A while back, veteran actress Ratna Pathak Shah created an uproar over her comments about Karva Chauth, a festival mainly celebrated by married (and even unmarried) women in North India.
“Nothing has changed for women, or very little has changed in very important areas. Our society is becoming extremely conservative. We are becoming superstitious, we have to accept religion and become a very important part of our lives.” Being forced to make it. Someone asked me for the first time last year if I am observing Karva Chauth fast. I said, ‘Am I crazy?'” the actor added. pinkvilla In a July 2022 interview, adding that educated women Celebrating Karva Chauth for the long life of her husband is a retrograde and primitive sign.
She further added that “Isn’t it terrifying that modern educated women perform Karva Chauth, praying for the husband’s life so that they can have some legitimacy in their lives? A widow in the Indian context is a dreadful situation, isn’t it? So. Anything that keeps me away from widowhood. Really? In the 21st century we’re talking like this? Educated women are doing it.”
So, this Karva Chauth, being celebrated across the country today, we contacted some women who are celebrating Karva Chauth for the first time, to understand what is being celebrated for them. Fast Which is often called “superstitious” and “primitive”.
Here’s what young women feel about fasting (Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh)
“Married Women Watching” anhydrous (without water) get up before sunrise and eat sargi (Foods eaten before fasting). After sunrise, they are not allowed to drink or eat anything unless they are present Arghya (offering) the moon, making it one of the most difficult fasts,” said Pandit Jagannath Guruji, an astrologer indianexpress.com,
also known as Karak ChaturthiOn this day, many women fast without food and water for the long life, safety and prosperity of their husband/partner. The fast is broken only after the sighting of the moon, which is expected to rise in India at around 8:10 am.
Brand solutions expert Niharika Sharma said, “If a one-day fast makes my family happy, I am more than happy to do it.” indianexpress.com, “As a modern educated woman, I know for certain that fasting will not yield any consequences for one’s long life. For me, it is more about respect for my elders and the culture they believe in, Sharma, 27, who got married in January 2022, said. She said this year she will be fasting for the first time.
For 28-year-old Abha Kumari, who got married in July this year, “keeping Karva Chauth or any other fast is about your own faith and belief”. “This day not only gives you an opportunity to bond with your husband and make memories, but also helps you detoxify yourself and your stomach. Additionally, it’s my responsibility to break the rules to my liking, and no one in my family has a problem. In fact, my mother-in-law is encouraging me to make sure that I keep myself hydrated throughout the day. Ultimately, it is about your belief in the practice,” said Kumari, a public relations professional.
Abha Kumari shares her thoughts on the fasting of Karva Chauth (Source: Abha Kumari)
According to legend, a queen named Veeravati—the only sister among seven brothers—had first observed such an observation. strict fasting For the long life of the husband. But as the hours passed, she started feeling dizzy, worried about breaking her fast only for the moon rise. After realizing how unwell she was feeling, her brothers decided to break her fast by betraying her. But sadly, as soon as she did, she came to know about her husband’s demise, leaving her heartbroken. When Goddess Parvati came to know about this, she appeared before him and told him that her brothers had betrayed her. Seeing her devotion and dedication towards the fasting of Karva Chauth, Yama – the god of death – gave life to her husband. Guruji shared, “The story became famous, eventually influencing married women to observe this fast to ensure the good health of their husbands.”
Chhavi Oplish with her future in-laws family (Source: Chhavi Oplish)
But it is not just married women, soon-to-be brides also rejoice at the thought of fasting for their future husbands. Such is the 29-year-old Chhavi Auplish, who will get married in January 2023 despite her future husband saying no. “You will see all the happy couples together, re-living their marriage/relationship, and spending time together. I think it’s all about expressing love for you and your partner. Plus, I’m sure the dinner date will be a cherry on the cake after breaking the fast,” Oplish noted.
The occasion also occurs when many women, including Sharma, have the opportunity to “doll dress up”, something they do not do regularly. “I look forward to all the special treatment and attention for my first karva chauth, I usually don’t wear much clothes – no sindoor, no mangalsutra, or chudas (bangles). So, I think, this would be a good excuse to get everyone dressed up and click a lot of nice pictures and join the festivities with your family,” Sharma said.
Sharma shared that her husband “definitely plans to fast at least this year”. On men also observing such fasts for their wives, Guruji said that it “indicates the changing times which have made this festival more special and significant”.
Niharika Sharma is excited about Karva Chauth (Source: Niharika Sharma)
However, as mentioned by Kumari the day is a good opportunity to detoxify the gut, does fasting really help to do that? Nutritionist and food coach Anupama Menon said that “this fasting does nothing to detoxify the stomach”. “The body is extremely powerful and doesn’t really need our help for detoxification. It’s a natural working process that happens on a daily basis anyway. If our liver is unable to detoxify because of an unbalanced level of enzymes like a compromised state. When help is needed, there are specific detoxes that last for two weeks that will help the liver move and improve its condition,” she shared.
Doctor Vishakha Shivdasani, who specializes in treating obesity, type 2 diabetes, PCOS and other lifestyle diseases, agreed and said that she would not use the word detoxification for the gut. “Everyone’s body has several natural methods of detoxification whether it is through the lungs or the skin. Since we are constantly eating, the gut does not get time to reboot itself. So, Karva Chauth or any kind of fasting Accelerates repair, helps increase the diversity of microbes in the gut, and reduces inflammation which is the root cause of most diseases,” said Dr Shivdasani.
Deepti Khatuja, Principal Clinical Nutritionist, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon shares that as long as pre-hydration and post-hydration care is taken. “Fasting has been a part of us culture since time immemorial. So, there is no harm in giving rest to one’s digestion,” Khatuja said.
“The primary focus of fasting is to eat adulterated food which can easily break down the digestive system. Along with this, staying hydrated also plays an important role in detoxification of the body,” said Vikas Chawla, Ayurveda expert, founder and director, Veda Cure
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