India is a wonderful country. It is known for its traditions and cultures. This is a country of various festivals. Today on 20th October in India one festival is celebrated by the married woman. It is known as Karva Chauth. This is celebrated by the married women for the long life of their husbands. On this occasion, they do a day fast. This is not an ordinary fast like other fasts, as in it not only the food, but water is also prohibited. Most of the fasts allow the drinking of water. This is really a great sacrifice by women for her husband.
On the day of karva chauth, women wake up early in the morning before the sun rise, approximately at 4 o’clock. Then eat specially meant food for this fast known as “sargi?and drink water. Then after that for the whole day, they can not even drink a single drop of water or eat anything. This fast is not forced on them by anybody, but they do it on their own will. In the evening, some women collect and do the prayer. In prayer they listen to the story associated with karva chauth. After that starts the long wait for seeing the moon. Fast is complete and successful after seeing the moon.
This is a whole day long wait for the moon. There are many stories associated with the karva chauth, but not any concrete valid document is found so far in its support. This fast is supposed to be associated with long life of husband. Initially this festival has presence in only Hindi speaking parts of India. But now it has becomes popular in other regions of India also. Even women from other religion have also started to celebrate it. This festival gives the women a way the show love for their husbands.
Many people are of the view that this is only an exploitation of women and this type of activities should be discontinued. They blame the orthodox beliefs for this. It is supposed that this festival will die with the time and new generation will not accept it. But things have gone in other way, opposite to what is supposed. More and more new generation newly married young women accept it. This festival is successful not only with the new generation, but it has increased its penetration in other parts of India only.
The main reason behind its popularity is its simplicity. It provides a way to show the love and sacrifice for the husbands. Not only the women but also some men do the fast with their wives. This provides a great way to show and share emotion with each other. This fast provides a way to show the love. This fast helps the couples to make their life more acceptable to each other and shows how strong they are associated with each other. People against this fast may say any thing, but this festival is going to remain for more time in India and enjoy a good status in married women life.
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