Karwa Chauth is one of the most popular Hindu festivals celebrated by married women. The festive day is prominently observed in northern and western parts of India. The day marks the devotion, sacrifice and love of married women for their husbands.
From sunrise to moonrise, women observe a strict fast on this day, refraining from food and water. This day-long fast concludes with the sighting of the moon in the evening. The fasting women offer prayers to the moon, seeking the well-being and longevity of their husbands, and end the fast.
The festival features a range of rituals and prayers, including the preparation of a special meal called Sargi, which is carefully made by mothers-in-law.
This year, the Karwa Chauth will be observed on October 20. According to Drik Panchang, the Karwa Chauth puja muhurat will prevail from 5:46 pm to 7:02 pm. The Karwa Chauth upavasa time is from 6:25 am to 7:54 pm on October 20.
Ahead of the festival, here’s all you need to know about the preparation, significance and food items to include in the Sargi thali.
Karwa Chauth 2024: What is Sargi?
The rituals of Karwa Chauth begin with an early morning prayer followed by a pre-dawn meal called Sargi. This is one of the most important rituals observed by married women and their mothers-in-law before commencing the fast.
Sargi is more than just a meal, it symbolises the blessings and support a mother-in-law offers to her daughter-in-law as on this special day. This aspect of the Karwa Chauth ritual is crucial in providing those fasting with essential nutrition to keep them healthy and energised throughout the day.
Traditionally, the mother-in-law presents the Sargi along with new clothes, matching jewellery, make-up items and other accessories to her daughter-in-law.
Karwa Chauth 2024: Significance
For women observing the fast, the ritual of Sargi holds great importance during Karwa Chauth. As part of this tradition, a mother-in-law prepares a special pre-dawn meal for her daughter-in-law, which is consumed before sunrise.
The Sargi thali typically includes food and drink, along with items for solah shringar (16 adornments) and puja. This is considered a gesture of luck and love for her daughter-in-law.
Moreover, fasting on Karwa Chauth is done not only for the well-being and long life of the partner but also for sons, grandsons, wealth and the prosperity of the family.
Karwa Chauth 2024: Rituals
A day before Karwa Chauth, women apply mehndi to their feet and hands. In the early hours, the mother-in-law offers Sargi to her daughter-in-law. After taking a bath and offering the first prayers of Karwa Chauth, Sargi is consumed, followed by a day-long fast without food and water until moonrise.
Then the married women get dressed like a bride with solah shringar and prepare for the puja. Later in the evening, women worship Goddess Parvati and recite the Karwa Chauth vrat katha.
Once the puja is completed, women wait for the moonrise to break the fast. After sighting the moon through a sieve or transparent cloth and catching a glimpse of their husband the same way, married women offer water to the moon and break the fast by accepting water from their husbands. The couple then shares the meal prepared for the puja together.
Karwa Chauth 2024: Foods
Sargi thali consists of diverse items, ranging from sweets, fruits, and savoury dishes to curries, rice and roti. It is a filling meal lovingly prepared for the daughter-in-law to help her prepare for the day-long fast.
- Fruits are an essential part of the Sargi thali as they help keep the fasting women active and energised throughout the day.
- A variety of dry fruits can also be added to the platter.
- Mothers-in-law also include homemade sweets like laddoos, mathri, kheer, or halwa in the Sargi thali.
- Whole wheat parathas or rotis should also be included in the thali.
- Lassi, butter milk or coconut water helps in maintaining hydration during the fasting period.
- A small serving of curd or raita can offer probiotics and aid digestion.
Foods to avoid in the Sargi thali
The Sargi thali is prepared only with satvik food items. In the preparation of the foods for the fasting women garlic, onion and non-veg items are strictly prohibited. Here are the food items to avoid ahead of fasting:
- Avoid drinking tea and coffee a day before Karwa Chauth, as it may contribute to dehydration.
- High salt content foods should be avoided to prevent dehydration.
- Abstaining from foods with high sugar content before commencing the fast is wise, as they can trigger hunger pangs.
- Spicy or deep-fried foods should be avoided to stay away from bloating.
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