Over the moon

On Wednesday, the pre-Karva Chauth party held at the Kwality Restaurant, on East Street by an event management group named Kity Kat girls, had women enjoying all the fanfare. Flaunting their best designer outfits in glittering shades of red, maroon and pink accompanied by dazzling gold and diamond jewellery, women were truly at their best. 8220;Karva Chauth is not only about fasting and performing rituals, it8217;s also about cheering and celebrating the occasion. This party is meant only for women and the main idea behind the gathering is to set the mood of celebration and also make the women aware of the idea of the festival,8221; shares Gayatri Sehgal, a member of the organising team. With different competitions, group games, non-stop dancing and hit numbers from the DJ; this extravaganza let ladies loosen their party instincts. 8220;The party is very colourful, I look forward to have a lot of fun here,8221; said Reena Karulkar who was cheering her daughter Stutee who performed the traditional Bhavai dance.

With henna artistes and bangle stalls proving to be an added attraction, the venue was draped in the colour red. Jaya, a party reveler, said, 8220;All of us are here to have a great time, it is just like a fest before fasting. The best part of these parties is that there are no men around. Women are on their own and can go wild8221; chukled Masserat Raina As the Saas-Bahu saga continues everywhere, the party had mothers-in-law shaking a leg with their daughters-in-law and the winner of Mrs Karva Chauth won couple tickets to Goa.

Others who celebrate at home also seem to make the day special for them. 8220;With lot of emotions involved in it, Karva Chauth, is like a one-day carnival where our family gets together for celebrations. Well yes, this is a day when my husband pampers me the most,8221; says Renu Arya, an entrepreneur. While otherwise, starving during a daylong fast, may seem exhausting and unattainable this day women abide by the austere rituals with a lot of interest. Although the tradition was initiated for married women, interestingly, these days unmarried girls also observe the fast. 8220;We pray for the health and happiness of our future partners but unlike married women we break the fast at the glimpse of stars and not the moon, says Nidhi Jaidka, who is unmarried.

8220;Before sunrise, all women observing the fast, eat the Sargi, a meal prepared by their mother-in-law,8221; says Ruchita Sahni while elaborating on the rituals. 8220;The rest of the day is spent in celebration, applying mehndi, decorating karva the clay pot, preparing the puja ki thali and exchanging gifts. Before sunset, women adorn bridal finery to worship Gauri Mata. Once the moon comes into sight, women worship the moon through a sieve and then they see their husbands through it, after which the husband offers water to his wife,8221; describes Sahni, who is celebrating the third Karva Chauth after her marriage. Delving deeper into the motives behind these celebrations, and reasons for such customs to be observed, one realizes these gestures are not just rituals, but lessons that coil the emotions of love and devotion.