The Karva Chauth Story is better understood by the festival which is celebrated by Hindu women in North India in which married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for the safety and long life of their husbands. Mainly the fast is observed in the states of, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, western Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The festival falls on the fourth day after the full moon, in the Hindu calendar month named Kartik. Sometimes, unmarried women fast for their desired husbands or beloved ones.
Apart from this, the festival is celebrated for whole one day.Karva refers to 'pot' (which is a small earthen pot of water) and chauth refers 'fourth' in Hindi (an association to the fact that the festival falls on the fourth day of the dark-fortnight, of the month of Kartik). It is not sure how the festival originated and how it came to be celebrated only in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent.
Besides all, one Karva Chauth story here is that Earlier, girls mostly teenagers used to get married, and live with their in-laws in very distant villages from villages of their parents. For the new bride everyone there was a stranger. In case she had any problems she could not talk with anyone to seek support. Her parents and relatives would be quite inaccessible and far. There was no means of transport in those days. People had to walk for a whole day to go from one place to other. Thus, at the time of marriage, when bride would reach her in-laws home, she could make friend another woman there who would be her friend or sister for life. More like Good-friends or Good-sisters. Their friendship would be consecrated through a small Hindu ceremony during the marriage. These friends usually are of same age so that both would not go away as they are married in the same village and both are far from their parents' village.
Once the bride and this woman had become good-friends, they would recognize their relation as such forever. They used to treat each other like real sisters. If any issues took place in their life, that involved even the husband or in-laws, these friend would easily talk upon the matters and took advice. Also, the bride's parents would treat her friend just like their own daughter. That's the Karva Chauth Story which started as a festival to celebrate this special bond of friendship between the brides and their good-friends.
Women prepares for Karva Chauth a few days in advance, by buying traditional ornaments, cosmetics and prayer things, such as the Karva lamps, sweets, henna and the decorated prayer plate. In addition to this, local markets take on a festive look as shopkeepers put their Karva Chauth related products on display.
The concept of praying and fasting for the husband came much later. It was probably added, along with other hypothetical tales, to beautify and strengthen the bond between husband and wife.
Apart from this, the festival is celebrated for whole one day.Karva refers to 'pot' (which is a small earthen pot of water) and chauth refers 'fourth' in Hindi (an association to the fact that the festival falls on the fourth day of the dark-fortnight, of the month of Kartik). It is not sure how the festival originated and how it came to be celebrated only in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent.
Besides all, one Karva Chauth story here is that Earlier, girls mostly teenagers used to get married, and live with their in-laws in very distant villages from villages of their parents. For the new bride everyone there was a stranger. In case she had any problems she could not talk with anyone to seek support. Her parents and relatives would be quite inaccessible and far. There was no means of transport in those days. People had to walk for a whole day to go from one place to other. Thus, at the time of marriage, when bride would reach her in-laws home, she could make friend another woman there who would be her friend or sister for life. More like Good-friends or Good-sisters. Their friendship would be consecrated through a small Hindu ceremony during the marriage. These friends usually are of same age so that both would not go away as they are married in the same village and both are far from their parents' village.
Once the bride and this woman had become good-friends, they would recognize their relation as such forever. They used to treat each other like real sisters. If any issues took place in their life, that involved even the husband or in-laws, these friend would easily talk upon the matters and took advice. Also, the bride's parents would treat her friend just like their own daughter. That's the Karva Chauth Story which started as a festival to celebrate this special bond of friendship between the brides and their good-friends.
Women prepares for Karva Chauth a few days in advance, by buying traditional ornaments, cosmetics and prayer things, such as the Karva lamps, sweets, henna and the decorated prayer plate. In addition to this, local markets take on a festive look as shopkeepers put their Karva Chauth related products on display.
The concept of praying and fasting for the husband came much later. It was probably added, along with other hypothetical tales, to beautify and strengthen the bond between husband and wife.
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