Not just henna tattoos, women wooed their
better half with personalised bangles and celebrated the one-day fest of Karwa
Chauth on Thursday.
The festival was celebrated by Hindu women
from some regions of India, especially northern India, four days after purnima
(a full moon) in the month of Kartika. Like many Hindu festivals, Karva Chauth
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 dates.
Reviving their marriage vows, women from
different communities prepared for a day’s fast and celebrations. Though, the
festival started in north Indian community, it has gained popularity because of
the ritual where a husband completes the fast by feeding his wife to depict
their love bond.
“A bride befriends another woman who would
be her friend (kangan-saheli) or sister (dharam-behn) for life, especially as a
part of Karwa Chauth tradition,” Tanya Khushwaha, a homemaker, said.
The day began with ‘Sargi’
While north Indian families started the day
with ‘sargi’, women from other communities who did not get gifts from their
mother-in-law; did receive presents from their husband.
Sargi is an important part of this pre-dawn
meal and always includes fenia. This pre-dawn meal is prepared by the
mother-in-law and presented to the daughter-in-law with gifts.
Talking about the importance of fast over
these festivities, lecturer Aarti Vyas said, “Every fast is important, as it
brings us closer to god’s grace and brings love in the family.” She is a
Brahmin, who kept the fast and felt calmer and happier by doing so.
Personalised presents, a popular trend
As some men participated in fast to show
their love for their wife, the present giving informal ceremony was shared by
both the partners as well. “I had ordered customised bangles a month back to
surprise my husband,” Nancy Tuteja, a homemaker, said.
This was the first set of surprise and
present for her husband Viswadeep. “I bought her a personalised pendant and mug
with our best memories engraved on them,” he said.
Satnam Kaur Ubeja, a lecturer, was also
surprised to find a name engraved personalised ring-set from her husband.