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As soon as the name of Karwa Chauth comes, the scene of dressing up, mehendi, saree and seeing the moon comes to mind. The most magical moment of this day is when married women stand waiting for the moon to rise, holding a pot full of water in their hands, a lamp and a sieve in their plate.

As soon as the moon rises, women look through the sieve first at the moon and then at the face of their husbands. After this, the fast is broken by taking water from the husband’s hands. As beautiful as this scene is, its spiritual and symbolic meaning is equally deep. Have you ever wondered why a sieve at all? Why not see through glass or any other object? You will also be surprised to know the belief behind this.

How did the tradition of looking through a sieve begin? (Karwa Chauth Rituals)

There are many mythological and cultural beliefs behind the Chhalni tradition of Karva Chauth. It is said that this tradition started when a woman named Veeravati saw the moon through a sieve for the first time. According to the legend, Veeravati had observed a fast on Karva Chauth for the long life of her husband. When she began to faint after suffering from hunger and thirst all day, her brothers lit a lamp under the tree and showed her the moon through a sieve. Veervati thought the moon had come out and broke her fast.

But at that moment her husband died. Since then it has been believed that the sieve is not merely symbolic, but a symbol of caution and devotion reminding one not to rush in worship. The use of the sieve was considered auspicious only when Veeravati looked at the moon and her husband through the same sieve with full devotion on the next Karva Chauth, and her husband got the blessing of life. Since then, seeing the husband’s face through a sieve has become a symbol of good fortune and longevity.

When a woman looks through the sieve first at the moon and then at her husband, it is a symbolic moment of the union of two souls. The moon here symbolizes “Shiva”, coolness, peace and purity; Whereas husband is a symbol of “life”. Looking through the filter indicates that love should always be seen through the filter of patience, restraint and trust.

scientific aspect of sieve

If we understand it from a scientific point of view then the reason for looking through a sieve is quite logical. On the night of Karva Chauth, when the moon shines full and bright, its light falling directly on the eyes can cause damage to the retina. When viewed through the mesh of the sieve, light scatters and does not have a strong impact on the eyes.

Apart from this, the tradition of looking at the moon through a sieve and then seeing the husband’s face through the same sieve is also considered to be to visual coordination. It symbolizes to stabilize the mind and emotions that first you look at the moon (Shiva) with a calm mind, then look at your spouse with the same divine vision.

Fasting is complete by looking through a sieve

It is said in Hindu scriptures and folk traditions that the fast of Karva Chauth is considered incomplete until the fasting person sees the moon and the face of the husband through a sieve. Seeing the moon through a sieve is a symbol of pure vision before offering Arghya to Lord Chandradev. Seeing her husband through a sieve, it shows that the woman considers her husband to be worshiped like God. Breaking the fast by the husband completes this sacred bond. Many astrologers believe that using a sieve filters out negative energy, and brings peace and prosperity in the life of husband and wife.

Why is the tradition of sieve of Karva Chauth still unbroken in modernity?

Even though in today’s times the methods of worship have taken a modern form, the symbol of the sieve still holds the same meaning. When women appear on social media, what do they do? As she posts, the same traditional sieve is visible in her hands which is a sign of reverence passed on for generations. At this time, women wait for the moon with puja thali on the rooftops of their houses. As soon as the moon is visible, a lamp is lit and it is viewed through a sieve and the fast is completed by offering water.