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In Sanatan Hindu religion, the fast of Karva Chauth is considered one of the biggest and sacred fasts for married women. On this day, women keep Nirjala (without water) fast for the whole day to pray for their husband’s long life, good health, good luck and happy married life. In the year 2026, this holy festival of Karva Chauth will be celebrated on Thursday, 29 October. According to the Panchang, this fast is observed every year on the Chaturthi date of Krishna Paksha of Kartik month. This fast starts with ‘Sargi’ eaten before sunrise and ends after offering Arghya to the moon at night and accepting water from the hands of her husband. The time of moonrise on the day of Karva Chauth is considered most important, because this fast is not complete without the sight of the moon.
The fast of Karva Chauth is started by eating ‘Sargi’ at dawn i.e. just before sunrise. It is a tradition in many families that the mother-in-law gives a plate of Sargi to her daughter-in-law as a mark of affection and blessings. This thali includes fruits, nuts, sweets, faye and other nutritious food items, after eating which the women spend the whole day without water. The main purpose of eating Sargi is to provide energy and strength to the body for the whole day. After taking Sargi, women take a pledge that they will pray for the long life of their married couple by staying without food and water for the whole day.
After fasting throughout the day, in the evening, married women get fully dressed and do Solah Shringar. Wearing new clothes, especially red, pink or yellow colored saree or lehenga on this day is considered very auspicious. The thali is specially decorated for the evening puja. Earthen or copper karva (water vessel), lamp, roli, akshat (rice), flowers, incense, fruits and sweets are kept in the puja thali. Along with this, a sieve is kept to see the moon and a pot filled with water to offer Arghya is also kept. During the puja, women sit together and listen to the story of Karva Chauth and worship Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha and Karva Mata with rituals.
The rituals of Karva Chauth puja are considered incomplete without listening to the story. In the evening when women gather for puja, they collectively recite or listen to the story of Karva Chauth. The story of Queen Veeravati is the most famous among religious stories, in which the unwavering faith in the rules of fasting is described. It is believed that by listening to the story one gets the full results of the fast and happiness and prosperity remains in the family. After the story, married women receive blessings from their mother-in-law or elderly women by gifting them wedding items.
The most important and awaited moment of Karva Chauth fast comes after moonrise at night. When the moon is visible in the sky, women first look at the moon through a sieve and then look at their husband’s face through the same sieve. After this, water is offered to the moon and Arghya is offered and wishes are made for the long life of the husband. At last, the husband breaks his wife’s fast by giving her water and sweets with his own hands. In this way this great festival of faith, love and dedication ends. Keeping health in mind, elderly people or women suffering from health problems should decide to observe Nirjala fast only after consulting the doctor.