Why Do We Fast on Karwa Chauth? A Kathasagar Story

From sargi before sunrise to the moon through a sieve — the fast told panel by panel.

Panel 1

The day begins before sunrise with sargi — a meal, often prepared by the mother-in-law, eaten before the fast starts.

Panel 2

Through the day the fast is nirjala — without food or water — a demanding prayer for a husband’s health and long life.

Panel 3

In the evening, women gather to hear the Karwa Chauth katha — the story that explains why the fast is kept.

Panel 4

Puja follows to Goddess Parvati — worshipped as Karwa Mata — alongside Shiva, Ganesha, and Kartikeya.

Panel 5

When the moon rises, it is viewed first through a sieve — then, still through that sieve, the husband’s face.

Panel 6

Only then does he offer water, ending the fast together. The sieve, the moon, and that shared sip are the heart of the day.