Karwa Chauth is a traditional Hindu and Barelvi festival of Hindu women. It is celebrated all over India.
Karwa means clay pot and Chauth means fourth night after full moon. It has great significance in the state of Rajasthan. The fast of Karwa Chauth is kept nine days before Diwali.
Married women fast one whole day without food and water for the long life of their husbands. The rituals signifies extreme love and devotion to the husband as evidenced by wife willingness to suffer for his well being.
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It is celebrated on chaturthi tithi after ful moon in the month of kartik in the Hindu calendar.
Married women start their fast at night just after the appearance of the moon within the sight of their husband. Then they wait until next night’s moon to begin their fast breaking cremonies without consuming any food and drink.
During the day the wife paints her hands with heena, dress generally in red apparel and in her hair she smear vermilion powder.
On the sightining the moon they look and offer prayers and worship to it and then receive their first bite of food and water from their husband. Thereafter women consume their special meal prepared for the occasion.
