Karwa Chauth is celebrated most of the Northern-region of India by married woman. All married woman observes fasting (without food and water) since morning till moon rise for the well-being, prosperity and longevity of their husband. It also kept to maintain harmony in marital relationship. Every Hindu festival carries many traditions and do have social and scientific significance. The article highlights the fasting preparation, puja process, the story and other important rituals.

The Ritual

On the day of Karwa Chauth the married woman gets up early before sunrise to eat their sargi. A fasting feast given by their mother-in law which contain fruits, dry fruits, sweets, matthi, vermilion, etc. The sargi helps in keeping the woman energetic all through the day.

The Puja

For the puja, woman dresses up in their solha shringar (bindi, sindoor, maang tikka, kajal, mehndi, bangles, hair accessories, earrings, necklace, rings, nose ring, armlet, waistband, anklet & bichuas, perfume and clothes).

Origin & Story

As other Hindu myth stories, many stories are also attached to Karwa Chauth. The origin of Karwa Chauth is believed to date back at the time of Mahabharata. When Arjun went to Nilgiri mountains Draupadi started facing certain issues for which she approached Lord Krishna. He advised her to do Karwa Chauth fasting, the same manner in which Goddess Parvati did for Lord Shiva. The purpose of the fast is to remove obstacles from marital life. He then recited Draupadi the story of Karwa Chauth.

The Story of Karwa

Long time back, in the city of Indraprasthapur there was Brahmin couple Vedsharma and his wife Leelavati. They had a daughter named Veeravati. Because of just sister of seven siblings she was pampered by all.

As she grew old, she was married to a Brahmin boy. Like other married women Veeravati too had to do the Karwa Chauth fasting, but she couldn’t bear the appetite. Because of this shortcoming she swooned and fell on the ground.

All siblings couldn’t bear the hopeless state of their lovable sister. They realized that Veeravati, a Pativrata, would not take any nourishment except if she locates the moon regardless of whether it costs her life. All siblings together made an arrangement to deceive the sister to break her fast. One of the siblings hopped on the far-off tree of Vat with sifter and light. When Veeravati picked up the cognizant, rest of the siblings disclosed to her that the moon has risen and expedited her the rooftop to locate the moon. When Veeravati saw the light, she accepted that the moon has ascended. To get over her yearning she quickly made contributions to the light and opened her fast.

When Veeravati began having the supper she got a wide range of terrible sign. In the primary chomp she found the hair, in the second nibble she wheezed and in the third nibble she got greeting from her in-laws. In the wake of contacting her spouses’ home just because she found the dead body of her better half. On observing the dead body of her significant other Veeravati began crying and reprimanded herself for submitting some misstep during the fasting of Karwa Chauth. She began grieving hopelessly. On listening her grieving Goddess Indrani, the spouse of God Indra, landed to support Veeravati. Veeravati asked Indrani for what valid reason she got such a destiny upon the arrival of Karwa Chauth and asked to make her significant other alive. On observing the regret of Veeravati, Goddess Indrani disclosed to her that she broke the fast without giving Argha (offering) to the moon and because of that her better half met unfavorable passing. Indrani exhorted Veeravati to watch Chauth fasting on every month during the time including the fasting of Karwa Chauth and guaranteed that her significant other would return alive. After that Veeravati watched month to month fasting with complete trust and all customs.

At Moon Rise

At moon rise couples do the puja of moon together. The women look at the moon through a strainer(channi) and then see’s her husband. She offers water to moon and then the husband too offer water to his wife. This completes the fast and the family is ready to take their meals.

Happy Fasting!!!

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India is the land of festivals and they are treated to be auspicious as per the Hindu religion. Each Indian festival has its own unique way of celebration and people follow the tradition while celebrating it. Festivals in India are awaited all year long and are celebrated with great enthusiasm.

With zest of festivity comes the food ritual fasting…!!

Fasting holds great significance in the Hindu culture, and one festival where a fast is religiously observed is Karva Chauth.

Falling on 17th October 2019 this year, especially in Northern India, married women, fast from sunrise to moonrise for the safety and longevity of their husbands.

One of the most important parts of this fast is the ‘SARGI’ (my favorite part of festival), the pre-dawn meal that a Mother-in-law gives to her daughter-in-law who is keeping a dawn-to-dusk fast as a prayer for her son’s well-being and long life or we can say, the only meal that a woman consumes for the duration of the day. (sounds unrealistic but it’s True)

This sargi is actually a traditional meal, an assortment of sweets and savouries like mathri (salty fried snack), mithai (sweet), kaju-kishmish aur badaam (dry fruits), feniyan (Vermicelli) and fruits.

All about Feasting Thali…

Not only it looks delightful but it also provides ample energy to a woman to sustain without food and water throughout the day. Here are some food items that are included in a conventional Karva Chauth thali.

Vermicelli (Popular as Sevayyian)

Sevayyian or Vermicelli Kheer, prepared from milk and sugar is an essential item in a sargi thali which makes it full of nutritious and yummy.

Fruits

Fruits like bananas, apples, etc., are also a part of the sargi. Fast involves staying without food and water, eating fruits that are rich in fiber and water, helps the woman feeling fuller and hydrated till the evening

Sweets

Indian festivals are incomplete without sweets, the sugar in the sweets is great for providing much-needed energy for the day.

Dry Fruits

Rich in nutritious nuts like Pistachios, almonds, walnuts, cashews etc, are included in the sargi thali. Nuts are considered auspicious and can draw all the energy for women fasting to manage without food and water.

We wish you happy fasting!

Credit – Sana Kochar

The post Sargi- A Fasting Feast appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.