Story of Karwa Chauth
(To be told on Karwa Chauth)It is said that in a village , seven brothers and one sister was staying with their parents (money lender). The sister was youngest among them. That's why everybody adored her.
When she was 10 or 12 years of age they married her. After marriage on first karwa chauth, she came to her mother's house. Her mother-in-law affectionately sent sargai for her. She put mehndi on her hands along with her mother and bhabhis (brother's wife) and did sargai in the morning before sunrise and kept nirjal fast (without taking water). By the evening the brothers got worried that how can their small sister live without food and water till night. They consulted among themselves and decided that we will create artificial moon for our sister.
Two brothers went to the forest and burnt cowdung coal. The other two brothers went home and said let's go sister the moon has risen. All her bhabhis (brother's wife's) kept quite. Sister said "let's go Bhabhi the moon has risen, lets worship the moon and offer ark (water is offered to the moon) to it. All the Bhabhi said "So early only your moon could have risen, You go."
She was not only young but also simple hearted, she really thought everyone's moon rises separately. She hurriedly took the pooja material to the terrace. There in the forest one brother was standing with a sieve in front of the cowdung coalfire, so from distance she thought that the moon is rising from behind bushes.
She offered her worship and ark to the moon .As soon as she started eating Puya's, she received a message from her in laws that her husband has become seriously ill suddenly. On hearing this, the Girl's father and brothers along with her rushed to her in law's house. There her husband was seriously ill. Every body was worried.
Hakim (auyarvedic Dr.), Doctors were called but nobody could understand the illness. Then the family enquired from priests and Astrologers. They told them that this has happened because the girl has eaten puya's, after seeing the artificial moon. Now the only solution is that till the next year karwa chauth, the girl take good care of her husband, then keep fast on Karwa Chauth and exchange karwa with Gaur Maata and make her say "le suhaagan karwa le","de suhagaan karwa de". Then her husband will be well and will live long. On hearing this, the girl decided to take good care of her husband for one year.
Next year Karwa chauth arrived, her mother sent sargai for her. As per the tradition, she did sargai and kept fast. Her mother also sent material for baya, karwa and money. In the evening, all married ladies dressed up wore chunari, making preparation for the pooja, she waited to exchange karwa with Gaur Maata.
When the first Gaur Maata arrived. The girl held her feet and pleaded her
" O'Gaur Maata, Please exchange karwa with me."
After lot of pleading Gaur Maata sat with her and said
"Sister of seven brothers karwa le",
"Jo bhukhi naa reh sake (who can't stay hungry) karwa le",
"Jo payasi naa reh sake (who can't stay thirsty) karwa le",
"Jo Chalni meh chaand dakhe (One who see moon in sieve) karwa le."
She begged her again and again to say "Le Suhaagan Karwa Le" Gaur Maata said, "I won't say this. My other sisters will come, you make them say." And after saying this, she went away. After some time 2nd Gaur Maata came and she also went away saying what the earlier one had said. In this way they came one by one when the ninth Gaur Maara came, the girl was worried. When she begged her again and again and held her feet, then Gaur Maata said," when my youngest sister will come, you ask her , I will not say. My sister is scary looking but good at heart, don't let her go, make her say it."
After some time 10th Gaur maata came. She had dark complexion, had big teeth, horrible face and was wearing lot of jewelry. When she heard the small girl pleadings, she sat down with her to exchange karwa and like other Gaur Maata's said
"Sister of seven brothers karwa le",
"Jo bhukhi naa reh sake (who can't stay hungry) karwa le",
"Jo payasi naa reh sake (who can't stay thirsty) karwa le",
"Jo Chalni meh chaand dakhe (One who see moon in sieve) karwa le."
The girl fell on her feet and said "O' Mother please forgive my mistakes, Please say "Le suhaagan karwa le". If you will say this , my husband will live. I will always worship you. Please bless me.
On girls repeated pleading, Gaur Maata felt pity for her and said-Let it be so and said "Le suhaagan karwa le" and the girl said "de suhaagan karwa de". Then, the same thing was repeated by both of them in reverse order. When they said this ten times Girls husband was well again. Everybody touched Gaur Maata's feet".
