Karva Chauth, The Occasion of Karva Chauth 2018

Karva Chauth is a one-day festival celebrated by Hindu women four days after Purnima (a full moon) in the month of Kartika. Dates differ according to Gregorian calendar which is tabular and not based according to constellations. Thus accordingly, Karva Chauth, is like to be celebrated in 2018, on 27th October 2018. It is a Hindu festival based on the lunisolar calendar which accounts for all astronomical positions, especially positions of the moon which is used as a calculator to mark all the important dates.

Now the timing for Karva Chauth on 27th October 2018 are as follows:

• Start time: 05:36 PM
• End Time: 06:54 PM
• Duration: 1 hour and 17 minutes.
• Moon rise on the above date: appox 7:59 PM.

Sometimes, even unmarried women join the fast for getting a beloved fiancés. It is believed that they would marry someone who is vey loving and caring post marriage.

How and Where is Karva Chauth celebrated?

On the of Karva Chauth women, especially in Northern and Western parts of India, who are married would fast the whole day. Which means right from the sunrise to moonrise for the safety and longevity of their husbands.

Accordingly, the Karva Chauth fast is traditionally celebrated in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar-Pradesh, HimachalPradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi.

There is one exception in the place of Atla Tadde in Andhra Pradesh where too Kava Chauth fast is celebrated.

What is the reason behind the Karva Chauth Fast?

There are many reasons for this fast, however, one hypothesis is that when the military campaigns were often conducted by men in far off places whereby men would often leave their wives and children to go off to war, their wives would often pray for their safe return. The festival also coincides with the wheat-sowing time (i.e., the beginning of the Rabi crop cycle).

Big earthen pots in which wheat is stored are sometimes even called Karvas, so is it believed that the fast may have begun as a prayer for a good harvest in this predominantly wheat-eating region of Northern India.

Yet another story about the origin of this festival relates to the bond of feminine friendship.

With the custom of arranged marriage were prevalent, the newlywed bride would reside with her husband and the in-laws. Everyone being a stranger to her, the custom arose of befriending another woman as her friend in local language known as kangan-saheli or dharam-behn both meaning sister for life. Their friendship would be sanctified through a Hindu ritual during the marriage ceremony itself.

The bride's friend would usually be of the same age or slightly older, typically married into the same village so that she would not go away from her parental family and not directly related to her in-laws, since there was no conflict of interest later. This emotional and psychological bond would be considered akin to a blood relationship. It is said that Karva Chauth festival evolved to include celebrating this special bond of friendship.

What are the rituals for Karva Chauth?

No doubt the fating is the most important aspect in this, however there are some other practises which are also followed. Such as:

Women begin preparing for Karva Chauth a few days in advance, by buying cosmetics or shringar, traditional adornments or jewellery, and puja items, such as the Karva lamps, matthi, henna and the decorated puja thali (plate).

In the Villages even today, there are establishments of local bazaars or markets. They take on a festive look as shopkeepers put their Karva Chauth related products on display. Women usually wear the saree that was used for the marriage ceremony, hence no new cloths are bought. This is a sign for the women to remain suhagan (married for life) with their partner.

Thus, to know more about Karva Chauth and other rituals which are important from ritualistic and astrological point can write to us at mail@futurepointindia.com or visit our Website www.futurepointindia.com. For more details. We at Future Point are a team of learnt and expert astrologer for the past three decades. We will provide you all the required remedies.