Karva Chauth is a traditional Hindu festival celebrated by married women, primarily in North India to pray for the well-being and long life of their husbands. It usually falls in the month of October or November, during the Krishna Paksha on the fourth day after Purnima in the month of Kartika. The key rituals involve women observing a strict fast from sunrise until they see the moon in the evening, without consuming food or water. They break the fast afterward by offering prayers to the moon, seeking blessings from their husbands’ prosperity and long lives. Apart from all the rituals, Sargi holds a special significance in this festival. It is a pre-dawn meal, usually prepared by the mother-in-law for her daughter-in-law which is consumed before sunrise on the day of Karva Chauth.

Sargi typically includes a variety of fruits, sweets, dry fruits, and a glass of water or milk. The mother-in-law will also provide mehendi and jewellery to her daughter-in-law. This year, the auspicious time to consume Sargi will begin from 4 am to 5 am on October 20 according to Deoghar’s famous astrologer Acharya Pandit Nandkishore Mudgal.

Sargi also has some other key importance as consuming it provides energy and helps the women sustain the day-long-fast without water and food. The tradition of mother-in-law preparing Sargi also strengthens the bond between the two. The act of receiving Sargi is also essential as the mother-in-law’s blessings are beneficial for a healthy and harmonious married life.

According to Pandit Ji, married women after preparing Sargi should begin the worship of the moon after 7:40 pm. They should offer water to the moon after seeing their husbands’ faces in the sieve. They will break the fast after the husband gives the first sip of water or a bite of food. The timing of moonrise can vary depending on the location, so it is also necessary for women to check the expected moonrise time for their specific area on the day of Karva Chauth.

Each year, the Karva Chauth fast is observed on Kartik Krishna Chaturthi Tithi. On this day, women fast throughout the day, giving up even water for the day. This year, Karva Chauth falls on October 20, Sunday.

On this day, women complete their fast by offering arghya to the moon. However, there are instances when the moon is not visible due to bad weather. How can women observing the fast complete the rituals then?

Kashai-based astrologer Chakrapani Bhatt says even if the moon is not visible on Karva Chauth, fasting women can complete their rituals.

According to Bhatt, one can visit a nearby Shiva temple and complete the fast by offering arghya to the moon visible on the forehead of Lord Shiva. “The moon always adorns the forehead of Lord Shiva. You can go to the temple after moonrise, offer arghya to the moon on Lord Shiva’s forehead, and complete your fast.”

Another remedy he suggests is using a silver coin. “In astrology, the auspicious gemstone of the moon is silver. After moonrise, take a silver coin or a round piece of silver and consider it a replica of the moon. Worship it, and this way, you can complete your fast,” he says.

Why Do Women Worship the Moon on Karva Chauth?

According to mythology, Daksh Prajapati cursed the moon, causing it to lose its shine and endangering its life. The moon then decided to worship Lord Shiva. Through Lord Shiva’s grace, all the moon’s doshad were cured, restoring its life and increasing its age. Since then, married women worship the moon and offer arghya on Karva Chauth, praying for the long life of their husbands.

According to another mythological story, when Lord Shiva cut off Lord Ganesha’s head, it fell on the moon. Lord Ganesha was then given the head of an elephant. Some believe that Ganesha’s original head still resides on the moon, which is why Lord Ganesha is worshipped alongside the moon on Karva Chauth.

It is believed that Lord Ganesha cursed the moon to be without light because the moon made fun of Ganesha’s body. After the moon sought his forgiveness, Lord Ganesha decreed that the moon’s brightness would increase during Shukla Paksha and decrease during Krishna Paksha. He also blessed the moon, stating that the fast on Sankashti Chaturthi would not be complete without worshipping the moon.

Karva Chauth 2024 Muhurat

• Kartik Krishna Chaturthi Tithi begins on Sunday, on October 20 at 6:46 AM
• Tithi ends on Monday, October 21, at 4:16 AM

The auspicious time for Karva Chauth puja is from 5:46 PM to 7:02 PM and moonrise is expected at 7:54 PM on October 20.