Happy Karva Chauth – November 2012

Karva Chauth is a festival celebrated by Hindus, mostly based in North and West India (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Indian Punjab, Rajasthan,Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat). Married Women do a fast in the interest of prolonging the prosperity, happiness, and longevity of their husbands. In many if not most Hindu households, the woman serves as a significant link between the family and society. Thus, apart from religious reasons, this festival holds greater social significance. The wife performs customary dietary needs and pleasures on this day to seek blessings for her husband.

Women begin preparing for Karva Chauth a few days in advance, by buying cosmetics (shringar), traditional adornments or jewelry, and puja items, such as the karwa lamps, matthi, henna and the decorated puja thali (plate).

Karva Chauth carries a legend from the Mahabharata. Draupadi, is said to have observed this fast. Once Arjun went to the Nilgiris for penance and the rest of the Pandavas faced many problems in his absence. Draupadi, out of desperation, remembered Lord Krishna and asked for help. Lord Krishna reminded her that on an earlier occasion, when Goddess Parvati had sought Lord Shiva’s guidance under similar circumstances, she had been advised to observe the fast of Karva Chauth. In some tellings of this legend, Shiva tells Parvati the story of Veervati to describe the Karva Chauth fast. Draupadi followed the instructions and observed the fast with all its rituals. Consequently, the Pandavas were able to overcome their problems.

 

The Chakra team wishes all wives out there an auspicious and happy Karva Chauth.

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