The hindu festival of Karva Chauth is best depicted in the Bollywood movies. Over the years, various top actors & actresses have glamorized this festival, and some melodious songs have also been picturised on Karva Chauth.
If you find that a youngster (of Indian origin) knows a bit about KarvaChauth, then most of the credit for that definitely goes to Bollywood. Its through our films that many know about Karva Chauth (and the ‘vrat’, which means fasting). Its one of the most significant festivals for Indians, and is celebrated predominantly by North Indian women.
Significance
Among Indians, Karwa Chauth is considered one of the most auspicious festivals for a married woman. On this day, a married woman fasts for their husband’s well-being, prosperity and wealth. Karwa Chauth is usually celebrated a few weeks before Diwali.
Women also love this day because they get to wear their bridal outfit, put Mehendi on their hands; its almost like becoming a bride again.
Top Karva Chauth Bollywood Songs
Ghar Aaja Pardesi from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ)
Chand Chhupa Badal Mein from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan)
Bole Chudiyan Video from K3G (Amitabh, Shah Rukh, Kareena, Hrithik)
How is it Celebrated?
The day starts before the sunrise and women worship Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha and even the moon.
The most important part of Karwa Chauth is that the mother-in-law hands over the ‘sargi’ to the daughter-in-law which must be consumed before sunrise. Again, I’m sure a few of you (Bollywood buffs) would already know about this…because its elaborately described in the later half of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (K3G), directed by Karan Johar and starring all the bigwigs of the Indian film industry.
For the fast to be considered successful, one must not eat neither drink anything the whole day; that’s why its also considered a difficult ‘fast’ by many.
Its also a great day for Mehendi artists to make some quick bucks, as on this auspicious occasion, married women are supposed to apply heena or mehendi on their hands to show that they are ‘suhagan’ (means ‘Married’ in Hindi).
The Ritual (Puja)
The married woman sits around the idol with their bayas. They further place a pot which is full of water in front of her. At the start of the puja, women apply teeka to Goddess Gauri and shower few drops of water on the goddess. The karva is tied with the red thread and contains kharia, aipun and little roli.
Elderly women in the family narrate the whole legend of Karwa Chauth and pray for their husbands good fortune. Once the moon is slightly visible, they offer prayers and observe the Chandrama (moon) through a sieve and then break their fast.
The first sip of water and first morsel of food have to be served by the husband to the wife.
Recent Trends
Nowadays, its common for even husbands to fast along with their wife on Karwa Chauth – to show their love & respect for the wife, and also to strength their bond. But again, these are more of exceptions than the rule; the festival is primarily celebrated by women.
Here’s a nice joke on Karwa Chauth…I’m sure women are not going to find it funny. Nevertheless, its a joke.
Bollywood Remakes Which Hollywood Movie For The Modern Yet Traditional ‘Fasting’ Ladies?
Fast & Furious…Why?
Because they Fast One Day and are Furious for 364 days 🙂
Happy Karwa Chauth!
How Does Bollywood Celebrate Karva Chauth?
Take a look at how some of our Bollywood celebs celebrate this festival.
Sridevi: I have been celebrating Karva Chauth for almost 20 years now. Earlier, we would go to my mother-in-law’s place, but after my father-in-law passed away, we have been going to Anil’s (Kapoor) house. This year too, we’ll be celebrating it there. A day before Karva Chauth, all the women in our family get together and we apply mehndi on our hands. The next day, we all come together to perform the puja at around 4.30 pm and then, there is an endless wait for the moon. I feel that on Karva Chauth, the moon always shows up later than the usual time (laughs). All of us wait on the terrace anxiously and it seems like an eternal wait. Since I don’t even drink water during the fast, I get a bit more impatient. I always break my fast with the water used for the puja. After that, all the three families and close friends have dinner together. I also dress up for the occasion by wearing bright colours and heavy jewellery. I almost dress like a bride (laughs). You pray for your family everyday, but it’s nice to pray for your husband’s well-being on this day
Shilpa Shetty Kundra: South Indians don’t celebrate Karva Chauth, but since I’m married to a Punjabi, I’ve been celebrating it for a few years now. I always dress up in traditional finery and jewellery on the occasion. And this year, I have designed my own sari, too. As much as I enjoy the festival, I hate fasting. Every year, I, along with my other friends, meet up at friend’s place. We perform aarti in the evening and follow the usual ritual.
Sonali Bendre: I’m used to having small meals every two hours, so I find it difficult to starve. But all the pampering by my mother-in-law and my husband makes the fast worth it. My mother-in-law firmly believes in the tradition and as a daughter-in-law, I feel it is that one day in a year when I want to show my gratitude towards them. I also look forward to catching up with my sister-in-law and friends on this day. I love mawa pedas and break my fast by having them.
Hema Malini: I have been celebrating Karva Chauth for many years. But now, the attention has shifted to my daughters — Esha and Ahana. I still perform the puja and observe the fast, which is not a big thing for me, as I anyway fast every Monday and Friday. The only difference is that on Karva Chauth, I break my fast once I spot the moon. But this time around, I will be a bit busy since I am campaigning.
Hema’s daughters Esha and Ahana: I’ve been observing Karva Chauth for my husband, Bharat (Takhtani) for the last four years. Even when I was dating him, I used to fast for him. This time, it has coincided with Bharat’s birthday. So we’ll be celebrating the festival as well as his birthday at our farmhouse in Lonavla. Like every year, he will also fast with me. Fasting is easy since I am used to dieting, but not drinking water gets difficult as I keep sipping water throughout the day. My sister, Ahana, has come down from Delhi specially for the occasion. She is extremely excited as this is her first Karva Chauth. She has even organised a mehndiwali for us. She is a tomboy, but has decided to wear all her finery for the occasion. I will wear a salwar kurta. In the morning, we all will perform the puja and follow the rituals.
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