Can a husband also fast for his wife, on Karvā Cauth or otherwise?

yes, nothing forbids it — many husbands now keep the fast alongside their wives, and a vrata is about love, not obligation.

Most traditional vratas for a spouse’s well-being — Karvā Cauth, Vaṭ Sāvitrī, Hartālikā Tīj, Maṅgala Gaurī — were described for wives, inspired by stories like Sāvitrī and Satyavān. But a vrata at its core is a voluntary discipline offered with love, and the śāstras nowhere prohibit a husband from praying and fasting for his wife.

Many couples today keep Karvā Cauth together, or the husband fasts on another day, such as a Monday for Śiva-Pārvatī or an Ekādaśī. Others choose a lighter form — a phalāhāra fast or giving up one comfort for the day. All of these express the same truth: marriage is a shared commitment.

What matters more than who fasts is the spirit. No one should be pressured into a fast, and anyone who is pregnant, ill, diabetic or on medication should eat as needed — sincere prayer is the essence, not hunger. Breaking the fast together under the moon is a lovely moment for both.

A vrata is voluntary, offered with love · Source: Vrata tradition; common family practice

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