Karva-chauth is a one-day fasting festival celebrated by Indian married women (preferably Hindus & Sikhs) in the month of Kartik. This day precisely comes after 4 days of the full moon day i.e. purnima. Karva is another word for an earthern utensil used for storing small portion of water and Chauth means ‘fourth day ‘ of the month as per the Indian religious calendar/tithi .
The core importance of keeping this fast by females is to offer prayers for the safety and longevity of their better half. Even, to be married girls initiate this fast in anticipation of a long life of his would be life-partner!
Astronomically, Karva-chauth, like many Hindu festivals, is based on the lunisolar calendar which accounts for all astronomical positions, especially positions of the moon which is used as a marker to calculate important date for rituals and festivals in India.
At the first sight of the moon-rise today , lakhs of women across the country will move to their terraces, carrying decorated thalis with roli, akshat, diya and Prasad to be offered to “uncle moon”. Once the prayers are offered the wife would seek to see the “beautiful” face of her husband through the sieve. Interestingly, this additional importance and usage of “sieve” on this day is really inspirational and motivating.
On Karva Chauth, this female domain fasts without food & water, right from the sunrise to the moonrise, for the safety and longevity of their men. However, what do we men do to reciprocate to this sacrifice? A marriage is actually a union of 2 souls, under the auspicious ceremony & rituals of each religion and therefore the sacrifice also needs to be equal or atleast promising!
Some of us (men) are badly addicted to smoking and drinking and keep on consuming these “poisons” inspite of so much awareness and disclosures all around. Don’t you think we are making a mockery of this women sacrifice by voluntarily inching towards the death doors? Or are we over –confident that the “Karva-chauth” fast kept by our better-halves will protect us from all odd’s inspite of our reluctance to give up these bad habits. Or do we really think that this is a free insurance coverage for men !
Can we – really reciprocate this sacrifice by giving up our voluntary act of inching closer to the death bed and open up our eyes in reality. Men…. It’s time to raise and awake and promise your better half that we will also walk hand-in-hand and help our life partner to feel the really satisfaction of giving this sacrifice on this day. Quit Smoking, Quit Drinking, Stay Healthy!