Why Should You Keep Karva Chauth Fast?

Happy Karva Chauth )

The fast for wishing long life and togetherness with your spouse. 

In times, when forget the seven lives even seven years' start itching couples together, there comes many arguments from many as 'why men don't observe a fast for long life of their wives?'

Right! They should. In fact, they must. 

It must be a compulsory fast for all committed men. (Point is - how many are really committed?)

I wonder, when forward ladies have friction on this Fast, then why do they observe it at the first place and get fast and furious over it?

SOCIAL PRESSURE 

Agreed. 

When you are newly married or engaged and every thing looks like a big moon, then keeping a fast and basking on glory of that new romanticized 'Me Too'  syndrome and many gifts with attention does not pinch at all. 

Neither do we protest on this and fight for our Rights. Right? 

Okay! 

Now, we have grown up mature and understood the game. So, why should men not keep fast for us now?

Well. As per my observations there are a few reasons. They may be wrong in some cases but I know some of you would agree with me, too :-

WOMEN'S DAY :

We all have watched sitcoms, saas-bahu serials and family drama movies once in a while. A huge industry is making big money out of it. 

Have you noticed that in all these dramas, women have the lead and they play throughout the plot. A few men appear only when women want them around to strengthen their point. Otherwise, where they go, nobody cares!

On Karva Chauth too, we claim that we are keeping the fast for longevity of dear husband but husband comes in the picture only when we wish to have dinner. What other role he has in the story except shopping for us or buying gifts?

IF WE ARE HAPPY, EVERYONE AROUND IS HAPPY

There is no prize for guessing what is the favorite hobby of women if they have cash or credit cards to splurge in their pockets. 

Of course, shopping to keep them happy.

Now if women are happily shopping, doing up themselves, taking care of themselves then there is no denying that they will get considerate about happiness of family members,too. 

This happiness will be transferred to other members of the family directly or indirectly. Even in our scriptures, it is said if womenfolk of a household are happy that house is like heaven and gods bless that house.

On Karva Chauth, we take the credit for long life of our husband but we forget that their credit cards are also with us. Would we trade the wallets if they keep fast for us?

TIME FOR FESTIVITIES

Festivals are around the corner. So many parties, gatherings and going places. Is it not the right time to deck up for the festivals?

We are center of our social circles. If we are not presentable then how we'll meet the pressure of everyday going out and where would be the time?

Don't you think, Karva Chauth makes being presentable compulsory for us?

Many of us would not at all bother about things if it is not mandatory to look our best on Karva Chauth. So, this is a right justification to splurge on yourself and look your best.

Secondly, I have seen most of the women don't spend on themselves. They save for the family. They spend for the family but they do nothing to make themselves updated. 

Karva Chauth is also a reason to update themselves as the festivals are around.

HIS MOM

His Mom, your mother-in-law might have been a creator of many frictions but she must have to acknowledge your value in his son's life on Karva Chauth. 

She may or may not be giving you money /gifts or Sargi for Karva Chauth but look at the glow she has in her eyes when you gift her gifts etc. on or after Karva Chauth.

And thus we also accept her value in our life as without her existence, we may not be keeping this fast for her son. So, this is gratitude we show and contentment she expresses. This is beyond words because this relationship is not blood relation, it is a relationship of mutual understanding only.

You'll agree, not all men are good in expressing gratitude, so they'll get a good zero on this subject and a swollen face of wife, mother and everyone around this circle. Isn't it?

A BREAK FROM THE KITCHEN

A change in the schedule makes life full of fresh air sometimes. 

Many of us spend our lives in kitchen-cooking, serving, eating, shopping for eatables, munching, comfort eating, binge eating, just for a company eating and so on.

Fasting for a day does not kill us if we do not have a serious chronic ailment otherwise. In fact, we value food for living more. We realize that eating is good but be sensible about it. 

We think beyond kitchen and eating. I am not talking about those who love to sleep if they are not eating. 

I am talking about other half who would explore some other topics to discuss other than eating.

I tell you about an extreme case on this topic. Just very recently, I got to know this and I was amazed at the very idea. This lady told me that they don't use any knife or cutting activity at all at home on Karva Chauth and eat out. She advised me to do so to be blessed.

I have heard and read the Karva Chauth Story and there is this ambiguous idea that the needle like grass grows on the dead body of Karva's husband. She picks those needles and on last needle, she goes out for some work and the maid servant takes out the last needle. Husband gets alive but he assumes that the maid servant is his wife. This way the agony of Karva is enhanced. 

To create the fear factor, this needle, cutting, knife, scissors prohibition was created. I don't know the real reason but I got to talk to so many people but none had an appropriate justification to it.

My view is that in earlier times, women didn't have the machines and facilities as available in today's times. Therefore, to ease their work off, such anecdotes were created. 

So, not all men are sous chef and make no point in this discussion also.

WOMEN WORK JUST LIKE MEN, SO WHY FAST ALONE?

Women don't fast alone. They fast with their friends, with their neighbors, to show off all their beauty and beautiful collections. 

Do men have much to show off?

Women have this veto power to not observe any fast and there is nobody to force them too. If they are working, nobody in their family would pressurize them to. But they still keep fast. 

Because everybody is keeping and this me too syndrome is imbibed in our brains.  

Till the time, we really want to stop Karva Chauth for ourselves, no law of state would be passed. If we are not okay with it then why to keep fast at the first place. 

Secondly and most importantly, why force it on somebody else just because it is forced upon you. Just take steps to stop it rather than telling everyone around that men should keep it too. 

I have seen men keeping fast and some of them faking it for the happiness of their wives but love and blessings are something you do for others willingly rather than forcing or cribbing about them.

This is what my observation is. Chances are that I missed on some points, so do update me and let me know what's your take on Karva Chauth?

Do share to let people ponder over it...