Karva Chauth: Festival of Love

The Legends of Karva Chauth

Queen Veeravati - Long time ago, there lived a beautiful girl by the name of Veeravati. She was the only sister of her seven loving brothers, who was married to a king. On the occasion of the first Karva Chauth after her marriage, she went to her parents' house. After sunrise, she observed a strict fast. However, the queen couldn't stand the rigors of fasting and was desperately waiting for the moon to rise. The seven brothers, who loved her dearly, were very disturbed watching the distress of their sister and decided to end her fast by deceiving her. Then the brothers reflected a mirror through Pipal tree leaves. The sister, taken it as moonrise, broke the fast and took food. However, the moment the queen ate her dinner, she received the news that her husband, the king, was seriously ill. She did not keep the fast properly. When Veeravati begged forgiveness, Goddess Parvati granted that her husband would revive only when she completes her fast under strict conditions. The queen observed the fast and thus revived the life of her husband.

Satyavan and Savitri - Another story id of the Satyavan and Savitri. Once Yamraj - the God of Death came to take Satyavan's life. Savitri - the devoted wife of Satyavan pleaded for her husbands life which Yamraj refused. Savitri went on a fast and refused to eat or drink. Looking at her devotion, Yamraj was forced to grant life to Satyavan. Since then women started keeping fast for their husband's long life.

Mahabarata - Draupadi, too, is said to have observed this fast. Once Arjun went to the Niligiris for penance and the rest of the Pandavas faced many problems in his absence. Draupadi, out of desperation, remembered Lord Krishna and asked for help. Lord Krishna reminded her that on an earlier occasion, when Goddess Parvati had sought Lord Shivas guidance under similar circumstances, she had been advised to observe the fast of Karva Chauth. Draupadi followed the instructions and observed the fast with all its rituals. Consequently, the Pandavas were able to overcome their problems. On this day, fasting women listen to Karva Chauth legends with rapt attention.


The Karva Chauth Rituals and Festivities :

On the day of Karva Chauth married women wake up before dawn. They take bath and invoke blessings of Goddess Parvati for their husband's long life. Women are then given a sumptuous meal called 'Sargi' by mother-in-law to eat before sunrise, as the fast starts before sunrise and ends only after worshiping the moon at night. It is a tough fast, as after the Sargi women are not supposed to take any form of food or liquid. In the day, the married woman receives the baya or a basket full of goodies from her mother, which is meant for the mother-in-law. The most joyous part of Karva Chauth is the Puja held in the evening. A large number of elegantly dressed women gather in a temple or in somebody's house for Puja. Women pray to Goddess Parvati or Gauri Ma for the well being and long life of their husbands. The fast is broken once the moon is sighted and special rituals and prayers marking the day have been offered. At night when the moon appears, women break their fast after offering water to the moon.

The Karva Chauth Puja and Celebrations :

A Day Before: The pooja preparations start a day in advance. There is huge excitement a day before the festival as women make elaborate preparations to dress up elaborately for the occasion. The Married women buy bangles, bindis, apply mehndi (Hena tattos) on their hand and feets.

Beginning of the Day : Early in the morning they prepare food and have it before sunrise. The morning passes by in other festive activities like decorating hand and feet with heena, decorating the pooja thali and meeting friends and relatives.

The Puja : In the evening, women dress up in special clothes, usually a red or pink sari or 'lehenga-choli' with gold woven 'zari' patterns. New brides often wear their bridal costume. All deck up in jewelry. Decorative 'bindis' on the forehead are a must for all women taking part in this celebration. Fasting women from all over the neighborhood gather in a group and narrate the story of Karva Chauth that underscore the significance of Karva Chauth and sing the Karvachauth song while rotating the thalis containing Baya .
Once the moon rises, the women see its reflection in a thali of water, or through a dupatta or a sieve. They offer water to the moon and seek blessings. They pray for the safety, prosperity and long life of their husbands and sing a Karvachauth ark song. She is then given a piece of sweet and sip of water by her husband. Hands over the Baya to the monther-in-law or any elderly lady of the household and seeks the blessings. Then comes the much awaited sumptuous dinner. This marks the end of a day long fast.

