Why do we see the moon through a sieve on Karva Chauth

Karva Chauth is observed every year on the Chaturthi Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik. This time the fast of Karva Chauth will be observed on Sunday, 24 October 2021. Karva Chauth fasting is very important for married women. On this day women fast for the whole day Nirjala (without water) to wish their husbands long life, hence this fast is considered extremely difficult.

On Karva Chauth, women first see the moon through a sieve, after which they see their husband’s face through a sieve. Along with this, earthen karva is used on Karva Chauth. On Karva Chauth, the use of sieve and earthen karva, both these things are considered to be of special importance. So let’s know the reason behind this.

Why is the moon seen through a sieve
According to the legend of Karva Chauth, a moneylender had seven sons and a daughter named Veeravati. The seven brothers loved their sister very much. Veeravati’s first Karva Chauth fast after marriage was, incidentally, she was in her maternal home at that time. By the end of the evening, Veeravati fainted from hunger and thirst. The brothers did not see this condition of their sister, they requested their sister to have food but she refused.

After which a brother of Veeravati climbed a distant tree and started showing the lamp in a sieve and told her that sister, the moon has come out, you should break the fast by offering Arghya. Hearing this, Veeravati got up happily and after offering arghya to the light of the lamp as the moon, she sat down to eat. As soon as Veeravati put the first mouthful, hair came in it, in the second mouth she sneezed and in the third mouth, a call came from her in-laws that Veeravati’s husband had died.

After this Veeravati fasted for the whole year on Chaturthi and the following year after fasting again on Karva Chauth, after offering Arghya to the moon, broke the fast and by the grace of Mother Karva, her husband got alive again. It is believed that no one can deceive a woman’s husband, so women themselves break the fast by taking a sieve in their hands and seeing the moon in the light of the lamp.

Why Earthen Karva is used on Karva Chauth
In Hinduism, earthen pots such as urn, earthen lamp etc. are used in the rituals of worship because earthen vessels are considered pure. Apart from this, five main elements have been told in nature. Earth (clay), sky, water, air, and fire. Karva is made from clay, due to which the earth element comes in it and water is used to knead the soil, due to which the water element gets incorporated in it.

After this, Karwa is dried in sunlight and air, due to which the elements of air and sky get incorporated in it. Lastly, Karwa is cooked by heating it in a fire, due to which the element of fire also comes in it. In this way, it is considered very auspicious to use earthen karva on Karva Chauth.