It is
said to have an extraordinary observance rate among married
Hindu women.
In
principle, the fast is not to be broken until the moon is
sighted at night, and an elderly woman in the house is
supposed to narrate the story of Karwa Chauth before the
fast is terminated.
This is
indeed a very tough fast to observe as it starts before
sunrise and ends after worshipping the moon, which usually
rises at about 8.45 p.m. No food or water is to be taken
after 4 a.m. or after sunrise.
Celebration
: The
preparation for the puja should be started at about 4 or 5
p.m. Someone older, or the housewife herself, prepares
a suitable place in the puja room, in case it is a big room
which can accommodate all the women who have been invited
for the puja; otherwise the best place is a verandah or the
open courtyard, since generally the weather is not cold
during this season.
The goddess
known as Gaur Mata is worshipped. The Gaur Mata used to be
made with cowdung in the shape of a human figure, just about
two inches tall. Nowadays, a picture or an idol of Parvati
is worshipped.
Women
celebrate by buying bangles and applying henna patterns on
their hands. New brides wear their bridal outfits and others
wear outfits woven with gold. Those who have keep the
vrat, dress up beautifully in their chunris or in red or
pink clothes with chonp and bindi on their foreheads.
Once the moon
rises, the women see its reflection in a thaali of
water, after which they do a pooja for their
husband's safety and long life, and finally break their
fast.
