Karwa Chauth is one of the most cherished festivals among married Hindu women in India, is just around the corner. This year it falls on October 20, 2024, which marks the fourth day of the Krishna Paksha of the Hindu month of Kartik. The day and festival is dedicated to the well-being, longevity, and prosperity of husbands, and is celebrated with devotion, love, and so many rituals.
Karwa Chauth has deep cultural and spiritual importance in Hinduism.It generally symbolises the love and bond between a husband and wife. Given that the women are observing a strict fast for the health and longevity of their spouses, this festival may serve as evidence of the power and dedication of women. The word “Chauth” denotes the fourth day of the celebration, emphasizing its chronology, and “Karwa” relates to an earthen pot used in the rites.
In various regions across North India—such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan—the festival of Karwa Chauth is celebrated with great excitement. It is a religious fast and an occasion that ultimately strengthens the family ties and the cultural values associated with marriage.
Rituals and celebrations of Karwa Chauth
The festival is marked by several significant rituals that have been followed for generations:
The day begins early for the fasting women, who consume a special pre-dawn meal called sargi, provided by their mothers-in-law. Sargi is consumed before sunrise and holds a symbolic meaning of love and blessings from the mother-in-law to the daughter-in-law.
After consuming sargi, women observe a strict fast called nirjala vrat, where they abstain from eating or drinking anything, including water, from sunrise to moonrise. This fast is considered one of the most challenging in Hindu traditions and is believed to purify the body and soul while strengthening the marital bond.
Married women get together in the evening, usually dressed in their most elegant traditional clothing, such as sarees and bridal jewels. They worship Lord Ganesha, Goddess Parvati, and Lord Shiva at a special puja. They sing traditional folk songs and listen to the vrat katha (the story of the fast). The women form a circle and pass around a decorated karwa (clay pot). The legends of Veeravati, Savitri, and Karwa—three women who epitomized love and selflessness for their husbands—usually center this storyline.
The most awaited moment of Karwa Chauth is the sighting of the moon. As the moon appears in the night sky, women perform a ritual known as arghya, where they offer water to the moon, praying for their husband’s health and prosperity. Through a sieve, the fasting woman views the moon and then her husband’s face. The husband then feeds his wife the first sip of water and a morsel of food, thus breaking her fast and marking the end of the day’s observance.
Karwa Chauth 2024: Date and timings
Karwa Chauth falls on October 20, 2024 this year. The evening prayer’s auspicious puja muhurat, or timing, is believed to be from 5:46 PM to 7:02 PM, giving the rituals one hour and sixteen minutes. The fast comes to an end at 7:54 PM, when the moonrise begins. However, depending on the region, moonrise times may differ slightly.
Karwa Chauth is more than just the rituals. It gracefully represents the deeply rooted social values that Hinduism attaches to marriage and the family. A wife’s commitment to and love for her husband has been shown by her fast. It signifies the long-standing belief that marriage is sacred and that a couple’s relationship lasts for seven lifetimes. Through these traditions, husbands express to their spouses their love and gratitude thereafter strengthening familial ties.
Best Messages, Quotes, Wishes and Images to share on Karwa Chauth
Messages to share:
To the love of my life, today I fast not just for your long life but for our everlasting love. May our bond grow stronger each year, and may we always find joy in each other’s company. Happy Karwa Chauth!
As I sit under the moon tonight, I’ll think of all the moments that have filled our lives with love. You complete me in every way, and this fast is just a small token of my devotion to you. Happy Karwa Chauth, my love!
Karwa Chauth is a celebration of love, trust, and the promise to stand by each other forever. As we observe this beautiful tradition, I thank you for filling my life with happiness and warmth. I love you, now and always.
May this Karwa Chauth bring you all the happiness that you deserve, my dear. I fast for your long life and our togetherness, and I pray that our bond only grows stronger with time. Happy Karwa Chauth!
To my dear husband, this Karwa Chauth, I celebrate you, our love, and the beautiful journey we are on together. May our lives continue to be filled with joy, laughter, and the unbreakable bond we share.
Today, I am fasting to honor the love we share, the vows we took, and the promise of forever. Thank you for being the reason for my smiles and the strength behind my fast. Happy Karwa Chauth, sweetheart!
You are my strength, my happiness, and my forever love. As I observe this fast today, I pray for your well-being and for our love to keep blossoming with every passing year. Happy Karwa Chauth!
Images to share:
Quotes to share
“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person” – Mignon McLaughlin
“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other” – Audrey Hepburn
“For all the things my hands have held, the best by far is you.” ᅳ Andrew McMahon
“You are every reason, every hope and every dream I’ve ever had.” ᅳ Nicholas Sparks
See more: Happy Karwa Chauth 2024: Top 50 Wishes, Messages, and Quotes to Share with Your Family and Friends
Wishes for Karwa Chauth
May the moon tonight be as beautiful as your love for each other, and may your bond grow stronger with every passing year. Happy Karwa Chauth!
Wishing you a day full of love, devotion, and the joy of togetherness. May this Karwa Chauth strengthen the beautiful bond you share.
May the love and devotion between you and your spouse grow deeper with each passing day. Happy Karwa Chauth to you and your beloved.
On this auspicious day, may the moonlight bring happiness, good health, and prosperity to your life. Wishing you a beautiful Karwa Chauth.
As you observe this sacred fast, may you be blessed with long-lasting happiness, health, and a love that never fades. Happy Karwa Chauth!
May the moonlight tonight bless you with a lifetime of togetherness, love, and joy. Wishing you a very Happy Karwa Chauth!
May this Karwa Chauth bring blessings, joy, and a love that only gets stronger with time. May you both cherish each other forever. Happy Karwa Chauth!
See more: Karwa Chauth Moon Timing 2024: Check moonrise timing in your city and puja muhurat