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Karva Chauth falls on Krishna Paksha Chaturthi (4th day of waning moon) in Kartik month. The fast-breaking is tied to moonrise — the fast cannot be broken until the moon is sighted through the sieve. Moonrise time varies by location and must be computed.
On this sacred Karva Chauth, I observe this nirjala vrat for the long life, health, and prosperity of my husband. I worship Shiva-Parvati and Karva Mata with devotion, praying that my husband be blessed with a hundred years of life.
Before sunrise (typically 4-5 AM), the mother-in-law provides the sargi — a pre-fast meal containing sweets (mathri, feni), fruits, dry fruits, milk, and vermicelli (seviyan). The wife eats this meal before dawn as it will be the last food and water until moonrise. This is a gesture of love from the mother-in-law.
After sargi, observe a strict nirjala (without water) fast for the entire day. No food, no water, not even a single drop — until the moon is sighted in the evening. Spend the day in prayer, getting dressed in bridal attire, and applying mehendi. Married women typically wear their wedding outfit or festive clothes, complete with bangles, sindoor, and jewelry.
In the evening (before moonrise), gather with other married women. Set up the Gaur Mata (Parvati) idol. Arrange the aarti thali with diya, kumkum, akshat, and flowers. All women sit in a circle around the Gaur Mata image. The eldest or most experienced woman leads the puja.
Listen to the Karva Chauth Katha — the story of Queen Veervati who accidentally broke her Karva Chauth fast and her husband died, but through her devotion and penance, she pleased Yama and restored her husband's life. While the katha is being read, pass the aarti thali from one woman to the next in the circle. Each woman rotates it 7 times before passing it on.
After the katha and puja, wait patiently for the moon to rise. The moonrise time on Karva Chauth typically falls between 8 PM and 10 PM depending on location and year. Keep the karva filled with water, the sieve, and the aarti thali ready. The husband should also be present and dressed well.
When the moon appears, take the sieve (chalni) and look at the moon through it. This filters the moonlight through a screen, symbolizing that the wife sees the world through her devotion. Hold the diya on the aarti thali behind the sieve so the moon is framed by its light.
Immediately after sighting the moon through the sieve, turn the sieve toward your husband and look at his face through it. This is the most emotionally significant moment of Karva Chauth — the wife sees her husband's face framed by the sieve, blessing him with long life. The husband should stand facing the wife with a gentle smile.
The husband takes water from the karva and offers it to the wife to drink — this officially breaks the nirjala fast. He then offers her the first bite of food (sweet or fruit). This act symbolizes the husband's care and gratitude for her sacrifice. After this, the wife can eat a full meal. Offer arghya (water) from the karva to the moon as thanksgiving.
Karva Chauth Vrat Mantra
करवा चौथ का व्रत मैं करती हूँ, सुहाग मेरा अमर रहे। ईश्वर से यही माँगती हूँ, मेरे पति की उम्र लम्बी हो।
karavā cautha kā vrata maĩ karatī hū̃, suhāga merā amara rahe | īśvara se yahī māṅgatī hū̃, mere pati kī umra lambī ho |
I observe the Karva Chauth fast, may my marital bond be eternal. I pray to God that my husband's life be long.
Gauri-Shankar Prayer
ॐ गौर्यै नमः। ॐ शङ्कराय नमः। नमः पार्वतीपतये हर हर महादेव।
oṃ gauryai namaḥ | oṃ śaṅkarāya namaḥ | namaḥ pārvatīpataye hara hara mahādeva |
Om, salutations to Goddess Gauri. Om, salutations to Lord Shankar. Salutations to the husband of Parvati, Hara Hara Mahadeva.
Chandra Arghya Mantra (Moon Offering)
ॐ क्षीरपुत्राय विद्महे अमृततत्त्वाय धीमहि। तन्नो चन्द्रः प्रचोदयात्॥
oṃ kṣīraputrāya vidmahe amṛtatattvāya dhīmahi | tanno candraḥ pracodayāt ||
Om, we meditate upon the son of the milky ocean (Chandra), we contemplate the essence of immortality. May the Moon inspire and illuminate us.
करवा चौथ की आरती, सब मिल कर गाओ। शिव गौरा की जोड़ी को, भोग सभी लगाओ॥ करवा चौथ की आरती॥ ज्यों गौरा ने शिव को पाया, कठोर तप करके। सब नारी को सुहाग मिले, यह व्रत रख करके॥ करवा चौथ की आरती॥ आओ सब मिलकर करें, करवा चौथ की पूजा। पति की लम्बी उम्र हो, और न कोई दूजा॥ करवा चौथ की आरती॥
karavā cautha kī āratī, saba mila kara gāo | śiva gaurā kī joḍī ko, bhoga sabhī lagāo || karavā cautha kī āratī || jyõ gaurā ne śiva ko pāyā, kaṭhora tapa karake | saba nārī ko suhāga mile, yaha vrata rakha karake || karavā cautha kī āratī || āo saba milakara karẽ, karavā cautha kī pūjā | pati kī lambī umra ho, aura na koī dūjā || karavā cautha kī āratī ||
Offer sweets (laddoo, mathri, gujiya), fruits, and milk to Gaur Mata. After breaking the fast, the traditional Karva Chauth dinner includes rich foods — puri, halwa, dal, and special sweets prepared by the mother-in-law.
Karva Chauth vrat grants the husband a long and healthy life, strengthens the marital bond, and brings good fortune to the household. The Brahma Vaivarta Purana states that Parvati herself observed this vrat for Shiva, and women who observe it with devotion receive the blessings of Gauri and the longevity of their husbands like that of Shiva — eternal.