Karva Chauth Pooja Thali for a Traditional Celebration

Most festivals are a part of the culture and heritage of a society. They act as reservoir of traditions and customs, and also give future generations a wonderful opportunity of learning their roots and culture. In India people celebrate different festivals the whole year round. Each festival is unique and distinct from one another depending upon the religion, ethnicity or creed of the celebrants. Karva Chauth is also a festival of the country which is distinct and unique from other festivals. It is traditional Hindu festival celebrated to honor the love and devotion that Indian women have for their husbands.

Karva Chauth is celebrated on 'Kartik ki chauth', which is the fourth day of the new moon in the month of Kartik.  The name of the festival comes from ‘Karva’ which means an earthen pot with a spout, and “chauth” which is the Sanskrit word the “fourth day.”   Karwa chauth comes 9 days before Diwali and it is considered to be the precursor of all the festivities coming up on Diwali. On this occasion, married women in the country undertake a ritual fast for the longevity, well-being and prosperity of their husbands. The fast is considered to be the most important and hard fast observed in Indian traditions. Only married women are allowed to perform the fast and unmarried women, widows, and spinsters are barred from it.

On the day of Karva Chauth, it is the tradition for the mothers in law to feed them the “sargi” which is usually vermicelli kheer or fruits. This light meal is consumed before the sunrise and it is the last the women will have for the day. And for the remainder of the day, women are bound to abstain from food and water. It is maintained in Indian traditions that the prayers of the devoted women bring safety and well-being of their husbands. Women undertake this rigorous fast without any complaints and the fast is a testament to their love and devotion for their husbands.

Karva Chauth fast is ended only when the moon comes in sight. Children are usually sent upstairs to look out for the moon and when it is sighted, the news spreads quickly through the neighborhood. The women then make their way to the rooftops and view the moon through a sieve or a dupatta. They also perform poojas and offer water to the moon from the earthen pot or “Karva.” The earthen pot signifies peace and prosperity and along with the Karva Chauth thali, they are an important part of the rituals. As they are essential for the celebrations, traditional Karva Chauth thali are usually presented on the occasion. And some of the most common Karva Chauth pooja thali items that are featured are dry fruits, sweets and flowers.

The worship for the day is deemed complete when the husband presents the first sip of water and the first morsel of food to his wife. The women and then take the first sip of water and the first morsel of food and officially break the fast. It is also the custom for the husbands to present karwa chauth gifts for wife on the day of the festival.