Significance of Karwa Chauth
India is place where each and every festival whether it is a small festival or a big one celebrated in a grand way, especially a women related festival, such as karwa chauth festival is one among celebrated mostly by North Indian community of India by married Hindu women.
Karwa means an earthen pot that symbolizes the prosperity and well being. Chauth is the fourth night after the full moon day in Kartik month according to Hindu calendar. Karwa Chauth is the only festival which pays tribute to the institution of marriage and adds to the rich values of Indian culture, selflessness, social and moral ethics of India.
On the this festival of Karwa Chauth women does a very difficult fast without any food or single drop of water till the moon rise as it believed that the pain taken by a wife helps her husband get the blessings of longevity and well-being of her husband by the God. And according to Indian marriage tradition the rights and responsibilities of husband and wife towards each other as the husband is the earner and protector of the family while the wife is responsible for proper care of the entire family.
There are many different stories based on the Karwa Chauth festival Which has a noble idea. Some people believe that Karwa Chauth festival was actually the day to celebrate the season of autumn and enjoy the company of friends and relatives but later on, few mythological legends were associated with it to give it a religious existence. The same festival is celebrated in south India as Varalakshmi Vratham pooja performed by married women in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra.
But the main significance of Karwa Chauth was celebrated from ancient times with a noble idea which has lost in the present Karwa Chauth celebrations. As in ancient days, girls used to get early marriages and they had live their family and go with their in-laws. If a married women faces any problem with her in-laws or her husband, she would have no one to talk to or seek to help since her own parents and relatives would be quite far and unreachable.
Then a custom started that, after marriage, when bride reaches her in-laws, she would befriend another woman whom she treats them as her friend or sister for life. It would be like god-friends or god-sisters. Their friendship would be sanctified through a small Hindu ceremony right during the marriage. Later in life, if she faces any difficulty related to her husband or in-laws, she would be able to talk or seek help from each other. Thus, festival of Karwa Chauth was started to as to celebrate this relationship between the once-brides and their god-friends (god-sisters). Hence it became a tremendous social and cultural significance when world was not having any means to communicate and move around easily.
Then later came the process of fasting and praying for husband which was also added along with other mythical tales, to enhance the Krwa Chauth festival. Thus how husband’s are associated with this festival along with friendship between two god-sisters. Hence the karwa Chauth festival very logical since it goes along with praying and fasting for him by his wife with her god-friend of her relationship.
There are even legendary stories are associated with the Karwa Chauth festival of a devoted wife (pativrata nari), Karwa and her efforts to save her husbands life. A story of Satyavan and Sati, the couple who united again despite being destined to be separated due to Sati’s efforts to save Satyavan’s life from Yamdoota.
And in modern days the Karwa Chauth festival has become commercialized with all the accessories attached along with fasting into a full-fledged event. Karwa Chauth festival celebrations are growing bigger and bigger every year. Many commercial business owners like Halwais, beauty parlour owners, the Mehendi and Chudiwallis, the event managers and the restaurant owners become traditionally busy on this auspicious day.
Karwa Chauth is a festival that encourages women to gather and socialize with friends and family, exchange gifts and share home-cooked meals. The gifts exchanged on this occasion reflects joy, splendor, brightness and happiness of a married life.