Karva Chauth

On Shakashta Chaturthi of North Indian Kartik month, falls Karva Chauth as well every year. Married women (with their husbands alive) and girls, who are engaged to be married, fast during this festival for the wellbeing and long lives of their husbands. Some women may not drink even water during the fast. Others may have tea, coffee, milk, sherbet, etc.

Women get decked up like they are getting married and perform the rituals. Women come together in groups and sit in a circle. In the middle, the women spread a red chunri over a clean plate. On the cloth, they place 3 full big betel nuts as Lord Ganesha, Goddess Parvati and Karva Mata. They place an oil lamp nearby, sprinkle roli (kum kum) and offer flowers to them.

All the women have a plate with Karva (mud pot with water and rose petals). They place all the representations of suhag (mangalya) on the plate with a red chunri and a little cash. They pass the plates in the circle and at the same time sing the story of Karva Mata.

I will share the story and the rest of the rituals tomorrow.

To be continued…