
Karva Chauth A woman performs traditional rituals during the Karva Chauth festival in India. (more) Karva Chauth Hindu festival Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Karva-Chauth Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Karaka Chaturthi, Karwa Chauth Written by Written by Aman Kumar Aman Kumar is an editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. Aman Kumar Fact-checked by Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Sep. 19, 2025 •Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Also spelled: Karwa Chauth and Also called: Karaka Chaturthi (Show more) { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is Karva Chauth? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Karva Chauth, also known as Karaka Chaturthi, is a festival observed by married Hindu women who fast from sunrise to moonrise, praying for their husbandsu2019 longevity and prosperity. It is traditionally observed in parts of northern India and Nepal." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " When is Karva Chauth celebrated? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Karva Chauth is celebrated on the fourth lunar day (chaturthi) of the fortnight of the waning moon (krishna paksha) in the Hindu calendar month of Karttika (Octoberu2013November)." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What are some common rituals of Karva Chauth? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Common rituals of Karva Chauth include eating a pre-dawn meal called sargi, fasting without food or water until moonrise, applying mehendi (henna) body art, gathering around to listen to folk tales related to the fast (vrat katha), offering arghya (libation) to the Moon, and conducting prayers with ceremonial items such as lamps, fruits, and coconuts." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What are some folk tales associated with Karva Chauth? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Folk tales associated with Karva Chauth include stories such as Savitri resurrecting Satyavan, Karva saving her husband from a crocodile, and Veeravatiu2019s devotion leading to her husbandu2019s revival." } } ] } Top Questions What is Karva Chauth? Karva Chauth, also known as Karaka Chaturthi, is a festival observed by married Hindu women who fast from sunrise to moonrise, praying for their husbands’ longevity and prosperity. It is traditionally observed in parts of northern India and Nepal.
When is Karva Chauth celebrated? Karva Chauth is celebrated on the fourth lunar day (chaturthi) of the fortnight of the waning moon (krishna paksha) in the Hindu calendar month of Karttika (October–November).
What are some common rituals of Karva Chauth? Common rituals of Karva Chauth include eating a pre-dawn meal called sargi, fasting without food or water until moonrise, applying mehendi (henna) body art, gathering around to listen to folk tales related to the fast (vrat katha), offering arghya (libation) to the Moon, and conducting prayers with ceremonial items such as lamps, fruits, and coconuts.
What are some folk tales associated with Karva Chauth? Folk tales associated with Karva Chauth include stories such as Savitri resurrecting Satyavan, Karva saving her husband from a crocodile, and Veeravati’s devotion leading to her husband’s revival.
Karva Chauth, a festival traditionally observed in parts of northern India and Nepal primarily by married Hindu women. During this festival, women fast for a day from sunrise to moonrise and pray for their husbands’ longevity and prosperity. Some unmarried women also participate in the fast and related religious ceremonies with the intention of securing a suitable partner. Women traditionally view the Moon and then their husbands through a sieve during the Karva Chauth ceremony. The festival may also be observed by Hindu communities outside the Indian subcontinent and, with interfaith admixture, some Jains and Sikhs may also observe the ...(100 of 734 words)
Continue reading with Britannica Premium The trusted destination for facts and information 7-Day Free Trial, No Ads, Unlimited Access Subscribe Today