Karva Chauth is one of India’s most celebrated festivals. The festival signifies the celebration of the sacred bond shared between the husband and wife. It is performed to seek longevity, prosperity and well-being of the husbands. On this day wives observe fast for the whole day and they break the fast only after seeing the Moon at night by drinking water from their husband’s hand.

This festival is typically celebrated immediately after the autumn harvest. This is the best time to meet friends and relatives and exchange gifts. During this festival, parents send various gifts to their married daughters. In the year 2018, Karva Chauth falls on the 28^th of October.

During this particular day, various items such as karva which is an earthen pot are actually collected and offered to the Goddess Parvati and Lord Siva. Usually, the festival does not end until the moon is fully seen at night. During this festival, an elderly woman narrates a karva Chauth story before the fast is over.

Women dress up in their best attires especially red and pink sarees and newly married women wear their wedding costumes.

Why is Karva Chauth celebrated?

According to Mahabharata, the ritual of performing Karva Chouth started when Savitri begged Lord Yama for her husband’s soul. Another story states that Arjuna went to the Nilgiris to meditate, leaving behind the rest of the Pandavas and Draupadi. Draupadi got worried and she sought Lord Krishna’s help. He advised her to fast for Arjuna’s well-being and reminded her how goddess Parvati did the same for Shiva’s safety. Draupadi adhered to the rituals stated by Lord Krishna and observed fast and soon Arjuna returned home.

The festival is also associated with the beginning of the rabi crop-cycle, which is probably why Karva Chauth is observed in most agriculture-dependent regions like Rajasthan, Punjab, western UP, etc.