Why is karva chauth limited only to women in India?
It is the most important and difficult fast observed by married Hindu women. Unmarried women and widows are barred from observing this fast. Have we ever heard about any ritual of man fasting for their spouses and seeking longevity in their lives?
IN INDIA, the woman of the house has to sacrifice for all and assume the whole century old traditions. She may or may not have any interest in it. Every year, Karvachauth, an annual one day ritual of fasting is observed by married Hindu women seeking the longevity, well-being and prosperity of their husbands. It is popular amongst married women in the northern and some western parts of India, especially, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
It is the most important and difficult fast observed by married Hindu women. Unmarried women and widows are barred from observing this fast. Have we ever heard about any ritual where men are fasting for their spouses and seeking longevity in their lives? The demonstration of the wife's utter devotion to the husband with no reciprocal ritual is seen as necessarily humiliating to women, especially in Eastern and Southern India.
Question is that why married women are adopting century old tradition of fasting and married men still does not think of this. Why are we so handicapped when it necessitates some changes in the ritual, where women do not eat and take a drop of water until the moon is sighted?
A survey conducted by an NGO running “Women's Right to Live” shows that more than 80% working women are against this fasting but they are bound by tradition.
More than 50% young married women say that they are keeping this just for fun and 75% agreed that they are forced to keep the fast by elders of family without their desire. The funny part of survey signifies that some married men are also keeping fast with their wives to declare that how much they care and love them.
What is even more amusing is that 92% men say that buying expensive gifts for their wives on Karva chauth is a sign of gender equality. More than 70% men agreed that they are forcing their wives to keep fast on the behest of their mothers. Rural women still think that their man is God and fasting for their longevity will help them their men to live longer.
In my view these traditional rituals smell of gender discrimination in the 21st century. Husband and wife should love and respect each other and need not fast to show this love. It is a reminder of our acute gender hierarchies.
This is sheer helplessness of modern women. It is time to understand the unequal, suppressive spirit of fasting and to be done with this obsolete tradition. In the age of science and technology, modern Indian woman need not put herself through heartbreaking, humiliating and ultimately harmful ritual. It also highlights that men are not willing to reciprocate.
Question is that why married women are adopting century old tradition of fasting and married men still does not think of this. Why are we so handicapped when it necessitates some changes in the ritual, where women do not eat and take a drop of water until the moon is sighted?
A survey conducted by an NGO running “Women's Right to Live” shows that more than 80% working women are against this fasting but they are bound by tradition.
More than 50% young married women say that they are keeping this just for fun and 75% agreed that they are forced to keep the fast by elders of family without their desire. The funny part of survey signifies that some married men are also keeping fast with their wives to declare that how much they care and love them.
What is even more amusing is that 92% men say that buying expensive gifts for their wives on Karva chauth is a sign of gender equality. More than 70% men agreed that they are forcing their wives to keep fast on the behest of their mothers. Rural women still think that their man is God and fasting for their longevity will help them their men to live longer.
In my view these traditional rituals smell of gender discrimination in the 21st century. Husband and wife should love and respect each other and need not fast to show this love. It is a reminder of our acute gender hierarchies.
This is sheer helplessness of modern women. It is time to understand the unequal, suppressive spirit of fasting and to be done with this obsolete tradition. In the age of science and technology, modern Indian woman need not put herself through heartbreaking, humiliating and ultimately harmful ritual. It also highlights that men are not willing to reciprocate.
I agree 100% with ur views. Why should such a thing be applicable only to the wife? Isn't it basically about the wife praying for her husband's long life? What kind of 'culture' are we talking about when only one of the partners is expected to sacrifice and pray for the others' well being. If u want to keep the tradition as a symbol of marital love, then modify it. Let both partners fast for the day praying for each others' health and well being. The custom as it exists today harks back to a time when a woman's life of happiness depended on her husband's life. The very fact that some men are doing the fast today for their wives shows that people are becoming aware of the unfairness of the custom as it exists today.
Customs have to change with the times. If you say it's all fun, then let both the partners have the fun. It is the spirit of sacrifice behind this custom which has to be retained and not its gender bias.
this is a Indian culture.no body forces in today's world to keep this fast,its a choice of a women or wife. there are so many cultures in India that differ us from other cultures, it does not mean that we are back ward still.this is a love of a women to her husband if she like she can fast other wise no need of it. but remember every country known for its culture...
Ok, I strongly feel that article is right. I love my husband but that does not mean that I need to 'prove' my love for him by not eating and drinking water for a day. Honestly, it sounds very stupid and for those who feel that the article is wrong, I guess you might want to believe that'Sati' and 'Jauhar' were also good practices in India.
Inspite of so much advancement, I feel so bad that we still refuse to see logic in things and follow 'traditions' blindly.
the pride of belonging to the 21st century and the hysteria of equality has taken a toll on young minds. first of all their can be no comparison between a man and a women as they are two completely different antities, and comparison can be made only between two similar things, instead what should be kept in mind is to respect each others efforts and feeelings...and not to fight and turn a happy home into a battle ground......coming to karwa chauth, it is a vey sacred festival with superficial hardnes, enfolding a cluster of festive happiness, very romantic and sweet moments.....so for those who are forced to fast you better not do it and take a firm stand,please learn to speak for youeself , for those who treat it to be a fun activity, please restrain yourself from making a fun off it as it means a lot to your fellow ladies, hence learn to repect their feelings and those who are fasting by their wish and will,,,,i wish you all a very happy karwa chauth.... because .
the pride of belonging to the 21st century and the hysteria of equality has taken a toll on young minds. first of all their can be no comparison between a man and a women as they are two completely different antities, and comparison can be made only between two similar things, instead what should be kept in mind is to respect each others efforts and feeelings...and not to fight and turn a happy home into a battle ground......coming to karwa chauth, it is a vey sacred festival with superficial hardnes, enfolding a cluster of festive happiness, very romantic and sweet moments.....so for those who are forced to fast you better not do it and take a firm stand,please learn to speak for youeself , for those who treat it to be a fun activity, please restrain yourself from making a fun off it as it means a lot to your fellow ladies, hence learn to repect their feelings and those who are fasting by their wish and will,,,,i wish you all a very happy karwa chauth.... because .
i dnt think by fasting u r showing any kind of inequality of gender discrimination towards women, it is one way to express ur love towards ur husband n showing how much he is imp to u. Old tradition need nt always to be crtized, afterall tradition n rituals festivals r part of our lifes. So i totaly disagree with the comments stated in the article
i dnt by fasting u r showing any kind of inequality of gender discrimination towards women, it is one way to express ur love towards ur husband n showing how much he is imp to u. Old tradition need nt always to be crtized, afterall tradition n rituals festivals r part of our lifes. So i totaly disagree with the comments stated in the article
It has got nothing to do with equality or gender hierarchies. We do it willingly out of love and not forcefully. Its good to think of well being of women but first the focus should be on stopping female foeticide and enhancing women education.
Login
 Login through Social ID
|
Not finding what you are looking for? Search here.
