Karva Chauth 2024, Date, History, Significance, Celebration

Karva Chauth or Karwa Chauth is one of the most significant festivals in the life of a married Hindu woman. According to the Hindu calendar, this day falls on the fourth day of Kartik month, every year. Karwa Chauth date in 2024 is 20th October (Sunday) in India. Majorly celebrated in the western and northern parts of India, this day symbolizes the strength of the bond between a husband and wife.

On this day, Indian married women keep a day-long fast for the well-being and longevity of their better halves which is concluded upon the sighting of the moon.

Karwa Chauth Calendar 2024 with Puja Muhurat

• Title: Karva Chauth 2024
• Date: 20th October 2024
• Day: Sunday
• Karwa Chauth Puja Muhurat: 6:46 am to 4:16 am
• Moon Muhurat: 08:31 PM 
• Holiday type: Restricted
• Observed by: Hindus
• Observances: Women keep fast for their husband’s safety and long life

Karva Chauth History and Significance

Karva Chauth (Karwa Chauth) | History and Significance

There are no official records revealing the exact origin of this festival. But there are multiple legends in Bhagwad Gita that date back the origin of Karva Chauth to the mythological period.

Traditional Tales Related to Karva Chauth History

There are many stories and beliefs behind Karva Chauth pooja. Some of the famous tales are:

1. Story of Queen Veeravati: The most popular legend of all is the one of Queen Veeravati. The story goes that her seven brothers tricked her into breaking her first Karva Chauth by posing in a mirror as the moon, out of the love they had for their sister. Soon after breaking the fast, Veeravati got the news of her husband’s death which left her devastated and she kept crying until a goddess appeared and revealed the truth about what her brothers did. She asked Veeravati to complete the ritual, and then the Lord of Death, Yama, was forced to release the soul of her husband.
2. Story from Mahabharata: The Mahabharata connects this day to the time when Arjuna went to the Nilgiris, leaving the other Pandavas alone. They faced a lot of problems in his absence and to help them, Draupadi prayed to Lord Krishna who guided her to keep a fast for the well-being of her husband. She followed all the rituals as per his instructions, and this helped Pandavas overcome all the problems.
3. The Legend of Karwa: A woman named Karwa was deeply in love with her husband and that love gave her spiritual powers. Her husband went to bathe in the river once and he was attacked by a crocodile. Karwa bound the crocodile with cotton yarn and remembered Yamraj; the Lord of death. She requested Lord Yamraj to give life to her husband and a death sentence to the crocodile but Yamraj denied it. In return, Karwa threatened to curse Lord Yama and destroy him. Yama was afraid of being cursed by such a devoted wife, so he gave life back to her husband and sent the crocodile to hell.
4. Tale of Satyavan and Savitri: It is believed that when the God of death, Yamaraj, came to acquire Satyavan’s life, her wife Savitri begged to grant her husband’s life in front of Yamaraj. But Yamaraj denied it and saw that she had stopped eating and drinking and followed Yamaraj. Yamaraj gave Savitri a boon of her choice except the life of her husband. Savitri was a smart woman and asked Yamaraj if she could be blessed with children. As she was a devoted and loyal wife, she wouldn’t commit adultery. Thus, Yamaraj had to restore life to her husband, Satyavan.

Karva Chauth 2024: Puja Rituals/ Vidhi

Karva Chauth is celebrated with rituals and traditions involving families. Some of the popular rituals are:

• There is a ritual called ‘Sargi’ given by the mother-in-law to their daughter-in-law. Women eat Karwa Chauth Sargi in the morning on the day of Karva Chauth.
• Women keep fast for their husbands and listen to Karva Chauth’s stories during the puja.
• In the evening, women offer water to the moon and then drink the water from the earthen pot called Karva.
• The husband stands opposite to his wife and they look at each other through a Chhalni (sieve).

