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Karwa Chauth devotional artwork

करवा चौथ

Karwa Chauth

A moonrise fast centred on marital wellbeing, solidarity and prayer, observed especially across North and north-west India.

Date (2026)

29 October 2026

Tithi

Kartik Krishna Chaturthi

Month

Kartik

Deity

Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha

Katha — the story behind it

01

The sacred story

One widely told Karwa Chauth katha follows Veeravati, a married woman observing a demanding fast. Distressed by her hunger and thirst, her brothers create a false sign of moonrise and persuade her to eat. News of her husband’s death follows. Grieving, she seeks guidance and learns that the fast was broken before its proper completion. Through renewed observance and divine help, her husband is restored to life in many versions. The details of the deception, her subsequent vows, and the deity who helps her vary between retellings. Another story centers on Karva, whose husband is seized by a crocodile while bathing. She binds the creature with thread and appeals to Yama, demanding protection for her husband. Her courage and steadfast devotion ultimately save him. These stories accompany पूजा, the passing or offering of a करवा, and prayers for a spouse’s well-being. Shiva and Parvati may be worshipped as a devoted couple; sighting and offering water to the moon commonly mark the fast’s completion. Regional and family practices differ. Read as devotional narratives rather than predictions, the kathas encourage commitment, patience, and mutual care—not blame for illness or misfortune when someone cannot fast.

02

Meaning within the story

A moonrise fast centred on marital wellbeing, solidarity and prayer, observed especially across North and north-west India. The festival's durable value lies in commitment and community. Contemporary practice can preserve devotion while treating health, consent and mutual care as essential.

03

How the story becomes worship

Receive or prepare sargi: The shared meal and preparation make the fast a supported family practice rather than solitary endurance. Evening katha and puja: The story warns against deception and haste; group recitation creates mutual support through the long fast. Moonrise arghya: The visible moon provides a shared ending point, while the prayer is strongest when understood as reciprocal care.

Where it comes from

Regional Karaka Chaturthi vrata traditionsNorth Indian oral katha traditions

Puja samagri — what to gather

  • ·Karwa or earthen water pot
  • ·Puja thali with lamp, roli, rice and sweets
  • ·Image of Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha
  • ·Sieve and water vessel for moonrise
  • ·Sargi and food for breaking the fast

Vrat — the fast

Traditionally nirjala from dawn to moonrise. Pregnant people, those taking medication or anyone with health concerns should modify or avoid the fast.

Aarti & shloka — read, understand, listen

Aarti · common version

Om Jai Shiv Omkara

ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा। ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा॥ एकानन चतुरानन पंचानन राजे। हंसासन गरुड़ासन वृषवाहन साजे॥ दो भुज चार चतुर्भुज दस भुज अति सोहे। तीनों रूप निरखता त्रिभुवन जन मोहे॥ अक्षमाला वनमाला मुण्डमाला धारी। चंदन मृगमद सोहै भाले शशिधारी॥ श्वेताम्बर पीताम्बर बाघम्बर अंगे। सनकादिक गरुणादिक भूतादिक संगे॥ ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

Roman transliteration

Om jai Shiva Omkara, swami jai Shiva Omkara. Brahma Vishnu Sadashiva, ardhangi dhara.

Complete aarti meaning

Glory to Shiva, the sacred Om. Brahma, Vishnu and Sadashiva are understood here as one divine reality. The hymn beholds the one, four and five-faced forms, their different vehicles and emblems, and praises Shiva as the moon-crested Lord accompanied by sages and attendant beings.

Sung with temple-style devotional accompaniment

Shloka · with meaning

Panchakshara mantra

ॐ नमः शिवाय

Om Namaḥ Śivāya.

Meaning

I bow to Shiva — the auspicious consciousness within and beyond all forms.

A widely sung Hindi aarti. Line order and additional verses differ among temples and household prayer books.

Next in the year

Diwali — five days

6–10 November 2026

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