Karwa Chauth — vrat katha & puja vidhi

What Karwa Chauth is

The karwa is the small pitcher used in the puja, and chauth is the fourth lunar day (Chaturthi). Women exchange painted karwas filled with bangles, sweets and small gifts, apply mehndi and spend the day with friends and family; in the evening they gather for a group puja.

Source: Wikipedia — Karva Chauth

The katha

Queen Veeravati, the only sister of seven brothers, could not bear her first fast. Her brothers tricked her with a mirror in a pipal tree that looked like the rising Moon; she broke the fast, and her husband died. When she kept the fast again with full devotion, Yama gave him back his life. (In another telling the brothers use a fire, and Parvati helps her revive him.)

In the story of Karwa, a devoted wife saves her husband from a crocodile: she threatens to curse Yama, who sends the crocodile away and grants her husband long life. In the Mahabharata tradition, Draupadi keeps this fast on Krishna’s advice, and the Pandavas’ troubles pass.

Drik Panchang says the Karwa Chauth Mahatmya (the story of the vrat’s greatness) is narrated during the group puja; which story is told varies by family and region.

Source: Wikipedia — Karva Chauth · Drik Panchang — Karwa Chauth puja vidhi

What you need

• A karwa (small pitcher) filled with water or milk, with a coin or small precious item
• A drawing or printed picture of Gauri and Chauth Mata (in Uttar Pradesh, clay images of Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha)
• A decorated puja thali
• A sieve (or dupatta) to view the Moon, and water for arghya
• Sweets (baya / baayna) to give to the mother-in-law or sister-in-law

Source: Drik Panchang — Karwa Chauth puja vidhi · Wikipedia — Karva Chauth

Puja vidhi — simple steps

1. Before dawn, eat the sargi — the pre-fast meal, traditionally sent by the mother-in-law.
2. After the morning bath, take the sankalpa (the vow) — see the mantra below. The fast is without food and water until moonrise.
3. In the evening, draw or place Gauri and Chauth Mata. Worship Parvati first, then Shiva, Kartikeya and Ganesha — usually together with other women.
4. Listen to the Karwa Chauth katha, told by an elder woman or a priest, passing the thalis around the circle.
5. Karwa daan: give the filled karwa to a Brahmin or a married woman.
6. At moonrise, worship the Moon and offer water (arghya); look at the Moon through the sieve, then at your husband.
7. Break the fast — traditionally the husband gives the first sip of water — and then have a full meal.

Source: Drik Panchang — Karwa Chauth puja vidhi · Wikipedia — Karva Chauth

When it falls and what time to keep

Karwa Chauth is kept on the day when Kartika Krishna Chaturthi prevails at moonrise. The evening puja is done after sunset (Drik Panchang, citing the Vratraj), and the fast ends after moonrise — this page shows New Delhi’s moonrise; your city may differ by some minutes.

Source: BornClock festival calendar (dates checked against Drik Panchang, New Delhi) · Drik Panchang — Karwa Chauth puja vidhi

Traditions differ

It is kept in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, and in Nepal and Fiji; Andhra Pradesh has a related observance called Atla Tadde. In Punjab the sargi includes fenia; in Uttar Pradesh some eat soot feni with milk and sugar the night before. In Rajasthan the story of Gaur Mata is told. Some unmarried women keep the fast too, praying for a loving partner — this is not universal.

Source: Wikipedia — Karva Chauth

Mantra (with meaning)

• मम सुखसौभाग्य पुत्रपौत्रादि सुस्थिर श्री प्राप्तये करक चतुर्थी व्रतमहं करिष्ये।

  Mama sukha-saubhagya putra-pautradi susthira shri praptaye karaka chaturthi vratam aham karishye.

  Meaning: I will observe the Karak Chaturthi fast to attain lasting happiness, marital good fortune and prosperity for my children and grandchildren.

  When: Sankalpa (the vow), in the morning.

  Source: Drik Panchang — Karwa Chauth puja vidhi

• नमः शिवायै शर्वाण्यै सौभाग्यं संतति शुभाम्। प्रयच्छ भक्तियुक्तानां नारीणां हरवल्लभे॥

  Namah shivayai sharvanyai saubhagyam santatim shubham. Prayachchha bhakti-yuktanam narinam haravallabhe.

  Meaning: Salutations to the consort of Shiva. O beloved of Hara, grant good fortune and virtuous children to the women devoted to you.

  When: Prayer to Parvati at the evening puja.

  Source: Drik Panchang — Karwa Chauth puja vidhi

• करकं क्षीरसम्पूर्णा तोयपूर्णमथापि वा। ददामि रत्नसंयुक्तं चिरञ्जीवतु मे पतिः॥

  Karakam kshira-sampurna toya-purnam athapi va. Dadami ratna-samyuktam chiranjivatu me patih.

  Meaning: I offer this pitcher, filled with milk or water and set with gems, so that my husband may live long.

  When: Karwa daan (giving the pitcher).

  Source: Drik Panchang — Karwa Chauth puja vidhi