Fast for the health and happiness of your man! Don’t worry girls, the mother in law will set you up with a cooked breakfast first!
When: October / November, November 2nd 2012, 22nd October 2013.
Where: Northern India.
Karwa Chauth is a festival full of legend and tradition celebrated by all married Hindu women, mostly in Northern India. During the day they fast for the long life, health and prosperity of their husbands. The event is growing bigger with each passing year and nowadays, Karwa Chauth is more for fun than a serious festival.
Early in the morning, before sunrise the women eat food prepared by their mother-in-laws. During the day they decorate their hands and feet with henna designs and meet up with friends and relatives. In the evening, they wear bridal makeup and gather together to listen to the legends of Karwa Chauth and perform puja (rituals). The fast is over after the moonrise.
One legend goes that a long long time ago, there lived a beautiful princess called Veeravati. She was the only sister of seven doting brothers, and was married to a handsome king. On the first Karva Chauth after her marriage, she went to her parents’ house and after sunrise, and she observed a strict fast. However, Veeravati became faint and was desperately waiting for the moon to rise so she could eat. Her brothers who loved her dearly, hated seeing her distress and decided to end her fast early by deceiving her. They made a fire on a nearby hill and told Veeravati that it was the moon rising so she broke the fast and took food. However, the moment she ate her dinner, she received the news that her beloved husband, the king, was dead. She wept the whole night. The Goddess Parvati saw her weeping and asked her what the matter was. Veeravati told her the whole story, how her brothers cheated her in their eagerness to help her. The Goddess Parvati granted her wish that the king would be revived, but he would be ill and Veeravati must repeat the fast on the next Karwa Chaut with full dedication and devotion in order to restore the king to full health… which she did!
When is Karwa Chauth?
Karwa Chauth falls about nine days before Diwali, some time in October or November.
Food & Drink
Eat Sargi, a creamy vermaceli, pre-sunrise breakfast made by the mother in law. Drink Lassi before sunrise.
Travel to Northern India
Book flights and hotels to Jaipur or Delhi with ebookers.com. You may need to search for flights and hotels separately.
Dates / venues may be subject to change or cancellation. Distances may be straight-line estimates. Please verify information before booking.
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Enjoy your trip! And when you’re home we’d love you to come back and tell us all about it!
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Have a night in with the girlsTry some traditional Henna Mehndi designs. Henna is typically applied during special occasions like weddings and festivals. |
Karwa Chauth henna by HennaLounge, on Flickr
Vesak day, China
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