Karwa Chauth 2021
The tentative date for Karwa Chauth 2021 is Sunday , 24th October 2021. However in reality there is no specific fixed date for Karwa Chauth 2021 as it is a festival based on the lunisolar calendar, which takes into account of astronomical positions of all planets, especially that of the moon. This is the reason, why it is celebrated on different dates each year.
The festival falls on the fourth day after Purnima (a full moon) in the Kartika month of the Hindu calendar. This Purnima is very famous and called Sharad Purnima.
What will happen during Karwa Chauth 2021?
Karwa Chauth is a festival of great significance for the married Hindu women, especially in the North and Central parts of India. On this festival, the married women observe a ‘nirjalaa vrat’ (fast without water) from sunrise to moonrise for the safety and longevity of their husbands.
An equivalent of Karwa Chauth is celebrated in Andhra Pradesh by the name ‘Atla Tadde’. This is celebrated on the 3rd night after the full moon in the ‘Aswiyuja’ month of the Telugu calendar, which normally comes a day before the Karwa Chauth. This day falls in either October or November, as per the Gregorian calendar, when the married Hindu ladies of Andhra Pradesh observe a day-long fast for the long life of their husbands.
Source: http://templesinindiainfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Atla-Tadde.jpg
History of Karwa Chauth:
While there is no exact data or information to suggest, when and how this festival started. But this festival has been celebrated in India for a long time. This festival even finds a mention in the Dwapar age. It is believed that queen Draupadi once observed this fast to get her husbands out of the various difficulties they were going through.
In the medieval age, when kings used to rule on different parts of the earth, they used to fight with each other, to grow their kingdom. As a result, their armies had to travel to far-off places and that too for extended periods of time. In such conditions, the soldiers had to stay away from their homes, leave their wives and children home. During those times, there were no means of communication. The wives used to worry for the safety and well-being of their husbands. So, the wives used to fast and pray to god for the long life and safe return of their husbands.
One more logic behind keeping the fast could be praying to God for a good crop, as this festival coincides with the sowing of the Rabi season crop.
Karwa Chauth
| 2021 date: | 24th October (Sunday) 2021 |
|---|---|
| Another Name | करक चतुर्थी |
| Celebrated by | Hindus |
The origin of Karwa Chauth:
When it comes to etymology, there are two different stories, how this festival got its name. The first is the small pot made of mud, which is an important aspect of Karwa Chauth. This small pot, which is in the shape of a ‘kalash’, is called karwa. The ladies buy a karwa and decorate it with colour and other decorative items. This karwa is used during the pooja as well.
Source: https://cdn.igp.com/f_auto,q_auto,t_prodm/products/p-puja-thali-karwa-chalni-with-beads-work-101252-m.jpg
The other story is actually a folk-lore about a lady named ‘Karwa’, who lived in a village with her husband. They both used to love each other a lot. Karwa was a ‘pativrata’ (devoted wife). Due to this, she was blessed with spiritual powers, which was known to everyone. One day, while her husband was taking a bath in the river, a crocodile caught him. Hearing his cries, Karwa came to his rescue and bound the crocodile. She asked Yama, the death god, to punish the crocodile for harming her husband. When Yama refused to do so, Karwa got ready to curse Yama and destroy him. Realizing his spiritual powers, Yama got scared and sent the crocodile to hell, and blessed Karwa with a long and happy married life with her husband. This is how Karwa saved the life of her husband. She is even remembered today and respected a lot by the married ladies, and in her remembrance, they celebrate Karwa Chauth.
Legends behind Karwa Chauth:
Apart from the story of karwa, there are various stories and folk tales, which are narrated. These stories differ from state to state and region to region. In some cases, the story and the characters are the same, but there are different versions of the same story. One such story is related to Queen Veervati.
The story of Queen Veervati:
A long time ago, there was a king, who had 7 sons, and one daughter. Her name was Veervati, and she was very beautiful. Being the only sister, she was loved a lot by all her brothers. They could never see their sister in distress. Once, when Karwa Chauth came, Veervati was at her parent’s place. She decided to observe this fast. By evening, she was bothered with thirst and hunger. She was so desperate that her loving brothers were very disturbed with her state. They decided to something to require her out of this distress. They created a mirror behind a tree in such a way that it appeared like the moon. They told her sister that moon is out. Veervati believed that and broke her fast. As soon as she had the first bite, she got the news that her husband has died.
Veervati was devastated and she started crying and praying to God. Suddenly, a Goddess appeared and told her that she has broken the fast before moonrise, and that’s why her husband has died. The Goddess then told Veervati to do the fast again and be careful this time. Veervati fasted again, and thus, she got her husband back.
There are many different versions of this story. In one of the versions, brothers lit a fire behind a mountain to offer the impression of the moon. When she got the news of her husband’s death, she rushed towards her husband’s palace, where she met Shiv-Parvati. Goddess Parvati then cut her finger and gave few drops of her holy blood to Veervati. When Veervati sprinkled the blood drops on the body of her husband, he came to life and they were united again.
A related story
In addition to these 3 stories, there is one more related story, though this is not directly related to Karwa Chauth. It is more related to Savitri Amavasya, which is mainly observed by married women of Odisha. This is the legend of Satyavan and Savitri.
Source: https://images.apnisanskriti.com/a/2015/09/Vat_Savitri_Katha_Sar.jpg
As per Hindu mythology, princess Savitri loved an exiled prince Satyavan a lot. Prince Satyavan was cursed to die early. But Savitri was devoted to him, and still married Satyavan. When the death god, Yama came to take Satyavan’s life, Savitri begged him for his husband’s life. Savitri stopped eating and drinking and started following Yama, who was carrying Satyavan’s soul. Yama was impressed by her devotion and asked Savitri for any boon except her husband’s life. Savitri asked for a boon of 100 children, which Yama accepted. Since Savitri was a devoted wife, no other man could father her children. So, which means Satyavan would have to be alive. Now, Yama was caught with his own words and had to restore Satyavan to life. This way Savitri with her devotion and intelligence saved her husband’s life.
FAQs:
Q. 1: What is the meaning of ‘nirjalaa vrat’?
Ans: Nirjalaa vrat means that you cannot even drink water during the fast.
Q. 2: Can ladies drink water during the Karwa Chauth fast?
Ans: No, as per the tradition, ladies cannot drink water during this fast.
Q. 3: When is Atla Tadde celebrated?
Ans: Atla Tadde is celebrated on the 3rd night after the full moon in the ‘Aswiyuja’ month of the Telugu calendar, which normally comes a day before the Karwa Chauth.
Q. 4: What is the story behind Karwa Chauth?
Ans: The story behind Karwa Chauth is about a lady named ‘Karwa’, who was very devoted to her husband. One day, while her husband was taking a bath in the river, a crocodile caught him. Karwa bound the crocodile and asked Yama to punish the crocodile. When Yama refused to do so, Karwa got ready to curse Yama and destroy him. Yama got scared and sent the crocodile to hell, and blessed Karwa with a long and happy married life with her husband. This is how Karwa saved the life of her husband.
Q. 5: Are Karwa Chauth and Savitri Amavasya same?
Ans: No, they are two different festivals.
Q5. When is Karwa Chauth in 2021?
Ans: Sunday 24th October 2021
