Karwa Chauth 2025 Auspicious Time:
Today, married women across India are fasting for their husbands' longevity on the sacred occasion of Karwa Chauth. It is believed that fasting and prayers on this day grant them an eternal marital bond and prosperity. The fast is strict and is broken only upon sighting the moon and drinking water handed by their husbands. This year, the moon's late appearance had kept women waiting, but it has finally shown itself in several major cities, including Delhi and NCR, allowing them to break their fast with joy.
When Will the Moon Appear on Karwa Chauth?
The moon has made its appearance over Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Meerut, Gurugram, Amethi, Lucknow, and Chandigarh. Similarly, Mumbai, Nagpur, Shimla, Jaipur, Indore, and Bhopal have also witnessed the moonrise. Traditional customs dictate women look through a sieve at both the reflection of the moon and their husbands. This is said to bless their partners with prolonged life and a happy married life.
Source: aajtak
Source: aajtak
Evening Rituals of Karwa Chauth
It is said that the evening prayers performed during Pradosh Kaal hold special significance. Devotees engage in divine worship of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, and Chauth Mata. This year, the auspicious time was between 5:56 PM and 7:10 PM. Those unable to perform rituals during this window may still conduct their prayers.
Why View the Husband's Face Through a Sieve?
On the night of Karwa Chauth, a unique tradition involves viewing the husband's face through a sieve at moonrise. The sieve's numerous holes symbolize multiple reflections, and it is believed that this act can significantly increase the husband's lifespan. Hence, after lunar sighting, wives traditionally see their husband's face through a sieve, blending custom with devotion.
How to Conduct Karwa Chauth Prayers?
Wearing red attire is deemed auspicious for conducting evening prayers. Married women perform detailed prayers for Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and Chauth Mata. Beside the deity, a pot filled with water is placed, and offerings like lamps, incense, fruits, sweets, kumkum, rice, and grass are presented. Worshippers offer halwa-puri to Chauth Mata and perform an aarti by lighting a lamp, wishing for their husband's long life and enduring prosperity.
The Custom of Moon-Watching on Karwa Chauth
The practice involves observing the moon's reflection through a sieve, following which women perform aarthi and pray for a favorable outcome of their fast. They then pour water as an offering to the moon, view it through the sieve, gaze at their husband's face, and finally break their fast by receiving water from them.
Chanting Mantras for Blessings (Karwa Chauth 2025)
As they gaze up at the moon, women recite sacred mantras like:
Goddess Parvati: 'Om Shivayai Namah'
Lord Shiva: 'Om Namah Shivaya'
Lord Kartikeya: 'Om Shanmukhaya Namah'
Lord Ganesh: 'Om Ganeshaya Namah'
Moon God: 'Om Somaya Namah'
The Tale of Karwa Chauth
As legend narrates, a merchant had seven sons and a daughter named Karwa. Adored by her brothers, Karwa, upon marriage, observed a fast for her husband's longevity. She spent the day of Karwa Chauth fasting alongside her sisters-in-law at her maternal home. However, the late moonrise, along with her dehydration, led to deteriorating health. Unable to see her plight, her brothers devised a plan.
The youngest brother lit a lamp under a tree, veiled with a cloth to resemble the moon. Persuaded that this was the moon, Karwa ended her fast prematurely, only to face tragic news of her husband's demise. Distraught upon uncovering her brothers' deceit, Karwa resolved to consume no food and leave her husband uncremated until his revival.
Throughout the year, she lived on tufts of grass near her husband's body. When the following Karwa Chauth dawned, her sisters-in-law came to seek her blessings, to which she responded, 'Acceppt this needle from Yama, and gift me with my husband's longevity, as you are.' Though initially ignored, she approached her youngest brother’s wife. Persuaded with effort, her sister-in-law snipped her little finger, and the nectar revived her husband. Upon reviving, he chanted Lord Ganesh’s mantras for gratitude.
