Women observe Karwa Chauth Vrat on Kartik Krishna Paksha Chauth in Northern India. In Gujarat, Maharashtra, and South India, it falls in Ashwin month on the same day. It is a full-day Nirjala Vrat, which ends at night after the Moon is visible in the sky.
The auspicious Karwa Chauth Vrat falls on Wednesday, November 1, 2O23.
Women perform it without taking water, in the dark fortnight on Kartik Krishna Paksha Chauth or Karka Chaturthi in Northern India, according to the Purnimanta calendar.
In Gujarat, Maharashtra, and South India, the Tithi of Karwa Chauth Vrat falls in the month of Ashwin, as people follow Amavasyanta Calendar.
Mostly, married Hindu women observe the auspicious Karwa Chauth fast once a year, in different cities in India and other parts of the world.
The married woman has to perform all the beauty rituals. She should decorate her palms with Mehendi (Henna) designs and use full makeup on Karwa Chauth.
The wife dresses up gracefully with a beautiful dress or Sari and ornaments. She applies makeup on her face and performs beauty rituals like decorating her hands with Mehadi (henna) and nail polish.
After dressing up well, she wears bangles. Wearing a traditional Sari or Lenhga Chunni. and traditional gold or fancy jewelry will make her look more graceful.
This makes the married woman very happy and blessed.
Nowadays unmarried girls also keep Karwa Chauth Vrat for the would-be life partner for getting the desired husband.
Traditional dishes are prepared for this festival.
Significance of Karwa Chauth Vrat
The married women perform Puja and observe the most popular Karwa Chauth Vrat for the safety, longevity, and well-being of their husbands.
Karwa Chauth is very harsh on the body, as the Moon rises late on Kartik Krishna Paksha Chauth or Kartik Chaturthi.
The wife has to observe the fast as Nirjala Vrat (without drinking water, milk, or eating fruits), till she sights the Moon.
However, there is some relaxation for women who are sick, old, pregnant, or nursing mothers. They may have water, milk, and fruits for their need for nutritional supplements during the Karwa Chauth fasting (Vrat).
The married woman should perform all the beauty rituals. She should decorate her palms with Mehendi (Henna) designs and use full makeup.
She has to dress up well, wear bangles, a traditional Sari or Lenhga Chunni. Wearing traditional gold or fancy jewelry will make her look more graceful.
After sighting the Moon of the auspicious Chauth Tithi through a sieve (Atta Chalani), she offers Arghya through an earthen pot (Karwa) to the Moon.
The wife has to end her fast by having water or Kheer and a delicious meal. The presence of the husband is most desirable at the time of the ending of the fast.
She donates this Karwa (earthen pot) to the Pundit or the relative according to the tradition of the family. The husband gives ornaments or gifts to his wife.
Karwa Chauth 2023 Tithi timing begins:
Karwa Chauth Puja Muhurat is on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.
