how the festival started getting celebrated, but it is said that the women used to observe a fast when their husbands used to go on military campaigns and long official assignments. Gradually this became a practice. Added to this, the fact that this was harvest time, signified prayers for success and prosperity. So the earthen pot or the Karwa was filled with harvested wheat as women sat around it thanking and praying for the welfare of all.
Since it is a festival by the women, for the women and of the women, the females indulge in a lot of cosmetic purchase for Karwa Chauth. They buy traditional ornaments, cosmetics, Karwa lamps, henna and decorated plates. Women get up early in the morning, eat before sunrise, and fast throughout the day till they see the moon through a sieve. Then their husbands feed them a spoonful of water and the women break their fast. Sargi is a food packet usually sent by the mother in law for the daughter in law during Karwa Chauth.
It is a day of revelry as people exchange clay pots, bangles, sarees, and home made candies. In the evening, the women have a ceremony whence they celebrate singing songs of the Goddess and are dressed in the best of their finery. The day ends with prayers for a better life and a better society and this important function is thus a much awaited affair.
The name Karwa Chauth comes from the words Karwa meaning pot and Chauth meaning fourth in Hindi. Thus, the festival comes on the fourth day of the Krishna Paksha or darker night of the Indian month of Kartik. It is not exactly known how the festival started getting celebrated, but it is said that the women used to observe a fast when their husbands used to go on military campaigns and long official assignments. Gradually this became a practice. Added to this, the fact that this was harvest time, signified prayers for success and prosperity. So the earthen pot or the Karwa was filled with harvested wheat as women sat around it thanking and praying for the welfare of all.
Since it is a festival by the women, for the women and of the women, the females indulge in a lot of cosmetic purchase for Karwa Chauth. They buy traditional ornaments, cosmetics, Karwa lamps, henna and decorated plates. Women get up early in the morning, eat before sunrise, and fast throughout the day till they see the moon through a sieve. Then their husbands feed them a spoonful of water and the women break their fast. Sargi is a food packet usually sent by the mother in law for the daughter in law during Karwa Chauth.
It is a day of revelry as people exchange clay pots, bangles, sarees, and home made candies. In the evening, the women have a ceremony whence they celebrate singing songs of the Goddess and are dressed in the best of their finery. The day ends with prayers for a better life and a better society and this important function is thus a much awaited affair.
No comments:
Post a Comment