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How to Celebrate Karwa Chauth

There are many rituals according to the cultures to celebrate Karva Chauth but some rituals are common in all. The rituals are:

• Fasting: Women keep fast for their husband’s long life and safety.
• Food: Early in the morning, there is a ritual to have Sargi which includes fruits, dry fruits, milk, and other high-energy foods.
• Dressing: Women wear traditional attires with bangles, sindoor, and mehendi.
• Prayer: Married women worship the Karva Chauth Mata and listen to the stories related to Karwa Chauth.
• Breaking the fast: In the evening, women look at the moon through a Chhalni (sieve) and then offer water to the moon. Then husband feeds the same water and sweets to the wife to break the fast.

Karva Chauth Songs

People sing regional songs during Karwa Chauth puja like

“Veeron Kudiye Karwada, Sarv Suhagan Karwada,
Ae Katti Na Ateri Naa, Kumbh Chrakhra Feri Naa.”

This song describes the precautions to be taken by women during fasting.

Karva Chauth 2024 Celebrations Across India

Karva Chauth (Karwa Chauth) | Celebrations across India

On this day, married women dress up like a bride and apply mehandi to honour their relationship with their husbands. They begin the fast with sunrise and consume no water or food throughout the day until the sighting of the moon. In the evening, they recite stories based on the origin of Karwa Chauth and pray. When the moon appears, they break the fast by offering water first to the moon and then to their husbands. The husbands then offer water and a sweet to their wives to break their fast.
Married women receive gifts from their in-laws and husbands as a token of love and prosperity. In some parts of India, unmarried women also fast on this day in the hope of getting their desired life partner. People also celebrate the festival of Ahoi Ashtami after 4 days of Karwa Chauth for the wellbeing of their children.

Best Places to Observe Karva Chauth Celebrations in India

Karva Chauth is celebrated across the country with huge enthusiasm. Some of the best places to observe Karwa Chauth 2024 are:

1. Punjab: Karva Chauth is one of the main festivals to be celebrated in Punjab. The markets are flooded with various decorative items and accessories including beautiful sarees and suits, bangles, and stalls of sweets.

• Places to stay: Hotels in Amritsar

2. Haryana: Karwa Chauth celebrations in Haryana start a night before Karva Chauth when the woman’s mother sends Bayaa which consists of clothes, sweets, fruits, coconut, and sindoor (vermillion) for her daughter. Then the daughter-in-law is supposed to eat the Sargi given to her by her mother-in-law. It includes fresh fruits, sweets, dry fruits, vegetables, and chapatis.

• Places to Stay: Hotels in Gurgaon

3. Uttar Pradesh: In Uttar Pradesh, women wake up early to have a Sargi. Married women make the Karwa with mud and decorate the walls of their homes with drawings of the Moon, Gauri Ma and the sun. Women sing songs of Karwa Chauth and offer prayers to Goddess Paravati.

4. Delhi: Markets in Delhi join the spirit of Karva Chauth with decorations, bangles, mehendi and traditional attires. The religious ceremonies begin a little before the moonrise when ladies dressed in their festive attire, traditional jewellery and flowers come together with other women of the neighbourhood and society to pray.

• Places to Stay: Hotels in Delhi

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Gift Suggestions for Karva Chauth

In Karwa Chauth, wives fast for their husbands’ longer lives and in return, the husband presents a gift to their wife. Here are some suggestions for Karva Chauth 2024 gifts:

• Clothes: You can buy a beautiful saree or anything she loves to wear. You will find a lot of options in the Karwa Chauth online shopping category.
• Plan a trip: Take your wife on a romantic holiday to have a stress-free time from the daily hustle of life. There are many beautiful places in India which can be a perfect idea for your gift.
• Footwear: Women love buying shoes, so it would be a great idea to buy them a pair of shoes. Some of the varieties are stilettos, heels, sneakers, ballerina flats, boots, etc.
• Make-up: For some women, a set of good makeup accessories can beat all other alternatives.
• Dinner date: A quality time with your loved one is always the best option. A romantic dinner date at her favourite restaurant with some flowers and music might just be a perfect gift for your wife.

How to Reach Delhi by Flight, Train, Car or Bus

Year-Wise Karva Chauth Observances

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