Indian festivals are incomplete without some awesome and royal preparation of sweets and savoury; festival basically means taking blessing from almighty, parents and enjoy with good food and lots of sweets.The Next day of Diwali falls “Goverdhan Puja” referred as “Annakut”- a Hindu festival, occurs on the first lunar day of bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha).

‘Annakut’ means heap of grain, a huge mountain of food which consisted of fruits, salads, pulses, sweets and juices. “This together is offered to the almighty and then distributed as ‘prasadam’ among everyone.

Any ‘FOOD’ offered to the GOD, It becomes ‘Prasad’ and when ‘Fifty Six Meals” are offered to the God it is called “CHAPPAN BHOG”.

Lord Krishna in adolescent, used to have meal eight times a day. When Lord Krishna raised the Govardhan mountain with his little finger to save village and people from the asperity of Lord Indra (God of Rain), he did not consume food for seven consecutive days. Out of gratitude, at the end of the seventh day, everyone made Krishna ji “Mahaprasad”, total of 56 dishes (eight multiplied by seven). This Mahaprasad is of two types, Sankuni includes various kind of rice, dal, vegetables, Kheer etc. and Sukhila includes array of dry sweets.

In variations, some people offer 16 kinds of namkeen, 20 kinds of sweets and 20 kinds of dry fruits. Some common items in the “Annakut” or “Chappan Bhog” are made of milk, ghee and yoghurt such as Kheer, makhan mishri, rasgulla, jalebi,ladoo, rabri, malpua, ghewar, moong dal halwa, mohanbhog, murabah, chutney, mathri, saag, dahi (curd), rice, dal, kadi, chila, papad, pakoda, khichadi, poori, badam milk, tikkis, cashews, pistachios, walnuts, almonds, elachi etc among others. This Mahabhog is traditionally arranged in a sequence, starting with milk items, moving on the besan treats, salty food items ending with sweets, dry fruits and cardamom.

It is also said that Human’s five fingers have five rasas: sweet, savoury, salty, sour and spicy. When cooking with hands, these five rasas transmit to the food. (The above picture rightly seems the manifestation of the five rasas, Isn’t it?). Annakut is prepared with all these beliefs and emotions to worship deity. It is believed that once “Chappan Bhog” is accepted by deity it becomes more sacred and only then it is been distributed among devotees.

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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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