Karva Chauth celebrations with Anita and Minu

I wore my wedding sari on this auspicious day.

Henna decoration on my hand

We begin preparing for Karva Chauth a few days in advance, by getting ready our traditional adornments or jewelry from our closets, and puja items, such as the karwa lamps, matthi, henna and the decorated thali. Women apply henna and other cosmetics to themselves and each other. It is a good time for community festivities and get together. I got my henna application cone from Rambha Saloon for $4.00. My husband applied some henna on my hand and later I finished rest of my hand.

Decorated thali…

Anita… vibrant glow on her face.

Minu… beautiful smile.

Beautiful women in red sarees

Karva Chauth is an annual one-day festival celebrated by women in North India, the Indian state of Punjab, Haryana, New Delhi and parts of UP and Rajasthan in which married women fast from sunrise to moon rise for the safety and longevity of their husbands.

I celebrated Karva Chauth with Minu and Anita, we performed rituals at Minu’s house. Usually women get together at one ‘s house and it is a larger group.

The Rituals

In the evening, women-only ceremony is held. Women dress in fine clothing and wear jewellry and henna, and (in some regions) dress in the complete finery of their wedding dresses. The dresses  are frequently red, gold or orange in color, which are considered auspicious colors.

The Rituals

The Karva Chauth song is sung seven times, the first six of which describe some of the activities that are taboo during the fast and the seventh describes the lifting of those restrictions with the conclusion of the fast. The forbidden activities include weaving cloth (kumbh chrakhra feri naa), pleading with or attempting to please anyone (ruthda maniyen naa), and awakening anyone who is asleep (suthra jagayeen naa). For the first six rounds they sing –

…Veero kudiye karvara, Sarv suhagan karvara, Aye katti naya teri naa, Kumbh chrakhra feri naa, Aar pair payeen naa, Ruthda maniyen naa, Suthra jagayeen naa, Ve veero kuriye karvara, Ve sarv suhagan karvara…

For the seventh round, they sing –

…Veero kudiye karvara, Sarv suhagan karvara, Aye katti naya teri nee, Kumbh chrakhra feri bhee, Aar pair payeen bhee, Ruthda maniyen bhee, Suthra jagayeen bhee, Ve veero kuriye karvara, Ve sarv suhagan karvara…

The rituals…thali rounds

All rituals are performed  and waiting for moon rise to break  my fast.

You can find all about this festival at karvachauth.com