“She broke her fast as she saw the long-awaited moon, not knowing that it wasn’t a moon at all, but she was deceived by her seven brothers, and the next second the news of her husband dying reached her ears.”
This was the legend of Queen Veerawati, the old folktale that was told from generation to generation, but how did this story of deception and grief become one of the most celebrated and respected festivals in India? And why do they use a sieve to look at their husband’s faces? And why do this at all? To understand all this, we must trace further back than Queen Veerawati’s times, as there lived a woman named Karva, through which the name ‘Karva Chauth’ originated. She saved her husband from a crocodile and threatened ‘Yama’ the god of death and justice into sending the crocodile to hell, and reviving her husband, or she will curse him.
Yama was frightened of an ordinary woman, that’s how much of a fierce wife she was, she showed her utmost devotion towards her husband and wanted to protect him. The same themes of a devoted wife saving their husband run across The Mahabharat with Savitri and Draupadi. The whole point of Karva Chauth is for a wife to show her devotion towards her husband; the uniqueness of Karva Chauth fairly lies in its rituals, and how it is celebrated. Why use a sieve to look at your husband and the moon while breaking your fast? The answer to this lies in the story of Queen Veerawati, where her brothers saw her despair during the fast and feeling bad for her, they created the false moon (using a candle and sieve), so that she ends up eating food.
This resulted in the whole ritual of holding up a sieve, so that you don’t end up being tricked. In this age, we end up romanticizing everything because of Bollywood, and due to so many mentions of Karva Chauth in so many movies like, ‘Kabhi Khushi, Kabhi Gham’ or ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’. It has become insanely popular both globally and in the northern part of India, the question that lies here is that “Why not the south?” They have their own version of Karva Chauth there. ‘Karadaiyan Nombu’ where they tie yellow scarves, and offer sweet rice cakes, or ‘Thiruvathira’ where they stay awake the whole night, fasting and performing folk dances. These are different from the north as, while during the time of Karva Chauth, historically men used to go to battles while their wives prayed for their safe return in states like Punjab or Rajasthan. While in the southern part of India, ‘Puranic literature’ is followed more hence them celebrating ‘Karadaiyan Nombu’ because of the strong devotion of Savitri towards her husband. All of this has evolved into the Karva Chauth we love and know. The Karva chauth our mother dresses up or does ‘shringar’ for. Historically, this is what women were told their worth lies in, their beauty.
The historical point of view highlights how important shringar is in the ritual of Karva Chauth or even marriage, but this makes us forget how Karva fought for her husband from the god of death and justice himself. That Karva Chauth is not there to celebrate the submissiveness of women, but to tell them how they can protect what they love just how men can, and even better. Historically, men have always boasted about the fact that they protect women from everyone, but this legend tells us that, husbands are not the only ones who protect women do as well. This was the feminist literature before feminists even existed.
I believe while we celebrate Karva Chauth, always respecting the culture, and telling women to keep their voices down, we should remember women like Karva and Savitri, and remember that women aren’t supposed to keep their voices down but be loud and protective just like a man would be. Without Karva, her husband wouldn’t be alive. So, while a husband is very important for a wife and should be appreciated, let’s also start appreciating wives, mothers, daughters and every woman that plays an important role in your life. Somewhere along the way, we forgot the point of Karva Chauth. It wasn’t an obligation to do all these rituals, but the real point was devotion, Karva didn’t fast, but she fought, Veerawati fasted, but her husband still lost his life. Karva Chauth is made so that women can celebrate their love toward their husband. It was never an obligation.
“And now I look at my mother, watching her break her fast, while the moonlight shines bright on my parents’ faces, I would remember all this, and won’t believe that my mom is submissive, but my mom is powerful and protecting my dad”
Here are some frequently asked questions about one of the important festivals of northern India for wives and husbands. What if a woman decides to not do it? Would God hate her? Or would her husband die? Obviously not, there are women who choose not to observe it, and their husbands live long beautiful lives, as said, Karva Chauth is only to show your devotion towards your husband, a way of expressing your beautiful love towards him. More questions like, what if an unmarried woman keeps the fast? She can absolutely keep the fast as it only is a way of expressing her love towards her future partner, and she will look at a star instead of a moon.
Can women drink water during this fast? Traditionally, the fast is ‘Nirjala’ where women don’t drink water at all, but women can make exceptions as it always depends on their health. Can a man also hold this auspicious fast? Yes, Hinduism especially is very adaptable, so in modern times a man can hold this fast for his wife as well. Are there clothing rules or rules for shringar? Bright and auspicious colors are preferred during the puja; black and dark colors are not preferably worn during Karva Chauth. Is it important to send gifts to your in-laws? Yes, Karva Chauth is a festival of gratitude, and sending thoughtful gifts is highly appreciated. What is Sargi? It is a very important meal, given by the mother-in-law at pre-dawn for all the nutrients that a daughter-in-law might need.
What nutrients should be added to Sargi and what should be avoided? The trick is to add high protein and high fluid food like seviyan and soaked nuts, seeds etc. What is the history behind Sargi? The Sargi acts as a gift of support from the mother-in-law to the daughter-in-law, this helps her sustain the long day of fasting and this started from the time when women started using the Karva Chauth fast to ensure safe return of their husbands from battles in states like Punjab and Rajasthan. Why do we worship the moon during Karva Chauth? There are two interpretations to this, one of them is that the moon represents patience, longevity, and its connection with Lord Shiva. This means we pray to the Moon for our spouse’s long life, safety, and happiness.
The second interpretation is that we pray to the moon because the moon is said to be the most beautiful, romantic, and poetic man, praying to him for love and romance between you and your partner to never end is a wish he will always fulfil. Also looking at the moon and your spouse from the same sieve represents that for you, the moon is your spouse. Is there anywhere Karva Chauth is not celebrated in northern India? Yes, in a village called Surir, in Uttar Pradesh, holding this fast is completely prohibited as, an old folktale states that 300 years ago there lived a Brahmin man who was crossing Surir, and some men started accusing him of stealing their bulls on the cart he was travelling on with his wife, who was holding this fast for his longevity, those men beat him up resulting in the young brahmin man’s death, and due to the grief of this his wife cursed the whole town and jumped into the funeral pyre of her husband, because of this many men died, because their wives were holding the Karva Chauth fast for them.
In conclusion, Karva Chauth is a gratitude filled, loving festival that should be celebrated not obligated, not forced but loved and celebrated with a smile as Karva Chauth is all about happiness, health and longevity of life. Even holding this fast is said to be beneficial and is advised. It is said to have many health benefits, like the effect on obesity and cardiovascular diseases, or the effect on longevity of life. It benefits both spouses if they decide to keep it. It is one of the most rewarding things if celebrated with actual happiness by both spouses, because the point is not fasting at all; it is the immense devotion and love for your spouse. Love and its immense depth for different spouses, some might choose to express their love through fasting while some might express it by something else, but at the end love and devotion is what shapes a marriage.
By: prisha raina
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