Feasting before fasting

Gone are the days when karva chauth meant, for countless Punjabi households, a day of total starvation, dizzy heads by twilight and a constant glance at the sky for a glimpse of the elusive moon. Now, it means music, dancing, a delicious spread of food, games, prizes and loads of fun, usually at a five-star venue, albeit a day before the fast.

The brain child of an enthusiastic kitty group, this version began some eight years ago according to Vanita Sakrani, one of the organisers of the Holiday Inn bash.

“Earlier, many elderly ladies would have Teej celebrations in a similar fashion. We, of the younger generation, decided why not do this for karva chauth instead. This lady from Mumbai, Dolly Marwaha, had just shifted to Pune and had attended similar dos in Mumbai. She set the ball rolling and soon it became a regular affair,” enthuses the vivacious Vanita. Thus, probably converting a somewhat dreaded time into a much-awaited one. “The idea took off from Day One and by the second year we had some 175 ladies trooping in for the celebrations. Now, it’s at a stage when we start getting calls one month before the occasion for bookings,”reveals Ajju Marwaha who has been in the forefront of the party for the past four years now.

“The idea was since all the women went in for mehendi, dressing-up, bangle-buying, it would be fun to do it together and it certainly has been so. We get the mehendiwaali, chudiwala and even give the traditional pheni as a return gift to each invitee.” However, in the past there was just one place where all the revellers met and partied, this year onwards a breakaway group had its own get-together at the Holiday Inn, while the other one partied at Aurora Towers simultaneously.

“The group was getting too big and we of The Social Butterflies decided we wanted a select group this time — of about 50 to 60. Though the number finally went up to almost a 100, it was more organised and definitely more enjoyable,” explains Sakrani. “Too many people used to mean long lines for mehendi with some having to go without it and a lack of individual interaction,” adds Geeta Kapoor, another enthusiast.

While the group at Aurora Towers lived it up with whacky games handing out prizes to the lady with the highest heels or the one with the biggest handbag, the one at Holiday Inn had an equally enjoyable time with dance, music, games, Pune’s top DJs in attendance, lavish spread and even a catwalk! “This kind of an interaction promotes harmony and happiness amongst all the women and is a feel-good occasion,” states Kapoor.

Sakrani is more forthright. “We call it a show-off party. This is the one time you get to air your jewels, sarees and fineries. Occasions like these are few in Pune, so we make the best of this time,” she states candidly. “Alongwith lots of masti and mazaa we even broke a whole lot of traditions this time. Imagine holding a karva chauth-do in a pub, with top DJs and a fashion parade. And in case anyone is raising eyebrows, next time, we’ll perhaps have a theme party,” avers the indefatigable lady who incidentally is a Sindhi and does not even keep the fast! Just like almost ninety per cent of the crowd that troops in for the occasion.

“We have Maharashtrians, Gujaratis, Bohris and Parsis who have been coming in for it for the past so many years and none of them identify with the occasion. In fact, perhaps only ten per cent of the women must be keeping it. But how does that matter? Basically, it’s just a great occasion to get together and enjoy,” adds Bina Chandra of Golcunda, another non-fasting-only-partying breed.

Well, if dandiya and the Ganapati celebrations can get more and more trendy, why not Karva Chauth? As Gita Kapoor put it, “Basically we Indians just love gaiety and a chance to celebrate, irrespective of what community the festival belongs to.” And given the bonus of such a noble purpose behind it all — of fasting the following day for your husband’s long life — there’s little likelihood of any objections from the households too for the party. “My mother-in-law, in fact, sponsors my ticket every year,” adds one of the ladies. Move over Nirupa Roys. The social butterflies have taken over. And how!

Space savers
How do you make maximum use of minimum space? Ask Chandra Shiva, the entrepreneur of baby clothing and a proud homemaker rolled into one. Meet the charming 37-year-old who could easily pass off for someone a decade younger. She is not just a wonder with designing practical clothes for the new born but equally adept with designing spaces. A fact most evident in her house, a delightful apartment all of 800 square feet which functions not just as her work place but even a comfortable venue for parties for as many as 30 people. All because of some simple, yet ingenuous, thinking.

“The first thing was that I knew I wanted a home not an over-cluttered museum. Simplicity is thus something that runs through the decor of the house. Then, every bit of furniture is three inches above the floor to facilitate cleaning. The upper part of the walls that is usually wasted as vacant space are all lined with lofts while my work room has a sofa-cum-bed to double up as a guest room as and when needed,” elaborates Chandra. “My son’s bedroom unit that I got shipped from West Asia and then assembled here is self-contained with a bunker bed, cupboard and book shelves. Plus all my furniture is functional and reasonable — something I wouldn’t feel guilty about changing five years down the line.”

The piece de resistance though is the breakfast table that also functions as the dining table the real space saver. “All the appliances like the toaster and microwave are within easy reach when we sit to eat so that no one has leave the table. I picked up the table idea while visiting a friend in New Zealand. It forms the demarcation between the living room and the kitchen and also folds down making the area one large L-shaped space when required for a party.” Neatly enclosed functional areas, covered with black and red wooden cupboards that border the walls further ensure that the kitchen has none of the clutter and blends into the living room.

“I even store the food cooked for the day inside one of the cupboards that has cudappah shelves and Netlon in the front that allows in air rather than leaving it on the kitchen platform,” she reveals adding “I think it’s a waste to have a large house. The challenge is in having an average-sized one that you enlarge with your creativity.” And that’s no mean achievement, but a small wonder.