Karwa Chauth 2024 Simplified for You

Karwa Chauth, Karaka Chaturthi or Karva Chauth is a day symbolizing the beauty of marital bliss. In 2024 it will be observed on Thursday, October 13, 2024. 

Married women in North India wait eagerly for this one-day festival. Why? Because on this day they worship Maa Karwa for the longevity, safety, and prosperity of their husbands. They fast from sunrise to moonrise following a strict ritual. For newly-wed women, it’s a day of excitement! They look forward to assimilating in the long-standing tradition their moms and grannies have been following since ages!

Is it your first Karwa Chauth? Are you eager to signify the affectionate, caring, and self-controlled womanly traits of your personality?

If yes, here we bring you Karwa Chauth puja vidhi (करवा चौथ व्रत की पूजन विधि), rituals, importance, activities and more. Thank us later for simplifying your preparation.

Why and How Karaka Chaturthi Celebration Started?

Before we move further let’s understand the meaning of it. 'Karwa' or 'Karva' means a ‘small earthen pot filled with water’ and 'chauth' simply stands for ‘fourth’. The celebration falls in the month of Kartik on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha or dark fortnight.

It is said that the festival began in the North-Eastern part of India when military campaigns were conducted frequently. The men were sent to far off locations to war leaving behind their wives and children. The wives would often pray to the God for their safety. It’s a suppositious belief, however, the religious backgrounds of this celebration are different. 

Get back to its Rituals and Puja Vidhi (करवा चौथ व्रत की पूजन विधि)

With the start of the festive season, women flood the market to get pooja items for Karwa Chauth including matthi, karwa lamps, henna, pooja thali along with cosmetics, jewellery, and more.

They apply henna on their hands and feet on the eve of this festival. On the auspicious day, just before the sunrise they wake up and have sargi.

Here sargi is the traditional treat mother-in-law offer to her daughter-in-law. It includes a pre-dawn meal with treats like dry fruits. Also, it has cosmetics and apparels with pooja essentials.

Daughter-in-law, on the other hand, prepares baya- a traditional treat for her mother-in-law. It consists dry fruits, salted mathris, gifts, and goodies.

After having the pre-dawn meals, women begin the morning rituals by fasting for day long. They don’t even take a drop of water in between. They spend the evening by dressing up like a newly-wed bride. Before the sunset, women in their community gather at a place and perform puja rituals. They chant prayers and worship Maa Karwa for the safety and longevity of their husbands. The provide offerings to the idols and complete the fera ceremony.

Women decorate karwa chauth thali that contains karwa, kumkum, roli, haldi, chandan, diya, flowers, fruits, and sweets. The karwa chauth thali has special significance in karwa chauth festival. Read more on how to decorate karwa chauth pooja thali.

Upon moon rise, fasting women go to the rooftop or a nearby location from where the moon is visible. They see the reflection of the moon in a vessel filled with water with the help of a sieve or transparent dupatta or cloth. Then they offer water to the moon and pray for blessings. Then the women turn to their husbands and view their face through the sieve.

Husbands then take the water from the thali and offer the first sip to their wives. They also feed them with the first morsel of the day. After the fast has been broken women have their complete meal.

The festival signifies the beautiful bond married couples share with each other. In India, the day is tagged as ‘Desi Valentine’s Day’.

Husbands buy Karwa Chauth gifts out of appreciation, love, and affection for their wives.