Karva Chauth is a day that blesses your nuptial with the life of moon, it is not merely about fasting. It is considered as a day to relive the of love, affection and saying thanks to your better half for gifting you with priceless moments in your life. Let’s read more about this beautiful day.
The festival of Karva Chauth has evolved into a day to celebrate the season of autumn and the enjoy the festivity with the company of your family and friends. Nevertheless mythological legends were added to the whole story to make it a religiously significant affair. This festival is primarily celebrated and widely ceremonialise by the Hindus and Sikh of North India. As the name denotes, Karva means a clay pot and chauth relates to the fourth, this festival is celebrated on the fourth day after the Full Moon in Karthik month of Hindu calendar. A few days before Karva Chauth, married women buy new karvas, the spherical clay pots and paint them on the outside with striking fascinating pattern. The pots comprises of bangles and ribbons home made candy and sweets, make up articles and small clothes such as handkerchief . The women then visit each other on the day of Karva Chauth or soon after and exchange such karvas. Season wise soon after the harvest, it is an amazing time to enjoy festivities, meet one another and exchange gifts.
During this time of Karva Chauth, parents send gifts to married daughters and their children. In the evening all women sit in a circular manner after getting done with the fera ceremony, which involves circulation of thali comprising sindoor, rice and incense sticks. After the fera ceremony is completed, the women longs for the rising of the moon. Once the moon is ought and apparent, relying on the region. It is customary for fasting woman, with her husband near around to view its reflection in a vessel filled with water, through a sieve or through the cloth of a dupatta. Water is firstly offered to the moon, to bestow it’s blessings upon the couple. Then the lady turns to her husband and views his face indirectly in the same way. It is noted that in some regions women even pray for a bit which is precisely for the long life of husband. The husband now takes the water from the thali and gives his wife her first sip of the day and feeds her with the morsel which is generally something sweet. The fast is now officially broken, and the women can have a complete meal thereafter.
Interesting Trivia:
As per a latest survey conducted with 5, 500 men between the age group of 22-36, almost 60.4 % of the married men said ‘Yes’ when asked if they would fast for their wives during the sacred festival of Karva Chauth. That clearly signifies how important even the men folks consider this as a part of their culture and matrimonial bonds.
Following are some of the fasting guidelines which if followed can lessen adverse effects of fasting:
- Do not consume acidic food items and caffeine beverages. Keep coffee at bay as much as you can. It causes acidity and other gastric problems that will may cause dizziness and uneasiness throughout the day.
- Consume atleast 2 fruits , perhaps a banana an apple or even a shake would keep you feeling full all day long.
- Protein infused diet at pre dawn will aid you gain control of food cravings and it will also reduce your chances of battling bouts of high and lows throughout the day. A bowl of sprouts, almonds, home made paneer (cottage cheese) is suggested.
- Avoid anything which is excessively sweet. It only worsens the hunger pangs and makes you all the quenching for thirst.
- If eating bread, try to eat whole wheat over multi grain. As then it would keep you hunger free for long as desired. It is a great source of carbohydrates and dietary fibre.
- Remember to eat well and chew properly taking time which would take much of time and make your food digest properly.
- Do not consume foods along with popularly called sargi or vermicelli kheer which is a good choice as it might make you more hungry. The theory is that sweets or sugar rich foods tend to intensify your hunger pangs. Cottage cheese that too home made keeps you feel fuller all day.
During the fast:
- Indulge in dry fruits like almonds, cashew and walnuts as they are high in significant needed fats, keep up your energy reserve throughout the day and leave you feeling stuffed for a long time. These nuts are also high in protein. Hence, keep a handful of nuts close to you so that you can grab some every time hunger hits you. Just make sure you don’t overeat.
- Vegetables and fruits such as apples, watermelon, cucumbers and carrots give your body the intrinsic nutrients along with good amount of water to keep the body from dehydration. It must also be noted that sprouts are a good condition to your day of fast.
- Avoid sugar and processed foods especially sweets, as they make you more hungry.
Hence, Karva Chauth is no more regarded as a fast solely meant for wife where in she prays all day long by strictly following “not even drinking water” policy for the wellness and good health of her husband. It has evolved into a intrinsic ritual that celebrates and honours moreover the institution of marriage, to put it simply.
A Happy Karva Chauth to all readers !