Legends
Veeravati
There
was a beautiful girl,Veeravati,who was the only sister of her seven brothers,
and
was married to a king. On the first Karva Chauth, she went to her parents' house
and observed a
strict Vrat (fast).The seven brothers were disturbed her fasting and decided
to end her fast by cheating her.
The brothers reflected a glare of a mirror
through Banyan tree leaves and the sister, thought it was the moon rise, She
ended her fast and ate her meals.No sooner did she eat the meals than she got
the news of her husbands serious health problem.
The sister rushed to visit her husband but on the way, she met Lord Shiva
and Goddess Parvati who informed her that the king had died
due to her breaking of fast before moonrise. When she pleaded for apology,
the goddess Parvati granted her the boon that the king would come back to
life if she would strictly observe
the Karva Chauth fast. Thus, by strictly oberving the Karva chauth rituals, Veeravati
got her husband back to life.
Mahabharat
Once Arjun went to the Nilgiri Mountains for penance and in his absence,the rest of the Pandavas
faced many problems.Draupadi,prayed for the help of Lord Krishna who reminded
her that Goddess Parvati had been advised to observe the fast of Karva Chauth.
Draupadi followed the instructions and
strictly observed the fas and the Pandavas were relieved from their problems.
On this day, legends of Karva Chauth are narrated to the fasting women.
Satyavan and Savitri
When Lord Yam,the God of Death, came to
take away Satyavan's soul, The wife,Savitri begged for his long life.Lord Yam
refused and she stopped eating her food and drinking even water.Lord Yamra finally relented.
and granted her,husband's life.So on this day, Karva Chauth is celebrated with
great faith and belief.
The Celebration
A decorated thali,known
as Baya, is a very important in
performing the Karva Chauth puja.It contains vermilion, sacred water, the roli,dry
fruits etc.The attractive thalis for puja also contain the ritualistic
decoration like rangoli with
floral designs and
multicolored pulses.
Goddess Parvati is worshiped.
by Married women on this day.A small jar or Karva containing some
water is placed in the center. Legends are being narrated and the
ladies circulate the decorated thalis.
After performing the puja, this
thali is handed over to the eldest woman of the family who gives
blessings to all the women.The important rituals involving the festival
include worshipping 'Karvas' ie spherical clay pots with sweets,which are
later exchanged with other married women.
Women observe fasts all days long, then worship the 'karva' and the elderly
woman of the family narrates the legend of Karva Chauth (the narration of
Vrata Katha). Then they wait for the moon to rise and as soon as the moon is
sighted, prayers are offered to the moon.
The fasting women first observe the moon through a sieve that is a net and
then break their fast. The first sip of water and the first bite of food are
offered by the husband. Later on sumptuous dinner is served as a part of the
celebration.
