Karva Chauth - Story of Queen Veeravati

Dadi: "Guddu beta, do you know why married ladies fast on Karva Chauth?"

Guddu: "Mummy fasts for Papa, right? She doesn't eat anything all day!"

Dadi: "Yes, beta! They fast for their husband's long life. But do you know how this tradition started? It's the story of Queen Veeravati."

Guddu: "A queen! Tell me, Dadi!"

Dadi: "Long ago in the city of Indraprasthapur, there lived a Brahmin couple who had seven sons and one daughter named Veeravati. Being the only sister, she was pampered beyond measure by all seven brothers!"

Guddu: "Like how Didi pampers me sometimes!"

Dadi: "Even more, beta! When Veeravati grew up, she was married to a suitable young man. One year, she came to visit her parents' home during Karva Chauth. She decided to observe the fast for her husband's long life."

Guddu: "That's good, right?"

Dadi: "It was. But as the day went on, poor Veeravati became weaker and weaker. She hadn't eaten since before sunrise. Her seven brothers watched their beloved sister suffering and couldn't bear it."

Guddu: "Couldn't they give her food?"

Dadi: "That's exactly what they wanted to do! But the fast can only be broken after seeing the moon. So the brothers made a terrible mistake - they climbed a distant banyan tree with a lamp and a sieve."

Guddu: "Why?"

Dadi: "They held the lamp behind the sieve to make it look like the moon had risen! When Veeravati looked out, she thought she saw the moon and broke her fast."

Guddu: "But it was a trick!"

Dadi: "A trick made from love, but a trick nonetheless. And immediately, bad omens appeared. In her first bite of food, she found a hair. At her second bite, someone sneezed. At her third bite, a messenger arrived saying she must return to her husband's home immediately."

Guddu: "What happened there?"

Dadi: "(sadly) When she reached home, she found her husband lying lifeless on the bed."

Guddu: "Oh no! Because she broke the fast early?"

Dadi: "Yes, beta. The false moon had brought real tragedy. Heartbroken Veeravati cried and cried. On her way back to her parents, she met Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati traveling together."

Guddu: "Did they help her?"

Dadi: "Mother Parvati's heart melted seeing the young queen's grief. She explained what had happened: "You broke your fast by looking at a false moon. This broke the sacred promise.""

Guddu: "That's so unfair! Her brothers tricked her!"

Dadi: "But Parvati was kind. She gave Veeravati a chance to fix things. "Your husband is in a deep sleep," she said. "His body has hundreds of needles in it. Go to him, and with true devotion, you can remove one needle each day. Fast properly every month. After one year, on Karva Chauth, if your devotion is pure...""

Guddu: "She'd get him back?"

Dadi: "Veeravati rushed to her husband's palace. Every day for a year, she removed one needle while praying. She fasted every month with complete dedication. No shortcuts, no tricks - just pure, patient devotion."

Guddu: "That must have been so hard!"

Dadi: "The hardest thing she ever did, beta. But love gave her strength. Finally, Karva Chauth came again. On that night, there was just one needle left. As Veeravati removed it, she felt a slight movement. She fasted all day, and that night, when the real moon rose, she looked at it properly, made her offerings, and broke her fast."

Guddu: "And then?"

Dadi: "Her husband opened his eyes! He was alive and well, as if waking from a long sleep. Veeravati's year of devotion, patience, and truth had undone the harm of one moment's deception."

Guddu: "So the lesson is... don't take shortcuts?"

Dadi: "Exactly, beta! Veeravati's brothers loved her, but their shortcut caused great harm. The path of truth might be harder, but it leads to real results. Fasting until you see the real moon is hard. Removing needles for a year is hard. But that's what devotion looks like."

Guddu: "I'll never trick anyone, Dadi, even if I think it's helping them."

Dadi: "That's my wise boy! Truth is always the right path, even when it's the harder one. Now, goodnight!"