Karwa Chauth puja vidhi

Step-by-step vidhi

Each step says what to do, then the mantra. A short puja may use the five offerings (panchopachara) instead of sixteen.

1. 1 Sargi and sankalpa

   Before sunrise eat the sargi (traditionally given by the mother-in-law) and take the sankalpa of the fast for the long life and well-being of the husband.

2. 2 Preparation

   Bathe and wear clean clothes. Clean the puja place, spread a cloth on the chowki and keep every item of the checklist within reach before the muhurat begins. Sit on an asana facing east or north. In the evening dress in festive clothes with shringar. Draw or place the image of Karwa Mata (Gauri) on the wall or a board and keep a karwa filled with water and a lamp in the thali.

3. 3 Pavitrikarana (purification)

   Take a little water in the left palm, cover it with the right and sprinkle it over yourself and the materials with a flower or kusha while saying the verse.

   अपवित्रः पवित्रो वा सर्वावस्थां गतोऽपि वा ।यः स्मरेत् पुण्डरीकाक्षं स बाह्याभ्यन्तरः शुचिः ॥

4. 4 Achamana

   Sip a spoonful of water three times from the right palm, one with each name, then wash the hands with the fourth.

   ॐ केशवाय नमः ।ॐ नारायणाय नमः ।ॐ माधवाय नमः ।ॐ हृषीकेशाय नमः (हस्तप्रक्षालनम्) ॥

5. 5 Lighting the lamp

   Light the main ghee lamp on the right side of the deity (as you face it) and keep it burning through the puja.

   शुभं करोति कल्याणम् आरोग्यं धनसम्पदा ।शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

6. 6 Ganesha puja

   Worship Ganesha first, who removes obstacles: offer water, roli, akshat, durva, a flower and a sweet (a betel nut wrapped in mauli can stand for Ganesha).

   वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभ ।निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥

   ॐ गं गणपतये नमः ॥

7. 7 Dhyana and avahana of the deity

   Meditate on the deity’s form, then invite the deity into the idol or picture with flowers and akshat in folded hands.

   सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

   ॐ श्रीगौर्यै नमः । आवाहयामि स्थापयामि ॥

8. 8 Shodashopachara (the sixteen offerings)

   Offer each upachara with its formula. In a short puja the five offerings (panchopachara) are enough: gandha, pushpa, dhupa, dipa and naivedya.

   The sixteen upacharas with their formulas

   1. Avahana (invitation) — Invite the deity with folded hands and a flower. ॐ श्रीगौर्यै नमः । आवाहयामि ॥
   2. Asana (seat) — Offer a seat: a flower or akshat at the place of the idol. ॐ श्रीगौर्यै नमः । आसनं समर्पयामि ॥
   3. Padya (water for the feet) — Offer water for washing the feet. ॐ श्रीगौर्यै नमः । पाद्यं समर्पयामि ॥
   4. Arghya — Offer water with akshat, flowers and sandal for the hands. ॐ श्रीगौर्यै नमः । अर्घ्यं समर्पयामि ॥
   5. Achamaniya — Offer water for sipping. ॐ श्रीगौर्यै नमः । आचमनीयं समर्पयामि ॥
   6. Snana (bath) — Bathe the idol with panchamrit, then with clean water (a picture is sprinkled). ॐ श्रीगौर्यै नमः । स्नानं समर्पयामि ॥
   7. Vastra (clothes) — Offer clothes or mauli. ॐ श्रीगौर्यै नमः । वस्त्रं समर्पयामि ॥
   8. Abhushana (ornaments) — Offer ornaments, bangles and sindoor (saubhagya items). ॐ श्रीगौर्यै नमः । आभूषणानि समर्पयामि ॥
   9. Gandha (sandal) — Apply chandan, roli and akshat. ॐ श्रीगौर्यै नमः । गन्धं समर्पयामि ॥
   10. Pushpa (flowers) — Offer flowers and the garland (and the deity’s own leaves: durva, bilva, tulsi). ॐ श्रीगौर्यै नमः । पुष्पाणि समर्पयामि ॥
   11. Dhupa (incense) — Wave incense. ॐ श्रीगौर्यै नमः । धूपम् आघ्रापयामि ॥
   12. Dipa (lamp) — Show the ghee lamp. ॐ श्रीगौर्यै नमः । दीपं दर्शयामि ॥
   13. Naivedya (food) — Offer the sweets and fruits, then water to sip. ॐ श्रीगौर्यै नमः । नैवेद्यं निवेदयामि ॥
   14. Tambula and dakshina — Offer a betel leaf with supari, cloves and cardamom, and the dakshina. ॐ श्रीगौर्यै नमः । ताम्बूलं समर्पयामि ॥
   15. Pradakshina and namaskara — Go round clockwise (or turn round in place) and bow. ॐ श्रीगौर्यै नमः । प्रदक्षिणां समर्पयामि ॥
   16. Mantra-pushpanjali — Offer a handful of flowers with folded hands. ॐ श्रीगौर्यै नमः । मन्त्रपुष्पाञ्जलिं समर्पयामि ॥

   Lists of the sixteen differ slightly between paddhatis (some count achamana twice or end with visarjana).

9. 9 Vrata katha

   Sit with the other women of the family or neighbourhood and hear the Karwa Chauth katha (Queen Veeravati); in many families the thalis are passed round the circle seven times with the traditional songs.

10. 10 Arghya to the moon

    When the moon rises, look at it through the sieve with the lamp, offer arghya (water from the karwa, with akshat and flowers), then look at your husband’s face through the sieve. Break the fast with water and food from his hand.

    ॐ सोमाय नमः ॥

    Moonrise is later in the west of India and earlier in the east; clouds may hide it — many families then break the fast at the computed moonrise time.

11. 11 Kshama prarthana

    With folded hands ask forgiveness for any omission in the worship, then distribute the prasad.

    आवाहनं न जानामि न जानामि विसर्जनम् ।पूजां चैव न जानामि क्षमस्व परमेश्वर ॥मन्त्रहीनं क्रियाहीनं भक्तिहीनं सुरेश्वर ।यत्पूजितं मया देव परिपूर्णं तदस्तु मे ॥

12. 12 Visarjana and prasad

    Give the karwa, sweets and a shringar set to the mother-in-law or an elder woman (baya) and take her blessing.