Friday, 2 November 2012

Origin and Legend behind ‘Karwa Chauth’


Oct-Nov is the most celebrated festive season in India. A number of fests & fairs are enjoyed in almost each corner of the country. And one such festival is – Karwa Chauth, celebrated on the fourth day after full moon in kartik month, and where moon is worshiped for a long and healthy life of the better half. This festival reflects the love & affection of a woman for his spouse, who keeps fast for the partner’s betterment and healthy & long life. However, ‘Karwa Chauth’ has same significance for men too.
The name ‘Karwa Chauth’ consists of two words: Karwa which means a clay pot and ‘Chauth’ that represents the fourth day after the full moon in Kartik month.
According to an ancient Hindu story, there were seven brothers and their single sister living in a village. They belonged to a rich family and were living euphorically. The girl (sister) got married only when she was 12 years of old. When it was her first karwa Chauth, she came to her father’s home. But as per rituals, she opted for the fast for her husband. Now since she was on fast, it had to be without food & water till the late night. Seeing this, her brothers got worried on how the little girl will survive this way. So they planned to create an artificial moon so that the sister could worship and then take her meal.
One of the brothers went to the hill and brunt cow dung on the top. The rests came to the sister and ask her to worship the moon and offer the ark (water offered to moon). The little girl didn’t know the reality and commit all the rituals with artificial moon. As soon as she took her meal, she got a massage from her in-laws that her husband is seriously ill. The girl got socked and left for her husband immediately.
When the reality came open, she asked priests for the solution. She was told that her husband will be Ok only if she exchange Karwa with gaur Mata and make her say – ‘le Suhagan Karwa’, ‘de suhagan karwa’. Now the girl had to wait for the next Karwa Chauth. The day came, and this time the girl kept fast with pure heart and waited till the real moon comes out. She prayed the Gaur Mata, and requested here to say what the priests suggested. Now Gaur Mata got pity on her, and blessed her happy married life. Her husband got well.
In a bid to achieve what that girl did, women in India remain on fast. They worship Gaur Mata and pay homage to her. Many couple plan holidays at this festival and spend quality time with each other. If you too have same plan, Manali tour or manali tour package and munnar hotels are good options.

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