The month of October in India is full of festivals and celebrations.
This one which is being celebrated on the 7th of October really took my fancy.
It is called Karva Chauth and it is when married women, young and old, fast to ensure the long life of their husbands! Yes I know a novel concept for us all in the western world but I leave it up to you all to decide whether you too will be fasting to ensure your husband’s long life this year or even next… I would love to hear what you decide.
They henna their feet and hands and wear special outfits. They wake before dawn and have water and sargi, various gift foods often sent by mothers the previous day. They fast all day. The fast is broken after sunset with the sighting of the rising moon. Some husbands show solidarity to the cause and fast with their wives. They will of course go to Indian heaven after their long life on this planet.
Yup. Been there. Done that. Seen that. My wife got the henna done on Sunday for which I am really grateful to her. By late monday evening the Delhi police had a warning of some bomb threat in our local market so they cordoned off the market (Imagine doing that in the main festival season of north India) and promptly shoooed away the henna guys. Which just made the henna guys jack up their price! Now if you know the way this country works, then you would also know that the poor henna guys pay a hefty cut to the cops too to allow them to sit in the major markets in a good traffic area so they can get their business done. Imagine the spot both the sides must have found themselves in. Back on the topic, it's a major festival in India. I'm really sad that most Indian festivals are losing their charm with the youth these days. But then, to each it's own, correct?
ReplyDeleteWell I am happy to discover them even if it is the tail end of them. Hard to persuade the young how importnat tradition is ! Did you fast and are you going to Heaven ?
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