Ahoi Ashtami Pujan/Vrat

Ahoi Ashtami or Ahoi athen as known in common tongue festival is specifically meant for mothers who have sons. Mother's keep fast on this day and this is celebrated in the month of October- November (8th day after full moon of Kartik Hindu month). This festival falls on a week before Diwali. Mothers keep fast all day and in the evening offer Pooja water to stars and prey for their long life of their children. Many stories are associated with this festival which relate to asking for wish and blessings for their sons.

Once upon a time, there lived a woman in a village. She had seven sons. One day she went to the forest to bring soil for the renovation and painting of her home (this was in the month of kartik just before the Hindu festival Deepawali). She started digging soil with axe nearby a den. Suddenly the woman's axe fell on the cub in the den and the cub died. The woman felt very sorry and sympathetic. She took soil from the forest and came back.

Few days later, all her seven sons died within a year. She was very sad. One day she narrated her woes to old ladies in her village, she was crying and told them that she didn't commit the sin and it happened unintentionally. She narrated to the ladies that once when she was digging for the soil in the forest her axe fell on the cub and thereafter within a year all my seven sons died. The ladies appreciated for confessing her guilt and then these ladies told that by confessing the sin she has atoned her half of the sin.

They suggested the woman to pray the goddess Ashtami Bhagwati by sketching the face of the cub. By the grace of god your sin will cast off. The woman kept fast on the Kartik Krishna Ashtami and then onwards she started praying and keeping fast regularly. By the power of her prayer the God's grace showered and she could get back her all seven son. Since then, it became a ritual to worship the goddess Ahoi Ashtami Bhagwati religiously every year.

Hindu Vrats (Fast, Vrat, Upvaas)

Vrats are votive fasting rites which are practiced throughout India. The observance of fasts spans religious boundaries, social classes and even caste and sectarian affiliations.

Naturally then, there is a great variety in the kinds of vrats performed and numerous variations in the actual practice of any particular vrat.
The word fasting means to move near( to the Supreme) and by implication to overcome helplessness. A calamity has always been an occasion for prayer, we normally pray for a positive reason like asking for a boon, other reasons include appeasement of an anger deity.
It is believed that no prayer can be complete unless it is accompanied by an offering.    

Commonly Performed Vrats

· Somvaar ka Vrat              -- for Shivji

· Mangalvaar ka Vrat        -- for Ganapatiji & Hanumanji

· Budhvaar ka Vrat             -- for Krishna

· Brihaspativaar ka Vrat     -- for Vishnuji

· Shukravaar Vrat               -- for Devi Maa

· Shanivaar ka Vrat            -- for Shanidev & Hanumanji

· Ravivaar ka Vrat              -- for Surya Dev

Karva Chauth

Karva Chauth is a festival of love & sacrifice for married women in India to pray for longevity and prosperity of their husband. Married women dress up in attractive attire, mehendi designs. They conduct a puja, which is accompanied by singing of Karva Chauth songs. The celebrations of the festival begin early in the morning and continue until the moon rises in the evening. Throughout the day, women observe fast, which is a significant part of the celebrations of the festival. Karva Chauth is a day dedicated to the special bond of marriage and celebrated with enthusiasm.

