Karwa Chauth 8th October

The puja process: -

Early in the morning, before sunrise, the women bathe and then they pray to Lord Shiva and Parvati Mata, that their married life would be as successful as theirs. As the morning passes by and other festive activities like decorating the hand and feet with henna, decorating the pooja thali (i.e. the prayer tray) and meeting friends and relatives are done. The women prepare food and have it ready before sunrise. In the late afternoon women gather at either a temple or a garden or someone’s' place who has arranged the pooja. A deity of Parvati Devi (or as in Devi Puja the coconut is dressed in a sari and kept on a tray) is invoked and kept on a stand. Sindoor, rice, flower petals, incense stick, lamp, and sweets are kept in one’s thali (tray). A simple pooja to Parvati Devi is performed (please see at the end of this email on how to perform this prayer). Married women thereafter sit around Parvati Devi and pray to her for the well-being and long life of their husbands. A small pitcher or Karva with some water in it is placed in the centre. Every one lights a clay lamp in their thalis (prayer tray) while listening to the Karwa story. While the story is being narrated, ladies circulate their Baya - basket full of goodies - from her mother, which is meant for the mother-in-law. The basket contains sweets, almonds, fruits, a sari and so forth. After the puja this Baya is given to the eldest female member of the family who blesses the woman with all the happiness in life.

The wait for the moonrise begins after sunset, and as soon as the moon is sighted the women try to spot its reflection in a thali of water. The moon is worshiped by offering water and the wife seeks Chandra’s blessings. The wife prays for the safety, prosperity and long life of her husband (and the husband too should pray to the Moon-god for his wives safety, prosperity and long life as well), and she then turns to view her husband's face through the pores of a dupatta or sieve. The first sip of water and the first morsel of food are offered by the husband. A sumptuous dinner follows. This marks the end of the day long fast, praying for his long life.

The story of the Karwa Chauth.

The earliest reference of a Karva Chauth can be found in the great epic of Mahabharata. As per Mahabharata, Arjun, a supreme warrior and one of the Pandavas, went to the Nilgiri Hills to offer his prayers and worship to the Devas. Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas, was accompanying him. On the way, Draupadi was struck with fear believing that she was alone in the forest with no one to protect her. As she treated Lord Krishna as her brother, she invoked Him to appear before her and help her out of this grave situation.

On listening to her fear and perplexity, Lord Krishna cited an example of Parvati Devi. Parvati in a similar situation asked Lord Shiva's help. Lord Shiva explained to her that to ward off such apprehensions, a woman could observe a fast on Kartik Krishna Chaturthi as a remedy. Lord Krishna advised Draupadi to undertake this fast and also assured her of the victory of the Pandavas.

Story of Karwa Chauth (To be told on Karwa Chauth)

In a village, seven brothers and one sister were staying with their parents. The sister was youngest among them. That's why everybody adored her. When she was very young they got her married. After marriage on first Karwa Chauth, she came to her mother's house. Her mother-in-law affectionately sent sargai for her. She put mehndi on her hands along with her mother and her brother's wife and did sargai in the morning before sunrise and kept Nirjala fast (without taking water). By the evening the brothers got worried that how can their small sister live without food and water till night. They consulted among themselves and decided that we will create artificial moon for our sister. Two brothers went to the forest and burnt cow dung coal. The other two brothers went home and said let's go sister the moon has risen. All her brother's wife's kept quite. Sister said, "let's go Bhabhi the moon has risen, lets worship the moon and offer ark (water is offered to the moon) to it. All the Bhabhi’s said, "So early only your moon could have risen, you go."

She was not only young but also simple hearted; she really thought everyone's moon rises separately. She hurriedly took the pooja material to the terrace. There in the forest one brother was standing with a sieve in front of the cow dung coal fire, so from distance she thought that the moon is rising from behind bushes. She offered her worship and ark to the moon .As soon as she started eating; she received a message from her in laws that her husband has become seriously ill suddenly. On hearing this, the Girl's father and brothers along with her rushed to her in law's house. There her husband was seriously ill. Every body was worried. The Ayurvedic doctor was called but nobody could understand the illness.

Then the family enquired from priests and Astrologers. They told them that this has happened because the girl has eaten food, after seeing the artificial moon. Now the only solution is that till the next year Karwa Chauth, the girl takes good care of her husband, then keep fast on Karwa Chauth and exchange Karwa with Gaur Maata and make her say "le suhaagan karwa le","de suhagaan karwa de". Then her husband will be well and will live long. On hearing this, the girl decided to take good care of her husband for one year. Next year Karwa Chauth arrived, her mother sent sargai for her. As per the tradition, she did sargai and kept fast. Her mother also sent material for baya, karwa and money. In the evening, all married ladies dressed up wore chunari, making preparation for the pooja, she waited to exchange Karwa with Gaur Maata.

When the first Gaur Maata arrived. The girl held her feet and pleaded her " O'Gaur Maata, Please exchange karwa with me." After lot of pleading Gaur Maata sat with her and said "Sister of seven brothers karwa le", "Jo bhukhi naa reh sake (who can't stay hungry) karwa le", "Jo payasi naa reh sake (who can't stay thirsty) karwa le", "Jo Chalni meh chaand dakhe (One who see moon in sieve) karwa le." She begged her again and again to say "Le Suhaagan Karwa Le" Gaur Maata said, "I won't say this. My other sisters will come, you make them say." And after saying this, she went away.

After some time 2nd Gaur Maata came and she also went away saying what the earlier one had said. In this way they came one by one when the ninth Gaur Maara came, the girl was worried. When she begged her again and again and held her feet, then Gaur Maata said," when my youngest sister will come, you ask her, I will not say. My sister is scary looking but good at heart, don't let her go, make her say it."

After some time 10th Gaur maata came. She had dark complexion, had big teeth, horrible face and was wearing lot of jewelry. When she heard the small girl pleadings, she sat down with her to exchange karwa and like other Gaur Maata's said "Sister of seven brothers karwa le", "Jo bhukhi naa reh sake (who can't stay hungry) karwa le", "Jo payasi naa reh sake (who can't stay thirsty) karwa le", "Jo Chalni meh chaand dakhe (One who see moon in sieve) karwa le." The girl fell on her feet and said "O' Mother please forgive my mistakes, Please say "Le suhaagan karwa le". If you will say this, my husband will live. I will always worship you. Please bless me.

On girls repeated pleading, Gaur Maata felt pity for her and said-Let it be so and said "Le suhaagan karwa le" and the girl said "de suhaagan karwa de". Then, the same thing was repeated by both of them in reverse order. When they said this ten times the girls husband was well again. Everybody touched Gaur Maata's feet".

Importance Of Fasting

It is not easy to unceasingly pursue the path of spirituality in one's daily life. Therefore a worshiper must strive to impose restrains on to get the mind focused. And one form of restraint is fasting. However, fasting is not only a part of worship, but a great instrument for self-discipline too. It is a training of the mind and the body to endure and harden up against all hardships, to persevere under difficulties and not give up.

Medicative Properties

The ancient Indian medical system of Ayurveda sees the basic cause of many diseases as the accumulation of toxic materials in the digestive system. Regular cleansing of toxic materials keeps one healthy. By fasting, the digestive organs get rest and all body mechanisms are cleansed and corrected. A complete fast is good for heath, and the occasional intake of warm lemon juice during the period of fasting prevents the flatulence.