Fasting & feasting mark Karva Chauth festivities
The spirit of devotion, love and tradition marked Karva Chauth celebrations across the national capital on Friday, as women observed day-long fasts, adorned themselves in festive attire and gathered for community pujas to pray for the long life and well-being of their husbands.
At the Chief Minister’s Jan Seva Sadan, the atmosphere was filled with colour and camaraderie as Chief Minister Rekha Gupta hosted a grand Karva Chauth celebration, attended by prominent women from Delhi and across the country, including singer Jaspinder Narula, who performed devotional songs and joined others in traditional dance and rituals.
This was Rekha Gupta’s first Karva Chauth celebration after assuming office as the Chief Minister. She ensured that every detail reflected the sanctity and warmth of the festival. From the recitation of the Karva Chauth katha to vibrant cultural performances, the evening unfolded as a blend of spirituality and celebration.
“Karva Chauth is a symbol of India’s rich cultural heritage and the profound traditions of womanhood. It represents devotion, love and unity, the foundation of our family values,” Gupta said. She said even in modern times, such festivals serve as a reminder of the country’s deep-rooted cultural and emotional bonds.
The celebration brought together a host of well-known personalities, including National Commission for Women Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, BJP Mahila Morcha national president Vanathi Srinivasan, Delhi BJP Mahila Morcha state president Richa Pandey, Priyanka Sachdeva, wife of Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, Sangeeta Saxena, wife of L-G VK Saxena, Mridula Pradhan, wife of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, spouses of Delhi Cabinet ministers Preeti Mishra, Annu Sood, Rashmi Singh, Manisha Singh and Swati Verma, among others.
By evening, the lawns of Jan Seva Sadan shimmered with diyas and the sounds of laughter and music. Women, dressed in bright red and gold, exchanged greetings and blessings before gathering to sight the moon through decorated sieves – a moment symbolic of devotion and enduring love.
Across Delhi too, the festive fervour was palpable from traditional pujas in Old Delhi’s neighbourhoods to glittering rooftop celebrations in South Delhi’s high-rises. Markets like Lajpat Nagar and Karol Bagh had been buzzing for days, with mehndi artists, jewellers and sari shops witnessing brisk business.
As the moon rose, fasting women offered arghya and broke their fasts amid laughter and prayers, concluding a day that continues to embody India’s timeless celebration of love, faith and togetherness.
Delhi