Karwa Chauth is a significant fasting ritual observed by married Hindu women, primarily in North India, to seek longevity, well-being, and prosperity for their husbands. Karwa, meaning ‘earthen pot’, symbolises prosperity.
Karwa Chauth is celebrated on the fourth day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Kartik. This year, it was celebrated on Sunday, 20 November in all its splendour. It involves rituals and preparation prior to the D-day, which includes waking up before sunrise to eat and drink food which is called Sargi.
In ATS One Hamlet, normally a group of friends/ neighbours gather in the morning to do sargi together. As the day moved, they began to dress up. The Karwa Chauth fast begins at sunrise and ends at moonrise.
Towards evening, the rituals began with women gathering either in their towers, the clubhouse or with their families, sharing stories and singing songs. This year, the group Karwa Chauth puja was performed in the clubhouse.
The auspicious time of the Karwa Chauth puja was earlier than the regular time this year. Two pandits conducted the rituals which included lighting diyas, offering prayers to Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, and exchanging the Karwa filled with water, sweets, and other items.
After the Karwa Chauth puja, a photo session of the One Hamlet ladies, dressed in all their finery and with beautifully hennaed hands, began. As the moon rose, women offered water to it (arghya) and broke their fast.
The husband helps his wife break the fast by feeding her water and food. There are some couples who fast together too! After all, Karwa Chauth is a festival that symbolizes the devotion, love, and commitment of married couples, seeking long life and happiness.
