As the moon graces the sky on the auspicious evening of Karwa Chauth 2025, married women across India prepare to conclude their day-long nirjala vrat (waterless fast). Observed with devotion and love, the fast is broken only after performing the moon puja, offering Arghya, and seeking blessings for their husbands’ long life and prosperity.

Step-by-step guide to break the Karwa Chauth fast

  1. Worship the moon and offer Arghya:
    After sighting the moon, women offer Arghya (water mixed with milk and Akshat) from a Kalash to the moon while reciting traditional prayers. This ritual symbolizes gratitude and devotion, seeking peace and happiness in married life.
  2. Look at your husband through a sieve:
    Following the moon offering, women look at the moon through a sieve and then at their husband, symbolizing the bond between them and the blessings of the divine for their union.
  3. Break your fast with water and sweets:
    The most emotional and significant moment of the evening comes when the husband offers water to his wife, marking the end of her fast. The wife drinks this water from her husband’s hands and eats something sweet — usually a piece of jaggery, date, or mithai — to formally conclude the fast.
  4. Seek blessings and share the meal:
    After breaking the fast, women seek blessings from elders and share the evening meal with family members, celebrating togetherness, love, and prosperity.

Spiritual significance

Breaking the Karwa Chauth fast in this traditional manner reflects not just devotion but also a deep spiritual bond of love, faith, and commitment. It is believed that performing these rituals with sincerity brings happiness, peace, and longevity to one’s married life.

As the night sky brightens with the full moon, Karwa Chauth continues to stand as a celebration of love that transcends rituals — a festival that strengthens hearts and relationships alike.