Karva Chauth Festival Celebrations: Indian Women celebrate Karva Chauth, except few parts in the country. The married women, who celebrate the festival, wake up early in the morning, well before the dawn. After taking bath, they clad themselves in new clothes and have a meal, which is known as 'sargi'. As a part of the traditions of Karva Chauth, 'sargi' is presented to the married woman by her mother-in-law. However, the woman, who observes fast, can also prepare the meal on her own. The meal consists of selected grains and fruits. After having the sargi, the women observe a fast without a single drop of water for whole day. In fact, it is believed that when a woman is bound to abstain from food and water, she actually adds more years to the life of her husband. Therefore, the married women observe a stringent fast on Karva Chauth, to ensure that their husband lives for long. Even if they observe fast, they would not restrict themselves from doing their daily chores. The married woman calls upon other women in her locality to her place, to take part in Karva Chauth pooja. Goddess Gauri is worshipped at the puja. An idol of Maa Gauri is made by using cow dung and a picture of Maa Parvati is kept aside, in the pooja. A song of Karva Chauth is sung when women perform aarti. By the time the pooja is over, it would be the dusk. Women, along with their children, eagerly wait for the moon to rise. Once the moon rises, the women view & worship moon & then after break the fast by having water from her husband's hand - a mark of love.

Krishna Janamastmi

II Krishna Janmashtmi II

Hindu Calender: Krishna Paksh Ashtmi of Bhadrapad Month or the 8th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadhon.

About

Janmashtmi (also known as Shri Krishnashtmi  or Gokulashtami) is the birthday of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar (incarnation)  of Lord Vishnu, believed to have been born about five thousand years ago in Mathura in 'Dwapar Yuga'. It is celebrated in the August/September months, on the Ashtmi of Krishna Paksh or the 8th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadhon and is celebrated over two days. The first day is Krishnashtmi or Gokulashtami. The second day is called Kalashtami or more popularly Janmashtmi.

This celebration is said to be revealed originally by the Shri Krishna himself to Yudhishthira, the eldest of Pandavas, as mentioned in the Bhavishyottara Puran.
    
He was born to Vasudev and Devki, who were imprisoned by Devki's evil brother Kansa and was brought up by Nand and Yashoda. The birth of Lord Krishna is believed to be symbolic of our imprisonment in worldly illusions, where He took birth with us and led us to salvation and peace, vanquishing all evils depicted by Kansa in the story.


Rituals

People fast on this day, usually a waterless fast.
They spend the day immersed in Shri Krishna's glory by reading, reciting and singing his divine leela especially in the evening in mandirs(temples). Temples of Lord Krishna are decorated most beautifully and children are adorned as Lord Krishna and Radhika, his spiritual beloved. Krishna Leela or the plays depicting scenes from Krishna's life, especially childhood, are performed. At midnight, the Lord's birth hour, aarti is performed. He is also installed in the form of 'Lalji' (child form) in a swing and devotionally offered many sumptuous food dishes. 'Makhan' (butter) is especially included since Shri Krishna loved this in childhood. The traditional prasad is 'Panchajiri' - made of five ingredients: powdered ginger, 'suva', coriander, sugar and ghee. Other ingredients include poppy seeds (khaskhas) and dessicated coconut shavings.The most popular ceremony of Dahi-handi (breaking a pot full of milk and its derivatives} takes place on the second day.


The Ceremony of Dahi-Handi

During this ceremony a large earthenware pot is filled with milk, curds, butter, honey fruits etc. and is suspended from a height between 20 to 40 feet. Sporting young men and boys come forward to claim this prize. To do so they construct a human pyramid by standing over each other's shoulders till the pyramid is tall enough to enable the topmost person to reach the pot and claim the contents after breaking it. Normally, currency notes are tied to the rope by which the pot is suspended. This prize money is distributed among those who participate in the pyramid building.

This ceremony replicates Krishna's love for milk and butter. In his childhood, the Lord Krishna along with his mates used to raid the houses of his neighbors in search of milk and butter

For Vrat Food: Know More

Janmashtmi Vrat Recipes

Janmashtami Fast Recipes

Devotees observe strict fasting during the festival. While some keep nirjal or waterless fasts, others eat fruits. With the changing times, people no longer observe stringent fasts, they eat curd, certain other vegetables during the day. Special fast dishes are available at quite a few eating joints for the convenience of devotees.

