Karva Chauth Katha

In ancient times, there lived a beautiful queen named Veeravati who was the youngest of seven siblings — six brothers and herself. During her first Karva Chauth fast after marriage, she grew terribly weak as the day wore on. Her six loving brothers could not bear to see her suffering.

As moonrise was delayed, the brothers devised a plan. They climbed to the top of a hill and held up a mirror behind a pipal tree, creating the illusion of moonrise. They called out to Veeravati: "Sister, the moon has risen! You may break your fast!" Veeravati believed them and broke her fast.

The moment the food touched her lips, terrible news arrived: her husband, the king, had collapsed dead. Veeravati was devastated. An old woman told her that her husband had died because she broke the fast before the actual moonrise, deceived by her brothers' false moon. The old woman advised her to observe Karva Chauth with complete faith for an entire year.

Veeravati observed the strictest fast on every Karva Chauth, praying day and night for her husband's life. After a year of unwavering devotion, Lord Shiva and Parvati were moved by her dedication. Parvati herself came to Veeravati and restored her husband to life, granting the couple a long and happy life together.

From that day, married women observe Karva Chauth for their husband's long life and well-being, fasting from sunrise to moonrise without even a drop of water. The fast is broken only after sighting the moon through a sieve and then looking at the husband's face.

Observing Karva Chauth with sincere devotion ensures the husband's long life, good health, and prosperity. It strengthens the marital bond and is believed to accumulate merit equivalent to performing many pujas. The couple receives the blessings of Shiva and Parvati for a harmonious life together.

Wake before sunrise, eat sargi (pre-dawn meal prepared by mother-in-law). Fast without food or water from sunrise to moonrise. Apply mehndi and wear bridal attire. In the evening, gather with other women to listen to the Karva Chauth Katha. Prepare a puja thali with a karva (earthen pot), diya, sweets, and offerings. When the moon rises, view it through a sieve, then look at the husband's face through the sieve. The husband offers water and the first bite of food to break the fast.