Karwa Chauth is a celebration of marriage and a promise to be with each other till the last breath. Read on as we share the major difference between Karwa Chauth and Hariyali Teej!
We have seen our mommies celebrate the Karwa Chauth festival from a young age. It is one of the most challenging fasts, and we would not even dare to disturb or irritate mums on Karwa Chauth as they would be fasting without even drinking a drop of water. No matter how much we loved seeing her get decked up in pretty clothes, we all wondered why she kept such a difficult fast. And she would always say, 'Karwa Chauth is kept for the long life of husbands, and it is an honour for them.'
Karwa Chauth is a fast, observed by Hindu women across India with a lot of pomp. It is observed on Chaturthi tithi in the month of Kartik. However, many people often confuse it with Haryali Teej. Many think that it is the same fast, and women are fasting for the good health of their husbands. But in reality, it is celebrated for different reasons, and fasting is different. Check out as we reveal how Karwa Chauth is different from Haryali Teej.
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India and Indians believe in traditions and their age-old rituals. Our dadis and nanis have often narrated to us the stories of Teej and Karwa Chauth as bedtime stories, shaping our belief in our religion even more. According to Hindu mythology, Teej is celebrated in the month of Sawan, for the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Paravati. After 108 rebirths, Paravati mata finally got united with Lord Shiva on earth, and he accepted her as his wife on this day.
On the other hand, Karwa Chauth has many tales. However, the famous Karwa Chauth story is of queen Veeravati, who was the only sister of her seven brothers. On the day of Karwa Chauth, she went to her parent's home, where she waited for the moon so that she could break her fast. However, her brothers decided to play a prank and tricked her by placing a mirror on a pipal tree. So, Veeravati opened her fast, thinking it was a moon.
The moment Veeravati ate food, she got the news of her husband's demise. She rushed towards her home and kept praying to Goddess Parvati, who appeared in front of her and explained the trickery of her brothers. Veeravati asked for forgiveness and promised she would keep the fast without eating or drinking a drop of water. After which, Goddess Parvati gave life to her husband.
On Karwa Chauth, a woman keeps a nirjala fast for the long life of her husband without eating or drinking anything from the dawn to the moon's rise. However, when a woman keeps a Teej fast, she does not eat or drink until the next morning. The woman opens her fast the next day, followed by puja and path.
Karwa Chauth falls in November. According to the Hindu lunar calendar, it is celebrated in the month of Kartik and after the full moon on the Chaturdashi. On the other hand, Haryali Teej is celebrated in the monsoon and in the Sharavan month according to Hindu Calender.
No matter how different these two festivals are, they are celebrated by women for the good health of their family. On these fasts, they put on new clothes, get their hands adorn with mehendi and bow down to the almighty for happy and prosperous of life of their family. Isn't it beautiful?
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