Vrat Katha Book

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KarwaChauth is a Hindu festival celebrated by married Hindu women on the fourth day of the full moon in the month of Kartik. This year, the festival falls on November 1. On this day, married Hindu women observe a fast for the entire day. They mark this tradition for the prosperity, safety, and long life of their husbands. Karwa Chauth is widely celebrated in the northern parts of India, including Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

As part of the ritual, married women observe 'Nirjala vrat' by not having food or even a single drop of water after sunrise for the entire day. They break their fast only by looking at the moon and their husbands' faces through a sieve. On this day, married Hindu women pray to Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, and Karwa Mata for the long life of their husbands.

According to Hindu mythology, Veeravati, daughter of Vedsharma and Leelavati, visited her brothers during Karwa Chauth. As time went by, she started feeling a little faint and waited eagerly to break her fast by sighting the Moon. however, seeing her plight, Veeravati's brother tricked her into breaking the fast by showing her an object that resembled the Moon.

Unfortunately, after the third morsel of food, the news of her husband's death arrived. Veeravati cried all night until Goddess Indrani appeared in front of her, who told her that she broke the fast without giving Argha (offering) to the Moon and that led to the untimely death of her husband. However, she promised Veeravati that if she keeps Chauth vrat every month and the next Karwa Chauth vrat, her husband will be alive and back. Seeing her devotion Yama, the God of death, was forced to bring her husband back to life.

Sawan First Somwar 2023: Sawan, also known as Shravan, is a significant month in the Hindu calendar. It is the fifth month of the Hindu lunar calendar and typically falls between July and August in the Gregorian calendar. The month of Sawan holds great religious and cultural importance for Hindus, particularly Lord Shiva devotees.

Sawan Somwar holds a unique belief in the holy month of Sawan and while some people observe Nirjala Vrat, others eat light sattvic meals throughout the day. A number of legends advocate that observing 16 consecutive Monday fasts, known as Solah Somvar Vrat, attracts tremendous positive energy.

It is popularly observed by unmarried women to receive a suitable life partner. Apart from the Solah Somwar Vrat, the Monday fast is not restricted to a particular gender. Shiva devotees from all across the world deem this month as utterly important.

According to Skanda Purana, Narada Muni asked Lord Shiva why he loved Savan month so much. Lord Shiva says that Goddess Sati pledged to have her as a husband in every birth and for this, she also endured her fathers displeasure. Goddess Sati gave up the body once the father insulted Shiva. After this, Devi was born as Himalaya and Naina daughter Parvati. In this birth also, for the marriage of Shiva, the Goddess pleased Lord Shiva with a hard fast in the month of Sawan and married him. That is why from the month of Savan, sixteen Monday fasts are started for the grace of Lord Shiva. One more story is found in mythological texts. It was a long time ago that a lot of saints and ascetics gathered in a city situated on the banks of the Kshipra river to pray to Lord Shiva.

The Savan Monday fast begins at sunrise and lasts till evening. Lord Shiva and Mother Gauri are worshipped throughout this day. For this puja, you can worship Lord Shiva at a nearby temple or even at home. After this, in the evening, worship Lord Shivas' family in Pradosh Bela with 16 types of material used for worship, such as flowers, Durva, Belpatra, Dhatura, etc. It is believed that by fasting on a Monday in the month of Sawan, all the Monday fasts yield fruit. Lord Shiva likes Belpatra and Dhatura, and uses them in the worship of Lord Shiva. Also, offer Ganga water to them. It is a belief to keep fast on this day. If you are not able to keep fast, then you can take food or fruits for a time. After worshipping Lord Shiva, listen or read the fast story. During this time, while keeping celibacy, keeping a distance from all the fortifications and worshiping Shiva with full heart all day long, then all wishes are fulfilled.

According to the Hindu Scripture, at the time of Samudra Manthan or churning the ocean, many auspicious things including innumerable amounts of gems, jewels, Kaamdhenu Cow, and an Elephant named Airawat have come out of the ocean along with the poison but demons and deities were shocked seeing that poison (Halahal) as it had the ability to destroy the world and everything.

Lord Shiva then came to rescue and drank all the poison and stored it in his throat, which turned out blue in colour that is why Lord Shiva is called Neelkanth also. Lord Shiva saved the entire world from this destructive poison. Demons and deities started offering him the holy water of Ganga so that the hazardous effect of poison could be reduced. This event took place during this month, from then this month is celebrated as Shravan month, and is considered to be the propitious month in the year.

People perform religious and spiritual activities during this month. The devotees observe a fast each Monday, which comes in Sawan month. The female unmarried devotees observe fast on Tuesday also, which is known as Mangla Gauri Vrat to get a desired husband and even newly married devotees also can observe Mangla Gauri Vrat.

Sawan is also known for the Kanwar yatra in which the devotees of Lord Shiva bring the sacred and holy Ganga Jal from Gaumukh to Haridwar and also wherever Maa Ganga travels. Kanwariya devotees walk miles by foot to bring the Ganga Jal. A Kanwar is carried on the shoulder of the Kanwariya to carry Ganga Jal so that they can offer Ganga Jal to Lord Shiva on the day of Shivratri which falls on Triyodashi Tithi in Krishna Paksha in Shravan Maas.

Hariyali teej also celebrated in the sawan month. It is believed that during this month unmarried girls also observe the sixteen Monday fast, which is called 'Solah Somvaar' to get a desired husband and worship Lord Shiva with pure dedication and devotion, Lord Shiva blesses the devotees with wish fulfillment.

Anuj Tiwari writes stories for SEO and is a Youtube wizard. An engineer turned social media champ, he keeps a track of all that goes around the world. His interest areas include historic events, political and social-sciences.

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