Karva Chauth

Many origin stories — Queen Veervati who broke her fast early on a false moon and lost her husband, only to be revived; Savitri who won back Satyavan's life from Yama; Draupadi who observed Karva Chauth for her husbands' welfare. Each story is the same vow: a woman's tapasya for her husband's life.

Observed on Kartika Krishna Chaturthi by married women across North India for the long life of their husbands. A complete nirjala fast — no food, no water — broken only after sighting the moon and seeing the husband through a sieve.