Karwa Chauth: A Feminist’s Perspective on a Traditional Festival

Karwa Chauth is a Hindu festival traditionally celebrated by married women in India. On this day, women fast from sunrise to moonrise for the well-being and longevity of their husbands. Karwa Chauth often attracts both admiration and criticism. Critics argue that it promotes traditional gender roles and is regressive, while proponents argue that it represents the strength and dedication of women in love. This article aims to shed light on the relevance of Karwa Chauth from a feminist perspective and why it's not as regressive as it might seem.

I grew up looking at my mother and my aunt observing Karwa Chauth every year. The get-together of some members of the extended family on the evening before to apply Henna on their hands, the preparations for the evening of the pooja – the decoration of thali, the picking out of the choicest of sarees, the fun of getting ready together, the get together in the evening of the fast day where my grandmother would read out the Karwa Chauth story to all of them, my grandmother cooking for her daughters-in-law as they waited for the moonrise while chatting away with each other. Us children made multiple rounds of the terrace shouting to tell them whether the moon had risen or not, and then finally the pooja on the terrace and the feast after that. I always found all of this very interesting, fascinating, and exciting for me. And I fantasized about me doing all of this when I grew up.

No one ever specifically told me that my mother was fasting for my father’s long life. I simply caught up on this concept over the years. However, in retrospect, if that was told to me earlier on and in more specific ways, while it may not have added to my already bubbling excitement and fascination, it may not have diminished it either – it was about my father after all.

For me, Karwa Chauth was always about this – the fun memories. And so, when I got married and my mother-in-law told me that in our family there are no such fasts observed – I was sad, literally. But only for a few seconds as she told me that as a tradition (something which her mother-in-law started), every member of the family observes and celebrates fasts, festivals, and pooja as per their choice. And there I was, so happy and excited to have my own tradition - have a fun day like I had seen all my life growing up. Mind you, up until now I had neither accounted for the factor of actually fasting for an entire day – without water, nor did I account for the fact that I was new in a city, far away from my family – it was just my husband and I, and there wasn’t going to be the gathering that I was hoping for. But the excitement in my head and heart was so high that none of it mattered to me. My husband on the other end was worried about this whole day fasting but since my excitement could not be rubbed off, it rubbed on him and he joined the wagon of fasting along with me.

I went out to the market and bought everything I needed for the ‘pooja’ and got myself some henna applied from a small-market artist. The day of the fast I had to be at work, but I left early from work (something I’d rarely do), went to the house of the only friend I had in the city (who also observed the fast) for pooja and dinner (we happily cooked it together despite being hungry). Our respective husbands joined us in the evening and we clicked a lot of pictures and made a lot of fun memories.

This year, I am observing my 12th Karwa Chauth. And just like the first one, it is still so exciting to me. Even though none of my childhood memories/fantasies were actualized in any of the years, I still find that little joy in celebrating this day. I look at the calendar in advance to check the date and make mental notes of what to wear, what to do, and how to spend my day. However, notably in none of the years – including the first one – was the wish for my husband’s long life my priority on this specific day (isn’t the thought for your spouse’s wellbeing ‘always’ with you)? For me, it has always been about the celebration, the togetherness, and the effort we both take on this day – him to make me feel comfortable and I to have fun together. I realized that it’s the little things that mattered and not the gifts or the large gatherings. It is the memory that we create every year that matters.

So, does any of this take away my identity of being a woman, an individual, a feminist, or a DEIB consultant?

No. My identity as a woman and a feminist is multifaceted and includes various aspects of my beliefs, values, and personal choices. Celebrating cultural traditions like Karwa Chauth can coexist with my identity as long as it aligns with my personal beliefs and choices.

I am a proud feminist, and I know what it means and that it has nothing to do with "male-bashing."

Feminism supports choice. It emphasizes that women should have the freedom to make decisions about their lives, including whether to participate in cultural traditions like Karwa Chauth. It doesn't require women to reject their cultural or traditional practices. The key is that it should be your choice, not an imposition.

Feminism recognizes that women have diverse experiences and backgrounds. Your identity as a feminist can intersect with your cultural identity as well. Feminism acknowledges the importance of respecting diverse cultural practices and traditions, even as it strives for gender equality.

Karwa Chauth is a festival that celebrates the love and bonding between married couples. It highlights the importance of emotional and relational aspects of marriage, rather than just traditional domestic responsibilities. Each of the items used during the celebrations holds a significance. The Henna with intricate patterns and the spouse’s name hidden in it symbolizes the love between the husband and wife. The Sargi (a pre-dawn meal that a mother-in-law prepares for her daughter-in-law) and Baya (gifts from mother-in-law) are gestures of love and blessings from the mother-in-law. The Chalni (sieve) is believed to symbolize filtering out negativity and impurities from her husband's life, ensuring his prosperity and well-being.

Karwa Chauth is not a static festival; it has evolved with the changing times. Today, it's celebrated with a blend of tradition and modern values. In modern times, women are not just limited to domestic roles; they have careers, ambitions, and a more equal role in their marriages. Many couples celebrate Karwa Chauth together, with both partners fasting and sharing the experience.

The world is changing and many women opt not to fast at all. And I respect that choice. My husband pleads with me every year that I shouldn’t bother fasting at all. My husband’s family does not follow this tradition. And I being the opinionated person I am, can easily be one of those many who say I choose not to. But, I do it anyway. Not because I will be judged if I don’t but because I simply and happily ‘want’ to do it, not just for him but for us.

Undoubtedly, the majority of power in our society is still held by males, and women continue to face obstacles such as unequal pay, restricted property rights, and even control over their own bodies. These are realities that women face. We feel anger and frustration as we witness religious, sociological, political, and basic human prejudices prevailing around us. And we are fighting passionately against them.

And there are some fellow warriors of ours believe that Karwa Chauth fast is instigating and furthering the idea of oppression against women. After all, it is the woman fasting for the long life of her husband and not the other way around!

As a woman and as a feminist, I understand that the idea behind this comes from the right intentions and beliefs. For a while, though, let's set aside our instinct to criticize men and accept that everything has its own place and time and that celebrations like Karwa Chauth, which are a part of India's distinct culture and an occasion for love and happiness and making memories, do have to face an outburst of unjust hatred. Let us remember that Karwa Chauth is certainly not the enemy, but the far more worrisome enemies like sexism, oppression, and violence that demand far more urgent calls to action.

In conclusion, celebrating festivals like Karwa Chauth in a diverse and inclusive manner can serve as a reminder of the value of respecting cultural diversity, supporting individual choices, breaking stereotypes, and fostering empathy and understanding. It underscores the importance of celebrating different traditions and practices while promoting a more inclusive and equitable society where all individuals are valued and respected, regardless of their cultural or gender background – isn’t that what we feminists want?