Karwa
Chauth
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Karwa Chauth is a festival
that provides an opportunity for all married women to
get close to their in-laws. All married
women observes fast that ensures the well-being,
prosperity and longevity of their husbands. This Hindu festival has a
cultural and social significance and all Indians celebrate this festival
with great enthusiasm.
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The
festival of Karwa Chauth is celebrated mostly by North India.This event is
growing bigger with each passing day. In addition to the traditional items
such as henna, beauty products and fashionable clothes, the demand of
special eateries are also gearing up. Nowadays, Karwa Chauth is more of fun
than a serious festival.
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Karva is another word for diya (a small earthen oil-lamp)
and chauth means 'fourth'
in Hindi (a reference to the fact that the festival falls on the fourth day
of the dark-fortnight, or krishna
paksh, of the month of Kartik).
It is uncertain how the festival originated and how it came to be
celebrated only in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. One
hypothesis is that military campaigns and long-distance travel usually
resumed around the time of the festival, as the area dried and numerous
rivers of the region subsided from the effects of the monsoon. Women
observed the fast to pray the Moon for the safety of their husbands at this
time as they ventured away from home. The festival also coincides with the
wheat-sowing time (i.e. the beginning of the Rabi crop cycle). Big earthen
pots in which wheat is stored are also sometimes called karvas, so the fast may also have
begun as a prayer for a good harvest in this predominantly wheat-eating region.
Karwa
Chauth is an occasion that encourages people to gather and socialize with
friends and family, exchange gifts and share home-cooked meals. The gifts
exchanged on this occasion reflect joy, splendor, brightness and happiness
of a married life.
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Sargi
Sargi and Baya are
the two most important gifting items, as without them the festival of Karva
chauth is incomplete. These gift items are very traditional and are supposed to
bring good luck in the lives of the married couple. It is Mother-in-laws who
gift 'sargi' for their daughter-in-laws. This 'sargi' is a collection of
sumptuous food consists of various types of sweetmeats and sometime clothes.
'Sargi' is given to the married woman so that she can eat them before sunrise,
as the fast starts before sunrise and ends only after worshiping the moon at
night. It is a tough fast, as the women do not take any food or water.
Baya
In the afternoon, mothers of newlywed girls gift 'Baya' to the
parents of their son-in-law. This Baya contains few Mathris, Almonds and some
gifts. This gift pack should reach the girl's house before evening. A small
pooja to Gaura Ma or goddess Parvati is performed. Married women sit around
Gaura ma and pray to her for the well being and long life of their husbands. A
small pitcher or Karva with some water is placed in the center. While the story
is being narrated, ladies circulate their Baya thalis. Apart from traditional
gifts, nowadays there is a norm of showering various designers’ clothes,
bindies and jewelries, especially to a newlywed woman.
