Every autumn, many women — particularly those from northern India — observe Karwa Chauth, a daylong Hindu fast on behalf of their husbands’ prosperity.

This is indeed a very tough fast to observe as it starts before sunrise and ends after worshipping the moon, which usually rises at about 8.45 p.m. No food or water is to be taken after 4 a.m. or after sunrise. Nowadays, this fast is kept even in modern educated homes, becoming a symbol of the sentiment that a woman has for her husband.

Traditions vary, but most rise before the sun for a meal, known as sargi, often sent by their mothers-in-law, and spend the day dressed in their finest Indian garb, skipping their usual household duties.

Women gather in the afternoon for a prayer circle, where they pass around thalis — trays, with sweets, flowers or candles, and a glass of water five times while singing a song that explains the holiday’s origins. Then, come evening, they look at the moon through a sieve — never directly — and perform a prayer before their husbands, who give them their first sip of water and bite of food from their thalis. Astrocamp.com brings to you the details about this festival making your Karwa Chauth more meaningful.