Karva Chauth

More than a Historical festival Karva Chauth is considerd to be a Romantic festival in the present days. At least I feel that way!! Instead of Satyavan – Savitri and Draupadi – Arjun, Amitabh Bachan – Hema Malini and Shah Rukh Khan – Kajol are seated in my mind whenever I think of Karva Chauth, The effect of Baghban & Dilwale Dulhaniya Le jayenge, whatsoever, I love this festival not because I like Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol but because of the intense motive behind celebrating the festival. 

It strengthens and deepens the relationship between the Husband and Wife. Women of history Savitri, Karva, Draupati and Veervati being Pati - Vrats fought their beloved husband’s lives and saved them from the hands of Yama. Pati – Vrats are the married women who fast from sunrise to moonrise for the good healthy fettle and long life of their husbands. It is lapped up that even Yama is panic stricken at the Pati – Vrats.

Nowadays even unmarried women fast for the good health and longevity of their betrothed, not only women, men (obviously unmarried) also have started to fast for their loving honewale brides. All Kidding aside, let me explain how our elegant Indian ladies celebrate Karwa Chauth.

Starting from Puja thali to beauteous jewelry everything is purchased beforehand and kept decorated, the pre-dawn meal is prepared by the Mother – in – law which the daughter – in – laws eat with all love and respect. The fast begins with the sunrise, at the commencement of the fast the abstinence is maintained by not even tasting a drop of water. 

The women finish their fasting at the moonrise after a series of evening ceremonies like the narration of historical events of Karwa Chauth, men are restricted to this kind. 

Adorned with heavy jewelry and dressed up in orange, red and golden lehangas, salwars or saris the ladies stand before their husbands, drink water for the first time of the day from their hands and break their fasts. Another very beautiful part is that the wives using a sieve look at the chauth (full moon) followed by seeing their spouses with the same sieve. An immense feeling of attachment and love flows between both of them; husbands also give gifts to their wives and enjoy seeing the joy in their faces. 

There are reasons and cultural explanations behind each and every festival that we celebrate in India. Karwa Chauth builds the family and refreshes the family members to continue their family life with love beyond words.