Chatty Divas: Karva Chauth Tales

Karva Chauth – The Women’s Circle

“A married woman celebrates Karva Chauth with great fervor and dedication, observing a fast and praying for the long life of her husband. Karva Chauth is very much a social and seasonal festival. The women get up before sunrise and seek the blessings of the gods for longevity and prosperity of their husbands.”

I look down at my hands and admire the intricate pattern of henna applied on my palms by the beautician on the occasion of Karva Chauth on 2 November. This year on Karva Chauth I was in Mumbai visiting my mother who is recuperating after a serious illness. It’s been three years since I last celebrated Karva Chauth; I still pray for my husband’s long and healthy life everyday but I don’t stay hungry and thirsty on one particular day in a year like the other women who do. I have stopped observing the fast due to medical reasons but I don’t compromise on the rest of the rituals associated with Karva Chauth. Hence the henna on my hands, new sari and all the sweets I can eat any time of the day and not only after moonrise, as tradition dictates. I have the best of both worlds, ‘all gain, and no pain’

The night prior to Karva Chauth is the most happening night in the lives of womenfolk who celebrate this festival. They get together at a friend’s place or a community hall and get henna painted on their palms and feet by professional henna artists. Since my brother’s wife and her friends were getting together at a friend’s place in the building itself, I was coerced into accompanying them to the rendezvous point where the hostess had arranged for the ladies to assemble and get ready for the festival the next day.

I noticed the pile of slippers and sandals kept near the entrance of the house. Many Indian homes follow this custom of leaving the footwear outside the main door thus keeping the dirt and grime out with the shoes. Many of them have shoe racks placed near the entrance for storing the footwear. I too hastily slid my feet out of my warm slip-ons and walked in barefoot. The marble floor was cold to the touch and I was so grateful that I was in Mumbai and not in Delhi where the winter has set in and walking barefoot is pretty uncomfortable.

Rima, my sister-in-law’s friend, made up for the chill on the floor by the warmth of her welcoming smile and a friendly hug. She was a joy to behold and such a lovely person to interact with. I thought I was talkative but she took the cake that day and within minutes of meeting her I knew her life history. The fact that both of us were defense officers’ daughters cemented a special bond between us. We army brats are like that; nothing brings us together like our common lineage.

The atmosphere in the room was festive and the peppy numbers being played on the home surround system were adding to the gay ambiance of the place. The room was more like a huge hall with glass windows all around, there were around 20 ladies sitting on various pieces of furniture, some on the carpet, and the henna artists were busy creating intricate designs on the women’s hands and feet.

Karva Chauth Celebrations – Family of Strangers

There were dishes piled with an assortment of savory and sweet snacks on a table and women were enjoying the refreshments while getting their hands hennaed for the big night. Those who couldn’t pick up the snacks and eat due to the wet henna on their hands were being fed by friends whose hands were dry. Rima popped a potato wedge in my mouth and came back a while later with a rasgulla to feed me. I had never been fed by strangers but it didn’t feel like she was one, I had a wonderful time listening to music, making new friends and getting a beautiful henna tattoo.

There were women who had small babies in arms but everybody was like one big happy family and the baby was passed around while the mother got her hands painted. Children were playing in the adjoining room and nobody was allowed to go home without eating dinner.

I was soaking in all the bonhomie and community spirit, and filing away the precious moments to recollect later and feel happy once again. It was a magical evening and brought all those women with the common goal, together. This is what the joint families experience everyday and it’s not a bad way to live. Everyone pitches in and tries to make the other one comfortable and happy.

When I came home back to Delhi and regaled my family with my experiences, my husband of 24 years shot out of the sofa and hollered, “Don’t you dare consider fasting for me ever again. I still remember how cranky you used to get by evening and how many times I had to go to the terrace to spot the moon for you. I have suffered for 21 years and have just started enjoying Karva Chauth-free times for the past three years. Don’t even think of observing the Karva Chauth fast for my long life – I will live longer without it!”

Sulekha Rawat,  along with Kriti Mukherjee, brings east and west insights into Chatty Divas, their blog on ‘Lassi with Lavina’

Check out Sulekha and Kriti’s site: www.socialpotpourri.com

Related Articles:

From India- Tales of a New Entrepreneur
What Steve Jobs Taught Me About Death and Dying
The Power of Love Stories
Chatty Divas- Does Me Time Make Me Selfish?
Chatty Divas – Food For Thought