5 Modern Women Who Celebrate Karwachauth in Their Own Way

Here is the thing. I don’t believe in Karwachauth. I don’t believe that forgoing food for a day and worshiping my husband can help him live longer. I believe that that the concept of Karwachauth has been misconstrued over generations and has become what it is now. I believed a whole of lot of things last year about this festival (as you no doubt read here).

But here is what I also believe. Almost every festival has now become a figment of personal interpretation over generations. Whether it is the inclusion of the cards party in Diwali celebrations to add a little flavor or it is this, there is always a personal fervor that makes people enjoy a festival in their own way.

In my quest to find out versions of Karwachauth I can understand, I spoke to a lot of Urban Company customers and found some. Every year they celebrate Karwachauth embracing the festival in their own way. Here is how:

Megha Gupta

As soon as I ask her why she keeps the fast every year, she counter questions, “Do you know why Karwachauth was originally observed?”

“As a matter of fact I do.”, I say. “I wrote a blog about this last year.”

She continues, “Well then you would know that it was observed for a person you considered your confidante in the family. A friend. For me it is my mother in law. We observe the fast for each other every year and we absolutely love the nitty gritty of it. The mehendi, the dressing up and  the pooja. My mother in law has been a pillar of strength for me and an amazing friend. I find it easiest to talk to her and she feels the same. People may find a parent in their in laws, but I found a friend. And I love to cherish this bond by keeping a fast for her and she feels the same!”

Deepa Kodnani Karwal

Married to an army man, life for Deepa has not been similar to her civilian friends. She has been uprooted more than once because of transfers, has stayed months away from her husband because of a posting and has lived with that looming fear. For someone like her I would assume believing in a tradition like this would be easier but she surprises me. She shares, “I don’t keep it. I just kept it once to humor our parents. I do not believe that starving myself can add years to my husband’s life. I believe in prayers and that is what I do. We celebrate it as a festival of love and make it a point to go on a special date night! We pray together and follow the little rituals too.”

Are there special prayers for this I joke and she laughs and says, “You know how busy God is this day. I don’t take too much of his time. A prayer for my husband’s long life is a constant anyway. It is not a one-day affair.”

Meenakshi Sukhtankar

Married to a celebrity chef, Meenakshi is a graduate from the prestigious Indian Institute of Hotel Management herself, where she met her husband Mandaar.

She shares, “There are certain regions in India who have a lot of regressive rituals associated to this festival but modern women have interpreted this in their own way and quite enjoy it. every festival in its heart has the same spirit – to enjoy it.”

When I quiz her about how she celebrates the day, she says “I don’t fast. Instead, I donate food to the needy in the nearby temple. There are so many people who are voluntarily giving up food this day and I feel it should make everyone feel inclusive. Isn’t a festival in its essence also that, to make everyone feel like family and revel in one spirit? I do this for every festival. Not just Karwachauth.”

Poonam Sethi

Twelve years of beautiful marriage have had a lot of  moments for Poonam. The biggest challenge being living a long distance marriage.

“Yes its not been easy living away from him and also our families, but its also been the easiest. When you have a partner and a loving family who are fighting the road blocks with you, it becomes easy. A tradition that celebrates the bond of love becomes all the more intense when you are living apart.”

So how does she celebrate it? “I observe the fast and the rituals with my friends and my maid. I want to make her feel inclusive and appreciate the help she has been for all these years. She has seen a lot of hardships and is not well to do. So I help get her a beautiful mehendi and buy her whatever she wants. It is my way to thank her.”

Pallavi Goswami

An entrepreneur and a mother of beautiful twins, she observes the fast and shares her reason, “It started as a joke honestly. We had put on a lot of weight post marriage, you know because of the innumerable family dinners. So my husband suggested we keep it together to lose weight. We did realize that one day of fast doesn’t really do any good to our weight problem, but a ritual was born. every year we observe it together with a new reason! It is fun every year and let me be honest it is a great way to humor my parents and his.”

What is the reason this year I ask. She laughs and answers, “We have come a full circle! We still need to lose weight.”

I haven’t kept the fast. Nor do I intend to keep it ever. But a part of me changed listening to these amazing women. The beauty of a festival is not really in seeking its reason to celebrate but in its essence, in its spirit. You may disagree with the reason but you can’t help enjoying the spirit and feel closer to others.

Here is how Urban Company helped women get beautiful mehendis and joined in their spirit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qggS1wZ59z0&feature=youtu.be