On the eve of Karva Chauth on Thursday, Sonali and her friends, who live in a single women’s hostel in Amar Colony, are getting their hands decorated with intricate mehendi at the nearby market and buying trinkets to dress up for Karva Chauth.
The festival, traditionally celebrated by only married women, has over time been adopted by girls like Sonali and her friends who keep a fast as a token of their love and commitment to their boyfriends.
Sonali said: “It’s a cute way to express love and the buzz around the festival is similar to that of Valentine’s Day. I do not expect anything in return but hope my boyfriend has something romantic planned for dinner.”
But not all youngsters are happy about the trend. There are a growing number of voices against the festival as it emphasises patriarchy.
Danish Bajaj, who works with an MNC, said that “it may be an expression of love, but the fact that it’s only woman who fast. Youngsters who are adopting the festival are only adding to the patriarchal nature of society”.
Inspired by popular cinema and television shows, some couples fast together, especially when elders in the family only force women to do so.
Deepti Hora, who fasts because of pressure from her in-laws, said her husband fasts with her and even takes the day off every year. However, they have ended up fighting on Karva Chauth over the past five years as they are both hungry and cranky by evening.
“We will not fast this year as we realised we were doing it because we were forced to do so by the elders and not out of love for each other.”
Even those who have been celebrating Karva Chauth for many years feel the festival has lost its true essence. Kanchan Gupta, who has been observing the fast for over a few decades, said the festival has gone from one where the women in the neighbourhood would gather at the temple in the evening to offer prayers to one where its all about who is wearing what and what they were gifted on the occasion.
“It has become yet another occasion to show-off wealth and share gossip. I have stopped going to the function organised by the RWA because it is no longer a religious occasion or about an intimate moment with your husband. Instead, it’s about who wore what and how much the jewellery was worth,” she added.
