Karva Chauth

I noticed several women at work today with hennaed hands -- asked them about it and found out that it's to celebrate Karva Chauth -- a traditional Hindu festival of married women.

Karva means clay pot and chauth means fourth night after the full moon (so it's celebrated 9 days before Diwali / 4 days after the first full moon after the Autumnal Equinox)

On Karva Chauth, married women fast one whole day without food or water for the long life of their husbands. The ritual signifies love and devotion to the husband, as evidenced by the wife's willingness to suffer for his well-being.

Married women start their fast at night just after the appearance of the moon, within sight of their husbands. They then wait until the next night's moon to begin the fast breaking ceremonies. In the evening, the women dress in their best clothing and adorn themselves with jewelry and henna. On sighting of the moon, they offer prayers to it and then receive their first bit of food and water from their husbands. After that, they eat a special meal prepared for the occasion. Worshipping the moon involves filling up the karva with specially prepared food and jewelry and then offering it to the god. Karvas are also exchanged with other women after that.