Festivals of India: Karwa Chauth

Karwa Chauth fasting is done during Krishna Paksha Chaturthi in the Hindu month of Kartik and

according to Amanta calendar followed in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Southern India it is Ashwin month

which is current during Karwa Chauth. However, it is just the name of the month which differs and in all

states Karwa Chauth is observed on the same day.

Karwa Chauth coincides with Sankashti Chaturthi a fasting day observed for Lord Ganesha. The fasting

of Karwa Chauth and its rituals are observed by married women for the long life of their husband.

Married women worship Lord Shiva and His family including Lord Ganesha and break the fast only after

sighting and making the offerings to the moon. The fasting of Karwa Chauth is strict and observed

without taking any food or even a drop of water after sunrise till the sighting of the moon in the night.

Karwa Chauth day is also known as Karak Chaturthi. Karwa or Karak refers to the earthen pot through

which water offering, known as Argha, is made to the moon. Karwa is very significant during Puja and it

is also given as Dan to the Brahmin or any eligible woman.

This karwa Chauth brings with it great festivities and celebration of the unshakeable bond of husband

and wife. It is extremely heartwarming to see that even in today’s age, wives keep this fast for the long,

healthy life of her husband. On this occasion, we want to highlight a very important essential for any

married woman in India. The Sindoor that a married woman applies on her forehead is the utmost

essential ritual that a married woman adheres to, that too happily. It is the ultimate sign that signifies

that a woman is married and sets her apart from the unmarried girls. Sindoor (Vermilion) is applied

traditionally at the beginning of the partition of the hair as a dot on the forehead.

Modern Sindoor mainly uses vermilion, an orange-red pigment. Vermilion is the purified and powdered

form of cinnabar, which is the chief form in which mercury sulfide naturally occurs. As with other

compounds of mercury, Sindoor is toxic and must be handled carefully. Sometimes, red lead (lead

tetroxide, also known asminium) is added to Sindoor. Red lead is toxic and a known carcinogen for

laboratory animals, though its carcinogenicity to humans has not been established. Traditional Sindoor

was made with turmeric and alum or lime, or from other herbal ingredients. Unlike red lead and

vermilion, these are not poisonous. In early 2008, allegations of high lead content led the U.S. Food and

Drug Administration to recall batches of Sindoor from several manufacturers.

From the standpoint of tradition and ancient Hindu mythology, Sindoor is originally composed of herbal

ingredients and that is how our ancestors used it to signify Sindoor for a married woman. It is but

significant and auspicious for the married woman to understand that this combination is the best to

wear for themselves and for their husbands. If there are certain rituals that are from the ancient

mythology, then this is one ritual that everybody follows dedicatedly. It is very important to note this

and on this auspicious occasion of Karwa Chauth, let’s bring together the ancient original form of

Sindoor for your wife who keeps fast for you the entire day.

Herbal Sindoor are a big hit in this age. It brings with us a feeling of contentment that women are

traditionally thinking of this ritual and at the same time encouraging herbals over conventional Sindoors.

This Karwa Chauth, shop for Herbal Sindoor and get 15% off. Rush till stock lasts.

Reference: - http://organicinsights.in/festivals-of-india-karwa-chauth/