Marriages in India are a sacred union of not just two individuals but also two families. Many such successful unions are testament to the fact that marriages are considered with utmost seriousness in India and are lifelong alliances. Karwa Chauth preparations include married Hindu women putting on their best clothes, applying mehendi (henna) on their hands and wearing beautiful jewelery.
In Uttar Pradesh, the married women decorate the walls of their home with drawings of Gauri Ma, the moon and the sun. They also make the karwa with mud and perform the evening puja with earthen lamps. Before looking at the moon, the women pray to the figurines at their doorstep.
Breaking the day long fasting after moon-sighting is one such long tradition which has been passed over from one generation to the other. The fasting ritual during Karwa Chauth signifies the unending love, respect and devotion of a wife towards her husband.

This year Karwa Chauth festival was celebrated on October 15, 2011. The term ‘Karwa’ means an earthen clay pot and ‘Chauth’ means fourth day. Karwa Chauth is celebrated on the fourth day after full moon in the month of Kartik that usually comes in the month of October-November. Karwa Chauth is usually celebrated nine days before the popular festival of Diwali.

So unique in nature women keeps the fast to pray for the welfare and long life of their husbands. Karwa Chauth festival brings married women more closer to their Mother-in-laws. Like other festivals, Karwa Chauth is also marked by gatherings by friends and relatives, preparing delicious food, exchanging of gifts and well wishes. All the decorations, jewelry, heena and joyous atmosphere signify the splendor and happiness of a married life.

Unlike from past the celebrations of Karwa Chauth festival is changing with the times. The beauty parlours, jewelry shops, and restaurants have made these festive occasions a full-fledged commercial activity. Unmarried girls have also started to observe the fast for getting their dream husband. Photographs and phone calls are doing away the need to wait till the moon rise to end the fast. This shows the changing and glorifying face of Karwa Chauth festival.

As per a legend in the Mahabharata, once Arjun had gone for worship to the Nilgiri Hills. Draupadi was struck with fear believing that she was alone in the forest with no one to protect her. She invoked Lord Krishna who appeared before her. On hearing her predicament Lord Krishna cited an example of Goddess Parvati. Parvati in a similar situation asked Lord Shiva's help. Lord Shiva explained to her that to ward off such apprehensions, a woman could observe a fast on Kartik Krishna Chaturthi as a remedy.

There is also the story of the Satyavan and Savitri. Savitri with her unparalleled love for her husband averted his untimely death. When Lord Yama, came to procure Satyavan's soul, Savitri begged him to grant him life. When he refused, she stopped eating and drinking and Yamraj finally relented. He granted her, her husband's life.