MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE OF KARVA CHAUTH

MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE OF KARVA CHAUTH

Karwa Chauth is a reflection of the rich Indian culture and value systems ingrained in the society. This is a ritual which is religiously followed by married women and more so those of north and north western India. This occasion is more important for all newly-wed couples. A newly married woman is made to feel very special by her relatives and immediate family members on this day. She is showered with blessings for a blissful married life and lots of Karva Chauth gifts.

FAST OF KARVA CHAUTH

'Karwa Chauth' is a ritual of fasting observed by married Hindu women seeking the long life, well-being and prosperity of their husbands. Married women keep a strict fast and do not take even a drop of water. It is the most important and difficult fast observed by a married woman. It begins before sunrise and ends only after offering prayers and worshiping the moon at night. No food or water can be taken after sunrise. The fast is broken once the moon is sighted and rituals of the day have been performed. At night when the moon appears, women break their fast after offering water to the moon.

IMPORTANCE OF FASTING

Hindus believe it is not easy to unceasingly pursue the path of spirituality in one's daily life. Therefore a worshiper must strive to impose restrains on to get the mind focused. And one form of restraint is fasting. However, fasting is not only a part of worship, but a great instrument for self-discipline too. It is a training of the mind and the body to endure and harden up against all hardships, to persevere under difficulties and not give up.

WHY THE MOON IS WORSHIPED ON THE EVE OF KARVA CHAUTH?

There are many festivals and fasts on which the women keeps a day long fast and then when the moon arises in the night, they offer water and worships the moon and then only they break their fast and take water and food. The fast kept by women on the occasion of ‘Karva Chauth’ is kept for long life and good health of their husband.

It is also said in “Chandogay Upnishad” that the married couples who worship Lord Brahma in this form are always blessed by the grace of god and their life is spent very happily without any kind of trouble or problem.

Om Namah Shivay