Shiva-Parvati & Karva Mata

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.