Karwa Chauth 2017: Puja Vidhi, Tithi and Timings

Pic courtesy: IANS photos

Dressed in their best fineries, married women in India observe a day long fast on the occasion of Karva Chauth and break it after sighting the moon at night. Karwa Chauth falls on Krishna Paksha Chaturthi in the Hindu month of Kartik according to the North Indian calendar and in the month of Ashwin in the south Indian calendar. This year, women will observe Karwa Chauth vrat on October 8.

According to Drikpanchang, the Tithi begins at 4:58 PM on October 8 and ends at 2:16 PM on October 9.

The Puja muhurat begins at 5:56 PM and end at 7:10 PM.

The moon is expected to rise at 8:15 PM.

Karwa Chauth Puja Vidhi

A woman dedicates the auspicious day to pray for the well-being of her husband.

Women in the family and neighbourhood gather together to start the Karwa Chauth rituals in the morning by consuming traditional recipes specifically prepared on the day of the festival. A woman gets gifts in the form of Sargi from her mother-in-law and Baya from her mother. These often consist of sweets, fruits, clothes etc. The Baya contains the Karwa, the pitcher which is of utmost importance in the Puja.

After observing a fast post sunrise, women take part in various traditional activities and prayers and take part in Karwa Chauth Katha.

Karva is actually a pitcher filled with water or milk and coins that is used by the women during the festival. It is later given as charity for the well-being of the family and future generations.

On this occasion, Akhanda Saubhagyavati Goddess Parvati is worshipped. Women also worship her husband Lord Shiva and their sons Ganesha and Kartikeya on this day.

A woman seeks blessings from the supreme powers to bless her as she observes a nirjal vrat (fating without even drinking water) until she offers her prayers to the moon god in the evening.

"मम सुखसौभाग्य पुत्रपौत्रादि सुस्थिर श्री प्राप्तये करक चतुर्थी व्रतमहं करिष्ये।"

Meaning – Bless me as I observe this fast for the well-being of my family, wealth and prosperity.

After offering her prayers, the Karwa is donated.

Then, the suhagan catches a glimpse of the moon through a sieve with a diya placed on it. Then she looks at her husband through the sieve. Her husband helps her break her fast by making her drink water and offering her sweets.

These days most men observe the Karwa Chauth vrat to express their love for their wife.