Karva Chauth: The epitome of Romance in Modern India

Karva Chauth is a festival of love, passion and romance between husband and wife. All may not agree with me but the way it is celebrated and the spirit behind it reflects the same. It is a day when the wives do not take meal and water from sunrise till moonrise. In my previous hubs on relationships, I have mentioned that in India overall society is dominated by MEN, and in many sections of the society, men rule the families and set the norms. In spite of all this, women prefer to stay without food and water the whole day for the long life of their husbands. All married Hindu and a few Sikh women observe this fast for the well-being, prosperity and long life of their husbands. Not only the married but a lot of young, single women also keep fast in the hope of finding a good husband.

The preparation for this festival is started many days before karva chauth. Women buy cosmetics, jewelry, new dresses, bangles, Henna and eatables made especially for this occasion. Markets are flooded with these items days before this occasion and people are busy in buying all these. As a part of tradition, women are given sargi by their mother-in-laws. It is the meal which is taken before the sunrise and is prepared by the mother-in-law if she lives with her daughter-in-law. It consists of matthis, phennia, coconut, fresh fruits,dry fruits, etc. The fast begins with the crack of dawn. Considering it a part of rituals, in many families, women do not do any house-hold job that day.

Mostly, a day before the festival, women apply henna on their hands. Now-a-days it is got done by professionals. They design the hands of the women in different styles by applying mehendi (henna) and in the days of the festival, it proves a costly affair as applying henna is something MUST TO BE DONE. Women wear beautiful designer bangles, another MUST TO BE DONE. They dress themselves with bright colored saris or suits. Many newly weds, wear their bridal dresses on this day. The whole day is spent meeting friends and relatives and gifting them. Just to pass time and keep themselves away from the thought of their hunger, many go to watch movies. Now-a-days, celebrations are being done in hotels by those who can afford it. Women play different games there and show case their jewelry and dresses.

In the evening, customary ceremonies are done which includes pooja (religious ritual). Women assemble in groups to listen the katha related to this festival. This is another moment where women can flaunt their belongings like; their outfits and ornaments. Women sit in a circle with their puja thalis in their hands. The story of Karva Chauth (katha) is recited by an older women or by some religious women. During this process, women pass their thalis around in the circle from one women to another. Each woman lights an earthen lamp in her thali while listening to the Karva Chauth story. After this, all the women offer baayna (a mélange of eatables and other things like, namkeen matthi meethi matthi, dry fruit, some sari or suit, money etc.) to the deity (mansana) and then give it to their mother-in-law.

After this evening ceremony, women start waiting for the moon rise. Once the moon is visible, the fasting woman views the reflection of moon in a vessel filled with water, through a strainer. Water is offered to moon and it is called as arka. Then women see their husbands through the strainer. Prayer is made for the long life of the husband. It is customary that husband takes water from his wife’s thali and offer this to his wife. This way the fast is broken. After this, wife can eat her meal. Those who afford take their wives out for the dinner and present their wives with beautiful gifts. This way the festival ends with a romantic turn in husband-wife relationship.