Unknown facts about Karva Chauth (view pics)

Hindu women around the world celebrate this one-day festival for the longevity and safety of their husbands.On this day, married Hindu women fast for a day, and sometimes unmarried girls keep this fast for their desired husbands or fiances. Karva Chauth signifies worshipping of an earthen pot of water (Karva) on fourth dark night (chauth) of fourth dark night of the 'Krishna-paksh' of Karthik month. This day also coincides with the wheat-sowing time of Rabi crops.Origin of Karva Chauth festival is uncertain but according to some beliefs this day is celebrated to mark the special bond between god-friends and god-sisters. In earlier times, girls as young as 14 were married off and those days due to long distances and no electronic assistance like phones were present. So she had no way to contact her parents, siblings etc and as she was newly married and being hesitant in the new household, they would not be able to share any of her feelings to anyone.Hence, bride once married off would be uncertain about her return for long. Understanding this, village elders started a tradition according to which once the bride would come to her in-laws she was befriended with another woman of the same village.Condition was that this friend should be married in the same village as her in-laws. Once the two women became god-friends or god-sisters, they would every year celebrate this day to mark the special bond of friendship between them.Karva Chauth also has some very old traditional tales: Story of Rani VeeravatiVeeravati was the only sister to her seven brothers. After her marriage she came back to her maternal home to celebrate the festival of Karva Chauth; being her first Karva Chauth, she kept a strict fast that day. In evening she started to feel severe hunger and thirst, upon seeing this, her brothers decided to help her and concocted a plan to create a false moon by tying a mirror at the ‘pipal' tree far away from their home.They convinced her that the moon has risen, despite being told by her sister-in-laws about the plan she showed trust upon her brothers and broke her fast.The moment she started eating, a word from near-by state came announcing that the King (her husband) has died. Upon listening to this she wept the whole night, Goddess appeared on seeing her weeps and told her about the reality how she had been ditched by her brothers.The Goddess then blessed her that if Veeravati kept another Karva Chauth fast with full devotion her husband would be revived. Queen Veeravati did the entire puja with deep devotion; hence Lord Yama had to return her back her husband. Therefore since that day, every year married Hindu women keep a fast on this day and pray with full devotion for their husbands long-life, health and success. Story of SavitriLord Yama came to take Satyavans' soul with him. Satyavan's wife wept and begged Lord Yama to spare her husband's life, but he refused. On seeing this, Savitri stopped eating and drinking and traveled till Lord Yama. On seeing her devotion, Lord Yama asked her to demand any other wish than her husband's life.Being a devoted, dutiful wife Savitri asked Lord Yama to bless her with children, who are fathered by her husband Satyavan. On listening this Lord Yama understood what she actually meant and hence, blessed her with her husband's new life. Story of DraupadiOnce Arjuna went to Nilgiri for a strict penance; leaving behind other Pandavs. Draupadi and others came across a situation, which could not be solved without the help from Arjun. As there was no way to contact him. Draupadi started worshipping Lord Krishna, who in turn suggested her to keep a Karva Chauth fast.Draupadi kept the strict fast for a day and soon Arjun returned back to his wife and brothers.