Karwa Chauth Celebrations at NESSP Groton Sai Temple

On Sunday, Oct 28, 2018, NESSP observed the Karva Chauth fast and associated rituals at the New England Shirdi Sai Temple at 99 Shirdi Way, Groton, MA. Karva Chauth is primarily a North Indian festival. Karva means pot, Chauth is the Fourth. This festival is celebrated on the fourth day of the dark-fortnight, or Krishna paksh of the month of Karthik.  

At our temple, Mrs Ranjini Saigal conducted the Karva Chauth ceremony along with a beautiful narration of The Story of Queen Veervati. On this day, married women observed fast from sunrise to moonrise for the well-being of their husbands. In the evening at temple, over 100 Plus Married women, under the guidance of Mrs. Ranjani Saigal, participated in the Karwa chauth pooja and took blessings of Lord Shiva, Mother Parvathi and Sai Baba.

Traditionally, married women begin preparing for Karva Chauth a few days in advance by applying mehendi, buying adornments, jewelry, and puja materials on a thali (plate). The fasting women sit collectively in a circle while doing the worship, singing devotional songs and performing feris (passing thalis around in the circle). The story of Karva Chauth is narrated. The worshipers await the rising of the moon. Once visible, it is customary for a fasting woman to view the moon or its reflection in a vessel filled with water. The moon holds special significance for it resides on the head of Lord Shiva. We only have to look at the moon to see Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi.

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