Myths about the Origin of Karwa Chauth

Karwa Chauth, a festival in Hindu culture, is celebrated by married women to seek for the protection, safety, and longevity of their husbands. This festival received prominence in the North-eastern part of India, as a huge number of the male population were a part of Indian Army. Given the high-risk for their lives, the way they serve their nation, they needed love and support from their families. Wives of those soldiers used to decorate karwa chauth pooja thali to observe the ritual to protect those who pledge their lives to protect their motherland.

In ancient times, when their husbands remained away for work and business purposes, the absence of their husbands engulfed those women. They did not have the option to go to his paternal house due to a lack of communication and social stigma. So, they used to celebrate Karwa Chauth to alleviate the loneliness. Besides this, many people congregated to celebrate this festival. So, they turned the despondency into a festival.

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful Queen named Veerabati. She used to observe the Karwa Chauth festival very diligently and she started a stringent fast. After a while, she was suffering badly and her brothers, upon noticing her suffering, tricked her and placed a mirror in the pupil tree in such a way that it was looking like a moon. Veerabati broke her fast and the news of the death of her husband arrived. After that, when Lord Yama became aware of the trick, he was satisfied with Veerabati’s devotion and brought the life of her husband back.

Another story goes thus, from the pages of Mahabharat that once Draupadi also observed Karwa Chauth for her most beloved husband Arjuna on Krishna’s advice. Pandavas who were facing challenges for the absence of Arjuna could easily resolve the problem.