A woman offers special prayers at a temple in New Delhi, on Friday, on the occasion of Karva Chauth. PIC/ PTI
This deeply symbolic occasion is observed with great devotion and cultural reverence, as women undertake a nirjala fast (they refrain from consuming both food and water) for the long life, prosperity, and well-being of their husbands
The festival began at 10.54 pm on Thursday and is observed until 7.38 pm on Friday, although the fast itself typically starts at sunrise and ends only after the moon is sighted
According to the Hindu lunar calendar, Karva Chauth falls on the Chaturthi (fourth day) of the Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the moon) in the month of Kartik
One of the most significant aspects of the ritual is that the fast is broken only after sighting the moon, which plays a central role in the day’s traditions
Women traditionally gather in groups, dressed in festive attire, often in red or maroon, and perform puja (prayers) in the evening before looking for the moon
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