Karwa Chauth 2017: Why women see their husbands through a chhalani

On Karva Chauth, women look through a chhalani at their husbands and break their fast at moonrise. They can eat and drink water only after that. There is also a folklore about why women look at their husbands through a chhalani at Karva Chauth.

Karva Chauth, Karva Chauth fast, Karva Chauth sargi, Karva chauth chhalani, karva chauth history, Karva chauth puja, indian express, indian express newsThere is a popular story behind why women look through the chhalani at Karva Chauth and it revolves around Veervati. (Source: File Photo)

Karwa Chauth, or Karva Chauth, is a festival celebrated by Hindus where the women observe a day-long (from sunrise to moonrise) fast and pray for their husband’s long life. According to the Hindu lunar calendar, Karwa Chauth falls during the Krishna Paksha Chaturthi in the month of Kartik. The women wake up at sunrise and eat the sargi, which includes fruits, sweets, and sevvaiyan. Then they go on a day-long fast till the moon can be seen in the sky.
At moonrise, women look through a chhalani at their husbands and break their fast and eat and drink water only after that. But have you ever wondered why do women look at their husbands through a chhalani at Karva Chauth?
There is a popular folklore behind it which revolves around a young woman called Veervati.
Veervati who was to be married soon, fasted on Karwa Chauth for her husband’s long life, but the young woman took ill because of not eating all day. Taking pity on her, her brothers lit a diya behind a bush and told Veervati that the moon had finally risen so she could break her fast. Looking at the diya and thinking it was the moon, the woman broke her fast. It is said that her husband died a few days later. When she got to know of her brothers’ deception she fasted again and worshipped the moon with a chhalani. Miraculously, her husband was raised back to life. Thus, the chhalani became an integral part of the festival of Karva Chauth.

There is another reason behind this tradition as well. It is believed that when a wife looks at her husband through the chhalani, all the ill-will and negative emotions are filtered through it, bringing bliss in the marital relationship.

On this auspicious occasion, take a moment to wish your loved ones with these messages.

Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/why-women-see-their-husbands-through-a-chhalani-at-karva-chauth-know-the-reason-4880126/