Karwa Chauth 2023: Dos And Don'ts To Keep In Mind During This Auspicious Festival
The Karwa Chauth vrat is a significant ritual of the festival, and while it is mainly observed by married women, married men and unmarried couples also participate.
Karwa Chauth festival, also known as Karak Chaturthi, is just around the corner. During this auspicious occasion, married women observe a nirjala vrat, which involves fasting without food and water, to seek the safety and prosperity of their husbands. This fast is observed from sunrise to moonrise. Women dedicate their prayers to Lord Ganesha, Maa Parvati, Lord Shiva, and Lord Kartikeya on Karwa Chauth and conclude the fast by sighting the moon.
Breaking the fast involves looking at the moon through a sieve and then consuming a small amount of food and a sip of water. The Karwa Chauth vrat is a significant ritual of the festival, and while it is mainly observed by married women, married men and unmarried couples also participate.
Dos And Don'ts During Karwa Chauth Vrat:
There are several guidelines to be followed during the festival.
- Red is the predominant colour of the Karwa Chauth festival, symbolizing its auspicious nature and is commonly worn by women during the celebrations. However, married women can also opt for other colours such as yellow, green, pink, or orange. Black and white shades, on the other hand, should be avoided.
- Applying solah sringar (sixteen adornments) and mehendi (henna) on their hands is another important aspect of the Karva Chauth Puja. Married women typically apply henna the day before Karak Chaturthi and adorn themselves in traditional attire, preferably in red. This includes wearing a mangalsutra, nose pin, bindi, bangles, earrings, rings, and more. Sringar and mehendi represent good fortune, prosperity, and a happy married life.
- Sargi is a vital part of the Karwa Chauth vrat, consisting of a special thali filled with various food items and gifts, traditionally given to married women by their mothers-in-law. Sargi should be consumed as a pre-dawn meal before commencing the fast. The thali is thoughtfully prepared to provide all the essential nutrients and energy, featuring items like pheni, meethi seviyan, fruits, coconut, meethi mathri, dry fruits, sweets, paratha, and juice.
- The pre-dawn meal should include foods rich in protein and carbohydrates, as they take longer to digest and help sustain fullness.
- It's advisable to hydrate well before beginning the fast to prevent dehydration, which can lead to headaches and fatigue. Fresh fruit juices can be a valuable addition to your liquid intake, while coffee and tea should be avoided to prevent acidity.
- During the Karwa Chauth vrat, women should refrain from using scissors, needles, or knives.
- Pregnant women should avoid observing the Karwa Chauth fast due to potential stress and health implications.
- Baya is a special gift sent by daughters-in-law to their mothers-in-law during Karwa Chauth, containing clothes, jewellery, food, utensils, and other items. While presenting Baya, it is customary to seek the blessings of your mother-in-law.
- Married women and their families should avoid consuming non-vegetarian food on this day as it is considered tamasic in nature.
- It is essential for married women to take part in the Karwa Chauth puja and listen to the Katha (narrative) in the evening before breaking the fast. Without adhering to this ritual, the nirjala vrat is considered incomplete.
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