Karwa Chauth 2024: Why Married Women Pray to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati on This Day

Karwa Chauth 2024

Karwa Chauth, a significant festival for married women, will be celebrated on Sunday, October 20, 2024. The festival is traditionally celebrated during Krishna Paksha Chaturthi in the Hindu month of Kartik. In regions like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and southern India, where the Amanta calendar is followed, Karwa Chauth falls in the month of Ashwin. Despite these regional calendar differences, Karwa Chauth is celebrated across India on the same day.

Karwa Chauth: Fasting for Love and Longevity

Karwa Chauth is a day of strict fasting for married women, who pray for the long life and well-being of their husbands. The fasting coincides with Sankashti Chaturthi, a day dedicated to Lord Ganesha, and includes the worship of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and their son Lord Ganesha. Women fast from sunrise, without consuming food or water, and only break the fast after sighting and making offerings to the moon in the evening.

The fast of Karwa Chauth is deeply rooted in devotion and love. The day is also known as Karak Chaturthi, named after the earthen pot or Karwa, which is central to the rituals. Women use this pot to make water offerings, known as Argha, to the moon. The Karwa is considered highly significant in the puja and is often donated to a Brahmin or an eligible woman after the rituals are complete.

Karva Chauth 2024 Date and Time: When is Karwa Chauth fasting this year?

Why Do Women Pray to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati?

On this day, married women worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, seeking their blessings for a happy and prosperous married life. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati observed severe penance to marry Lord Shiva. Her devotion and determination are seen as the ultimate example of marital fidelity and love. Hence, women worship her, along with Lord Shiva, as a symbol of steadfast love and devotion in their own marriages.

The fast and prayers offered on Karwa Chauth are meant to strengthen the bond between husband and wife. It reflects a woman's deep wish for her husband's long life and well-being, making the festival a beautiful expression of love, sacrifice, and commitment.

Why is the Moon Worshipped on Karwa Chauth? Know the Significance of Chandra Puja

Karwa Chauth 2024: Significance of the Moon

The moon holds a special place in Karwa Chauth, symbolising peace, prosperity, and longevity. Women eagerly wait for the moonrise, as it marks the moment they can break their day-long fast. Offerings are made to the moon with prayers for the health and prosperity of their husbands. After the moon rituals, the fast is usually broken with water and a sweet, often given by the husband as a token of love.

While Karwa Chauth is most popular in northern India, its importance is cherished in various regions across the country. In the days following Karwa Chauth, especially in North India, another significant fasting ritual called Ahoi Ashtami is observed. This fast, observed four days after Karwa Chauth, is dedicated to the well-being of sons.

Karwa Chauth 2024 Date: Karva Chauth Moon Sighting Time and Puja Muhurat

Karwa Chauth is a day of deep devotion, love, and tradition for married women across India. As they fast and pray to Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and Lord Ganesha, they reaffirm their dedication to their husbands and seek blessings for a happy, long, and prosperous married life. The rituals, fasting, and prayers offer a glimpse into the strength of love and the bonds of marriage, as women look to the moon as a symbol of hope, peace, and longevity.

This year, as Karwa Chauth is observed on October 20, 2024, may the festival bring joy, blessings, and prosperity to all those who celebrate it.

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