The Festival

Karva Chauth is celebrated mainly in the northern states of India on the fourth day (Chauth) of the Karthik month in the Hindu (lunar) calendar. On this day, married women pray for the well-being and long life of their husbands by fasting from dawn to the time of moonrise. The day is celebrated with a lot of fervor, with women dressing up in elaborate attires and adorning intricate mehndi on their hands.
Karva Chauth
This festival is glorified and also widely observed by the Hindus as well as Sikh. Karva means clay pot while chauth means fourth.

To keep up with the changing times, nowadays even some husbands observe fast for their wives' happiness and well being. Various folklores suggest that the festival's origin can be traced back to the time of Mahabharata. On this particular day, various items such as karwa, which is an earthen pot with a spout is collected and worshiped. It is then offered to Goddess Parvati and Lord Siva.

To comply by this fast no water or food can be consumed after the sun has risen. It is broken only after seeing the moon and after all the rituals of day have been performed. Once they see the moon, these women break their fast after they have offered water to the moon.

In 2017, this festival was celebrated on October 8 throughout India.