Karwa Chouth Sargi ki Thali and Puja ki thali

Karwa Chouth is a North Indian festival celebrated all around the world by married Hindu women. In the name Karwa Chouth, Karwa means ‘the earthern pot, and Chouth signifies the ‘fourth day.’

Meaning, this festival falls on the fourth day of the waning moon or the dark fortnight in the Hindu month of Kartik. And an earthen pot is a symbol of peace and prosperity.

It is a romantic festival that symbolizes love, respect, and togetherness between a husband and wife.

On this auspicious day, women observe fast from sunrise to moonrise and offer prayers seeking the welfare, prosperity, well-being, and longevity of their husbands. 

The festivities for Karwa Chouth starts a day before where married women apply mehendi/henna on their hands and shop for colorful bangles and jewelery.

This fast starts at dawn (first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise). Traditionally, in the wee hours of the morning, the married ladies and soon-to-get married girls, assemble before dawn to observe this fast.

The young ladies of the house seek blessings from the elders and sit down to eat sargi. Karwa Chouth Sargi ki Thali and Puja ki thali

What is Sargi? Karwa Chouth Sargi ki Thali and Puja ki thali

Sargi is a pre-sunrise Karwa Chouth meal. The mom-in-law send sargi to her daughter-in-law to begin the fast. It is a token of her love and blessing and comprises of sweet and savory things like fruits, dry fruits, mathri, and pheni. Karwa Chouth Sargi ki Thali and Puja ki thali

The ladies eat sargi and drink tea, juice, or water until sunrise or till the stars are visible in the sky.

After the sargi, the whole day is observed without food and water. And the ladies spend the rest of their day adorning themselves like brides.

Plan a day ahead. Assemble all that you choose to eat on this day, beforehand. 

METHI SEVIYAN – Thin threads of vermicelli are boiled with milk, sugar and dry mawa powder until well blended and tender. Pheni is not readily available at my place, therefore, as directed by my mom-in-law, I prepare meethi seviyan for my sargi. 

KAJU KATLI – This fasting season enjoy this nutty sweet delicacy that will just melt-in-your-mouth!!

GOBI PARATHA – Healthy, delicious flatbread stuffed with grated gobi and spices. A perfect breakfast and lunch box recipe. Parathas are usually prepared fresh in the morning, on the fast day.

MATHRI – Crispy and flaky Indian salted crackers made during festive months and relished with a cup of hot tea.

DAHI – Enjoy it with homemade curd or Raita.

FRUIT – Eat the fruit of your choice. Pomegranate is one of my favorites. It is said that fresh fruits like berries, oranges, and pomegranate will give you the much-needed energy and strength that you need to make it to the end of the day.

1. Fruits: this is offered to the gods during the evening puja. I always keep a banana and an apple as an offering. The fruit is later given to a kanjak (little girls under the age of 10) or the priest of the temple.

2. Mithai or Sweet: is in the thali to break the fast. You first offer mithai to the moon and then consume it after the chand puja.

3. Mathri: At times, it is difficult to consume a mithai/sweet after a whole day of fasting; therefore, a savory snack to break the fast.

4. Baya + badam: just like sargi, baya is a gift or a token of love that a daughter-in-law gives to her mother-in-law. Instead of money, my mom-in-law always preferred nutrient-rich badam (almonds) in baya.

4. Diya: for puja. I always prepare 2 diyas: one for the evening thali pujan and the other one for the moon puja. Link to make diya at home.

5. Sindoor: for puja. After the moon puja, husbands apply sindoor to their wife’s forehead.

6. A colorful cloth or chunni: to cover the thali.

7. A gadvi or karwa or steel glass: filled with water. It is required during the evening puja and chand puja.

8. Channi or a sieve: it is ONLY needed to do the chand puja. Not required during the evening puja.

9. Rice: not shown in the thali but required. A pinch of rice is a must-have for all the Hindu pujas. It is necessary to give arghya (offering) to the moon.ujas. It is required to give arghya (offering) to the moon.

Visit this page to learn about how to do Karwa chauth puja and the legend behind Karwa Chauth.