Fast Recipes

• Shrikhand
• Singhare ki Poori
• Pedha
• Til ki Kheer (Sesame Pudding)
• Aloo/Arwi ki Chaat

Shrikhand

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Ingredients :

1 kg. Curd (Put in a muslin cloth and hung for 2-3 hours)
1 tbsp Warm milk
3/4 to 1 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp Cardamom (Green/Small Elaichi) powder
A few Saffron Strands (Optional)
Slivers of Pistachios & Almonds (optional)

Method of Preparation:

Mix saffron in milk and keep it aside. Take a bowl and put Curd, sugar, saffron mixture and cardamom. Mix all the ingredients well either manually or with the help of a blender. Garnish it with almonds and pistachios.

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Singhare ki Poori

Preparation time: 20-25 minutes

Ingredients:

1 Cup Singhara Flour
1/4 Cup boiled, mashed Potatoes
1/4 Cup Chopped Spinach
1 tbsp oil
2 chopped green chillies
2 tsp Ajwain seeds
1/4 Cup Coriander Leaves
1 tbsp Red Chilli Powder
Salt to taste
Oil for Deep Frying

Method of Preparation :

Mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Knead the dough and make small pooris with hand or a rolling pin. Add less quantity of water as compared to what used while kneading wheat flour. Add cooking oil in a pan and fry pooris till dark brown and crisp. Serve it with curd and pickle.

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Pedhas

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

500 gms Khoya, crushed.
300 gms powdered sugar
8 to 10 pistachios sliced
2-3 drops food colour (optional)
1/2 tsp. cardamom powder
Cookie moulds (If needed)

Method of Preparation :

Mix khoya with sugar in a pan. Heat on low flame, stirring continuously. Cook till mixture thickens. Cool for 10 minutes. Add cardamom powder & food colour. Mix well. Take a small handful of mixture and press into the cookie mould. Turn out carefully. Press 2-3 slices of pistachio in the center. Delicious Pedhas are ready to eat.

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Til ki Kheer (Sesame Pudding)

Ingredients:

100 gm White til
100 gm Desiccated coconut fresh or dry
40 gm Sugar
1 tbsp Raisins
1 tbsp Cashew nuts broken and soaked in warm water
4-5 no Green Cardamom
1 ltr Full cream milk
1 tin Condensed milk

Method of Preparation :

1. Dry roast til and crush them. Keep aside.
2. Pour milk in a sauce pan and boil for 10 minutes. Stir continuously.
3. Then add condensed milk and stir and cook for another 8-10 minutes.
4. Now put crushed cardamoms and sugar. Stir continuously.
5. Add roasted til and desiccated coconut. Keep on stirring. Cook for 10-12 minutes.
6. Pour in a serving dish and garnish with raisins and cashew nuts.
7. This can be used as fast food.

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Aloo/Arvi ki Chaat

Ingredients:

100 gm Tamarind
250 gm Potatoes or Arvi
2 tsp Cumin seeds
2-3 no Red dry chillies
1/2 tsp Dry ginger powder
125 gm Jaggery or sugar
1/2 tsp Salt
Chaat masala, chilli powder and salt to taste


Method of Preparation :

1. Soak imli/tamarind in lukewarm water for 1-2 hours or you can do this a day before.
2. Then with your fingers mash them and throw the stones. If you are using stoned tamarind/imli just mash with your fingers.
3. Now put crushed jaggery or sugar along with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and ginger powder.(If you want to use this sauce for few days, boil the sauce and use when it cools down.
4. Roast cumin seeds along with dry chillies in a dry frying pan. When the colour turns brown put them on a plate. Now crush them with a rolling pin or pestle and mortar. Sprinkle this on tamarind sauce. Taste it. If you like you can mix a few teaspoons of mint sauce in it or crushed mint leaves.
5. Boil aloo or arvi and peel them. Dice them and keep aside.
6. When you serve, put diced aloo or arvi in a small bowl for each individual person. Sprinkle salt, chat masala, red chilli powder, a table spoon of beaten natural yoghurt and tamarind sauce.
This is yummy and suitable for fast.

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