Satinder Kaur
( Lecturer in, Govt. College
Karwa Chauth falls about nine days before Diwali on the Kartik Chauth some time in October or November. It is the most important fast observed by the women of North India . Fast of Karwa Chauth is quite tough as women are supposed to go without food or water for the entire day. This year Karwa Chauth falls on 26th October 2010. On this day married woman or the girls who are going to be married observe the fast for whole day for the long life and prosperity of their husband. So this day has particular importance for the women of northern region.
Karva Chaiuth fast is of significant importance in Punjab and its neighboring states.Karva Chauth is an annual one-day festival celebrated by Hindu and some Sikh women in North India and parts of Pakistan in which married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for the safety and longevity of their husbands The fast is observed in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Indian Punjab, Rajasthan, Western Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. The festival falls on the fourth day after the full moon, in the Hindu funicular calendar month of Kartik, following the Autumnal Equinox.
In modern North Indian society, Karva Chauth is considered to be a romantic festival, symbolizing the love between a husband and wife. The festival has been criticized as being inherently sexist because there is no reciprocal fasting by males.
In modern times however some males especially young ones in love or recently married, also keep fast. This is especially true in the urban areas of North India and is interpreted as a prayer for a loving husband or loving wife.
The department of geography, S.R. GOVT. COLLEGE FOR WOMAN carried out a survey to know about the changing beliefs and customs, rituals regarding Karva Chauth fast. The following observations were made in this regard.---
· Spatial data was collected in Amritsar
· Only those persons who have kept last year were selected for analysis.Allmost 80% respondents were Hindu, about 98%Hidu woman kept fast with faith and devotion. Young girls does fast just to celebrate the occasion to put henna on hands and to do shopping .Sikh woman keep fast only to celebrate occasion. They are of the opinion that they get a chance to dress up well in bright clothes. Some are of the opinion that they keep fast to please dear husbands and to show them how much they care them.
· Women of all strata of life know the story behind fast but only 12%knew the meaning of Karwa and Chauth.
· Most of Hindu woman go to temple none of Sikh woman said that they make a point to visit religious place.
· Most of woman does their routine work and dress up only in the afternoon. A few women reported that they go to see a movie or do not do routine work on this day. They take leave from work and just relax.
· About 96% woman reported that fast does not affect their health rest discloses that last year during fast they had, head aches’ and stomach pain and had to take medicine.
· Answering the question whether the coming generations should keep fast about 85% mostly Hindu, woman answered they must keep fast. Most of Sikh ladies opined that it’s their own sweet will.
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