A Celebration of Love & Devotion
Karwa Chauth is a cherished Hindu festival where married women observe a day-long fast from sunrise to moonrise, praying for the longevity, well-being, and prosperity of their husbands. It is a beautiful expression of love, sacrifice, and the sacred bond of marriage, celebrated with immense devotion and festive spirit across various parts of India.
The Sacred Puja Thali
The Puja Thali holds all the essential items for the ritual. Each element has a deep symbolic meaning, contributing to the sanctity of the ceremony. Click on each item on the thali below to discover its significance.
Select an Item
Click on an icon on the thali to learn about its role in the Karwa Chauth puja.
The Day's Ritual (Puja Vidhi)
The festival follows a sequence of rituals from dawn till moonrise. Explore the key moments of the day by clicking on each step in the timeline.
The Legend (Vrat Katha)
Listening to the Vrat Katha, the story of Queen Veeravati, is an indispensable part of the puja. It highlights the power of a wife's devotion and the importance of adhering to the rituals.
The story revolves around a beautiful queen named Veeravati, the only sister to seven loving brothers. On her first Karwa Chauth, she observed a strict fast at her parents' home. By evening, she was desperately waiting for the moon to rise, feeling weak from thirst and hunger. Seeing their sister's distress, her brothers couldn't bear it. They created an illusion of a moon by placing a mirror in a pipal tree and holding a flame behind a sieve.
Mistaking it for the real moon, Veeravati broke her fast. The moment she took a bite of food, news arrived that her husband, the king, was gravely ill. Heartbroken, she rushed to his side and, on the way, met Goddess Parvati who revealed her brothers' deception. The Goddess advised her to re-observe the fast with complete devotion. Veeravati did so, and due to her unwavering faith and prayers, Yama, the god of death, was forced to restore her husband to life. Since then, it became a tradition for women to look at the moon through a sieve, remembering Veeravati's story and praying for their husbands' long lives.
Regional Celebration Styles
While the essence remains the same, Karwa Chauth celebrations have unique regional flavors. The chart below illustrates the conceptual focus of traditions in different parts of North India. Hover over the bars for more details.