Tips for Karwa Chauth Fast
Karwa Chauth fast is a important and biggest festival for married Hindu women and is celebrated in North India mainly in the states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab. Married women keep a strict fast and abstain from food and water for the whole day, read ‘Vrat Katha and after performing Puja Vidhi at night after moonrise they break their fast.
According to the Lunisolar calendar, the festival falls in the month of Kartik on the 4th day (Chathurthi) after full moon day. This fast is kept not only by married women but also by unmarried women for the longevity of their finances or their desired husband in the future. It is a beautiful festival when women apply Mehendi on their hands and adorn themselves in beautiful clothes and jewelry, sing songs narrate Karva Chauth stories.
Karva Chauth fast is strict, not an easy feat, and can be scary for first-timers. But don’t let fear ruin your day by preparing yourself well in advance and follow some of our useful tips.
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Start preparing in advance by buying needed things like a new outfit, bangles, cosmetics, sweets, beauty parlor appointment, spa appointment.
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Sargi is the savior and never underestimate its power. Include lots of Protein-rich food, milk products, Dry fruits, and fruits like banana, papaya, pomegranate, berries, apples, etc. in the Sargi. Avoid oily and fried foods like paranthas and pakoras in the morning as these are heavy and may make you dizzy. Eat a heavy meal like multigrain chapatti with vegetables or paneer. Avoid tea or coffee as both of them tend to dehydrate you later in the day. Instead, drink up a glass of fresh juice, milk, buttermilk, or a cup of green tea. Avoid mithai/ sweets and instead opt for dates, figs, or apricots. Munch on a few nuts like walnuts, almonds, and pistachios.
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As it is a nirjala fast without water so it is important to keep yourself well hydrated in advance. A day before the fast you can keep yourself well hydrated by drinking liquids like coconut water, fruit juices, and an amply amount of water. So that your body is well hydrated and ready for nirjala fast the next day.
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Give yourself complete rest for the day, don’t exert yourself too much. Practicing pranayama helps keep dizzy spells at bay. The yoga posture allows you to control your breathing pattern. It helps increase the level of oxygen in the body. Exercising or strenuous movements will only leave you more tired and drained.
Suggested Read: Karva Chauth Vrat Katha
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Distract yourself from feeling hungry by watching TV, listening to music, or other things you feel like doing. The more you think, the more hungry you feel so the best solution is to keep your mind away busy with other things than thinking about fast. Keep yourself busy is the best solution to avoid thoughts of thirst or hunger.
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This tip is for husbands for whom fast is being kept. Love and pamper her for the day, it’s her day so give her all needed attention. If she is keeping fast for you then you also need to do some of your parts in return.
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Break fast safely by start by drinking one glass of water and then munch on a few nuts. Take a couple of almonds, one or two walnuts, and a few sunflower seeds. Your stomach’s acidity levels are probably already high, so avoid drinking tea or coffee. It’ll only make things worse. Avoid oily, spicy, and fried foods. Opt for light and easily digestible foods like idli, dosa, uttapam with sambhar/ vegetables, Dalia, oatmeal chapatti with vegetables or paneer bhurji/steamed rice or pulao with dal, etc. Eat some yogurt. For those with a sweet tooth, you may eat two or three dates, a small piece of dark chocolate, or homemade kulfi to finish off your meal.
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Be prepared for some minor side-effects like dizziness, nausea, acidity, etc. If you experience any of these things then don’t be scared. But don’t pressure if you are feeling really sick and cannot take it any longer than eat something, Health comes first.
Happy Karva Chauth and Happy Fasting ladies!
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