Married Hindu women perform rituals during the celebrations Karwa Chauth festival (Husband's Day) in Beawar, Rajasthan, India on Thursday (October 13). This traditional Hindu festival celebrated in India sees married women fasting one whole day and offering prayers to the moon for welfare, prosperity and longevity of their husbands. Women breaks her Karwa Chauth fast at the sighting of the moon in India. Karva Chauth festival celebrated four days after Purnima (Full Moon Day) in Hindu holy month of Kartika.

On Karwa Chauth, which is primarily celebrated in the northern part of India, married women observe a fast for a long and happy married life. On this day, women begin their fast before sunrise and end it with the sighting of the moon. Many women also get dressed as newly-wed on this day as they apply shringaar and mehendi.

The origin of Karwa Chauth can be traced back to Mahabharata when Savitri begged Lord Yama, the god of death, for her husband’s soul. Another episode in the epic talks about Pandavas and their wife Draupadi, stating that Arjuna went to the Nilgiris to pray and meditate for a few days. Worried about his safety, Draupadi sought her brother Krishna’s help. He advised her to observe a strict fast just like Goddess Parvati did for her husband Shiva’s safety. Draupadi adhered to it, and soon Arjuna returned home safely.