Karwa Chauth Festivities Held Across States, Leaders Greet Women
Karwa Chauth was marked with traditional rituals and festive spirit across India on Wednesday, as women observed fasts for the well-being of their husbands and families.
After fasting throughout the day, women sighted the moon, performed puja and broke their fast according to custom. Many women also gathered at various places to celebrate the festival together.
Political leaders from different states shared their views on the importance of the festival and conveyed good wishes to women. Among them were Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak.
In Bhopal, Shivraj Singh Chouhan participated in the Karwa Chauth rituals alongside his wife, Sadhana Singh Chouhan. She sighted the moon with him, performed puja and then ended her fast.
Chouhan lauded the penance and sacrifice of Indian women. He said that the sacrifices women make for their husbands, children and families are beyond comparison.
He also said Karwa Chauth stands as a strong symbol of selfless dedication, in which the desire to offer everything for the welfare of the husband and family is evident. The festival, he said, reflects women's love and devotion toward their families.
In Delhi, Minister Ravindra Indraj said the festival embodies dedication and devotion, a spirit rarely seen in other cultures. He added that Karwa Chauth reflects Indian Hindu values and Sanatan traditions, which are deeply rooted in the country's soil.
Lata Gupta, chairperson of the Delhi Women's Commission, extended Karwa Chauth greetings to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. She commended the Chief Minister for celebrating the festival with women at her official residence and said that all the women present were very happy.
In Lucknow, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak observed Karwa Chauth with his wife and extended heartfelt congratulations to the sisters, mothers and daughters of the state.
Pathak said the festival was being celebrated with great pomp across Uttar Pradesh as a symbol of Sanatan culture. He highlighted the unbreakable bond of love, dedication and trust between husband and wife as the defining feature of the festival.
He expressed the hope that this festival of love and faith would be auspicious for everyone. He said Karwa Chauth expresses the feelings of love, faith and commitment in the marital relationship, and invited the women of the state to share in the festive joy.
In Chandigarh, women had to wait longer than usual to see the moon as clouds hid it. The moon was finally sighted at about 8:40 pm, after which women performed traditional puja and broke their fast. They had prayed for their husbands' long life, good health and prosperity, completing the observance with customary rites.