Karwa Chauth 2018: Why don’t women drink water before moon rise; story behind Karwa Chauth fast
Karwa Chauth 2018 will be celebrated in India on 27th October, Saturday. It is a one day festival which is celebrated by Hindu women four days after the full moon night in the Kartika month of Hindu calendar. Karwa Chauth’s occurrence depends on the positions of the moon. On Karwa Chauth, women in India who are married fast from sunrise to moonrise to pray for the longevity of their husband’s life. The fast is ended during the moonrise when the husbands give water to their wife. The unmarried women also fast for their fiances.
Karwa Chauth Meaning
Karva Chauth is derived from the amalgamation of two Hindi words. Karwa which means a small earthen pot of water and Chauth means fourth, which the fourth day of the dark fortnight. Just before the fast, married women purchase new Karvas every year. They then gather under one roof and exchange these Karwas.
Karwa Chauth 2018 Puja Song
The fasters sit in circles with a Puja thali in their hands. The Karwa Chauth story is narrated according to their regions. In the pauses, Karwa Chauth puja song is sung collectively by the women while exchanging the thalis in circles.
For the first six feris, they sing:
Veero kudiye Karvara, Sarv suhagan Karvara, Aye katti naya teri naa, Kumbh chrakhra feri naa, Aar pair payeen naa, Ruthda maniyen naa, Suthra jagayeen naa, Ve veero kuriye Karvara, Ve sarv suhagan Karvara..
For seventh feri:
Veero kudiye Karvara, Sarv suhagan Karvara, Aye katti naya teri nee, Kumbh chrakhra feri bhee, Aar pair payeen bhee, Ruthda maniyen bhee, Suthra jagayeen bhee, Ve veero kuriye Karvara, Ve sarv suhagan Karvara.
In Uttar Pradesh, the women exchange Karwas seven times and sing: Sadaa suhagan karve lo, Pati ki pyari karve lo, Saat bhaiyon ke behen karve lo, Vart karni karve lo, Saas ki pyaari karve lo..
Karwa Chauth Story: The Story of Rani Veervati
Veervati was the only sister of seven brothers. She spent her first Karwa Chauth at her parents’ house. She was waiting desperately for the moon to rise. Seeing her hungry and thirsty, her seven brothers showed her a fake moon using a peepal tree and a mirror. She thought that the moon has risen and broke her fast. The moment she ate, her husband passed away. She compelled Goddess Shakti to appear in front of her. The Goddess explain the naïve Veervati what her brothers did. She then asked Veervati to complete her fast with devotion, which she did. The Yamraj was forced to return her husband back. Hence, taking cues from this legend, married women observe water-less fast to pray for the long life of their husband.
