Karwa Chauth is the married women’s day-long fast for the husband’s long life, observed most elaborately in North India, Punjab and Rajasthan, and now widely kept across India and the diaspora.
The fast begins with sargi, the meal eaten before sunrise, and ends at moonrise, when the moon is viewed through a sieve and offered water.
Karwa Chauth samagri checklist
Shringar
- Sindoor
- Red bangles
- Mehendi (henna)
- A traditional saree and jewellery
Moonrise puja
- Sieve and mirror for the moon-viewing
- Water for the arghya offered to the moon
- Fresh flowers
- Sweets, especially gud and til
- Rose dhoop to burn at moonrise
Diya
- An akhand diya with cow ghee, lit in the morning and kept burning until the moon-viewing
Sargi
- Ingredients for the pre-dawn sargi meal
The Karwa Chauth vidhi, in short
- Before sunrisePrepare and eat the sargi. The fast begins once it is finished.
- Through the dayKeep the fast: traditionally no food and little or no water. Many households today allow water or fruit. Light the akhand diya in the morning and tend it through the day.
- EveningDress in a traditional saree, jewellery and mehendi, and gather with the family.
- MoonriseView the moon through the sieve, then the husband through the sieve, and offer water to the moon. The husband feeds his wife the first bite to break the fast.
Read more in the Chaitanya Grantha
- Vol 8 · Chaitanya Festival Calendar · Ch 7 Kartik — Diwali Month Kartik month: Karwa Chauth, its regional forms and modern practice
- Vol 3 · Chaitanya Samagri Guide · Ch 10 Samagri × Puja — The Moment Guide Samagri lists for every major puja, Karwa Chauth included
- Vol 6 · Chaitanya Diya & Flame Guide · Ch 7 Akhand Deepak — The Unbroken Flame The akhand deepak, and the twelve-hour flame of Karwa Chauth
- Vol 1 · Chaitanya Sacred Smoke Guide · Ch 10 When to Burn What — The Moment Guide Which incense to burn when: rose dhoop at moonrise
For retailers: the Karwa Chauth kit
Karwa Chauth Vrat Kit
Everything for the Karwa Chauth puja, assembled in one box for grocery chains, importers and distributors. Private label available.