Family and bonds · Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, Karva Mata and the Moon
Karva Chauth
A day-long fast kept by married women for their husbands' well-being, ended at moonrise.
Also known as: Karwa Chauth, Karak Chaturthi
Date and muhurat
✓ 28.6519°N, 77.2315°E · Asia/Kolkata
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When is it observed?
The fourth tithi (Chaturthi) of the dark half of Kartik by the purnimanta count used in the north (Ashwin by the amanta count; the same day either way), about four days before Diwali. The date is the day Chaturthi is present when the moon rises.
About Karva Chauth
Karva Chauth is mainly kept in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and nearby states. Married women rise before dawn, eat the pre-dawn meal called sargi, and then fast the whole day, traditionally without even water, until the moon is seen.
In the evening the women dress in bridal colours, apply henna, gather in groups and listen to the Karva Chauth story. After the moon rises they offer water to it, look at it through a sieve, then look at their husband and break the fast from his hand.
Significance
The fast is an expression of love, devotion and prayer for the long life and welfare of the husband. In many families the husband also joins the fast or takes part in the evening, which reflects the way the festival has become a shared celebration of marriage.
It also has a warm social side. Mothers-in-law give sargi and gifts, sisters and friends exchange bangles and sweets, and neighbourhood women meet to sing and share the day. Older stories note that the bonds of the women among themselves, as "karva sisters", are as important as the vow.
Observing the fast
- 1Rise before sunrise, bathe and eat the sargi, usually fruit, dry fruits, sweets and parathas given by the mother-in-law. Take the sankalp to keep the fast.
- 2Spend the day without food and water. Keep busy with prayer, henna and decoration, and avoid sleeping through the afternoon if possible.
- 3In the afternoon or evening, gather for the puja and set up an image or clay figure of Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha and Kartikeya, with a decorated karva (clay pot).
- 4Fill the karva with water and place it with sweets, bangles and a lamp. In some regions, such as Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, the women sit in a circle and pass their thalis (and in places the karvas, seven times) around during the katha.
- 5Listen to or read the Karva Chauth katha with the group, then offer the aarti.
- 6When the moon rises, offer it water (arghya), look at it through a sieve or the cloth over a lamp, then look at the husband.
- 7Break the fast with water and food from the husband's hand, touch the feet of elders and share the meal.
The story
The best-known tale is that of Veeravati, the only sister of seven brothers. On her first Karva Chauth after marriage she was visiting her parental home and grew weak with hunger and thirst. Her brothers could not bear to see her suffer and tricked her with a false moon (versions differ: a mirror, a lamp behind a pipal tree, or a fire behind a hill), and she broke the fast.
Soon after, her husband fell gravely ill. Distressed, she was told by a goddess that she had broken the vow before the real moon rose, and was guided to repeat the fast with full devotion, after which her husband recovered. The story is told to encourage sincerity in the vow.
Another tradition, from the Mahabharata, says Draupadi kept the fast when the Pandavas were in difficulty, and that Krishna advised her to do so.
What to do
- ✓Eat the sargi before sunrise with enough fluids to see you through the day.
- ✓Dress and decorate for the evening puja.
- ✓Wait until the moon is truly visible before breaking the fast.
- ✓Touch the feet of elders and take their blessings.
- ✓Pregnant, ill or elderly women may keep a milder form of the fast, such as with fruit or water, if their family agrees.
What to avoid
- ✕Do not break the fast before the moon is seen and the arghya is offered.
- ✕Avoid anger, arguments and hurting anyone through the day.
- ✕In some families, sewing, cutting and other housework are avoided while fasting.
- ✕Do not sleep through the evening puja or the katha.
- ✕Do not pressure anyone into a fast against their health.
Around the country
- Punjab and Haryana: sargi from the mother-in-law before dawn, and gatherings in which women pass thalis and sing the katha.
- Rajasthan: women worship Gauri and Ganesha and listen to local versions of the katha.
- Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh: the fast is called Karak Chaturthi, and clay karvas are filled with sweets and gifted.
- Cities everywhere: the festival has grown with community puja events, and many husbands now fast alongside their wives.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the date depend on the moonrise?
The fast is broken after the moon is seen, so it is kept on the day Chaturthi is present at moonrise. Moonrise time differs from city to city, so the time on this page is worked out for your location.
What is sargi?
Sargi is the meal eaten before sunrise on Karva Chauth, traditionally sent by the mother-in-law. It usually includes fruit, dry fruits, sweets and savouries, and gives strength for the day.
Can unmarried women or men observe it?
Traditionally it is for married women, but today some unmarried women keep it with the wish for a good partner, and many husbands fast too. It is a matter of personal faith and family custom.