chauth

Chauth is a term used in the Indian subcontinent to denote the fourth day of a lunar fortnight or month. It is applied to several religious observances that occur on a fourth-day occasion, across different regional traditions. The best-known example is Karva Chauth, a major North Indian festival observed by many Hindu women.

Karva Chauth centers on the welfare and longevity of the husband. Married women fast from sunrise to moonrise, refraining from food and water, and perform a puja in the evening. The observance typically involves dressing in new clothes, applying henna, and gathering for prayers and songs. In many households, the wife receives a pre-dawn meal called sargi from her mother-in-law. The fast is traditionally broken after sighting the moon and the husband’s blessing or water, followed by prasad and a shared meal. The ritual reinforces social ties and is often celebrated with family and neighbors.

While Karva Chauth is the most widely known form, the term chauth also appears in other regional calendars to indicate fourth-day observances, which may have distinct customs and prayers. The specifics—dates, prayer texts, food offerings, and post-fast rituals—vary by community, region, and family tradition.

Overall, Chauth reflects a class of religious practices built around a fixed lunar day, combining fasting, ritual storytelling, and communal participation. In contemporary practice, it remains a prominent cultural event in parts of northern and central India, contributing to social cohesion and the articulation of traditional roles within families.