Karwa Chauth 2025: A Sacred Fast for Love and Longevity

Karwa Chauth, also known as Karak Chaturthi, is a cherished one-day festival observed by married Hindu women across India. Celebrated on the Chaturthi Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik (October 10, 2025 – Friday), this vrat is a heartfelt expression of devotion, love, and prayer for the well-being and longevity of husbands.

Rituals and Traditions

• Sargi Before Sunrise: Women begin the day with a pre-dawn meal called sargi, after which they abstain from food and water until moonrise.
• Mehendi and Adornment: Applying henna is symbolic of marital bliss. Women dress in bridal attire and jewelry, especially newlyweds.
• Puja and Vrat Katha: Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and Kartikeya are worshipped. Women gather to listen to the Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha.
• Moonrise Rituals: After sighting the moon through a sieve, women perform aarti for their husbands and break their fast with water and food offered by them.
• Karwa Dan: The earthen pot (karwa) used for moon offerings is given as dan to an elder woman or Brahmin.
• Gifts and Celebration: Husbands and in-laws gift bangles, sarees, jewelry, and other tokens of love, strengthening marital bonds.

Regional Celebrations

• North India: Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh observe Karwa Chauth with grandeur.
• Central India: In Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, it aligns with Chhath traditions.
• South & West India: Celebrated as Karak Chaturthi in Ashwin month per the Amanta calendar.

Karwa Chauth also coincides with Sankashti Chaturthi, a day dedicated to Lord Ganesha. With growing enthusiasm and commercialization, the festival has evolved into a vibrant celebration of love, tradition, and feminine strength — ushering in the festive spirit of Diwali.