Karva Chauth turns hi-tech
2 Nov 2012 8:51 AM IST
The famous festival of married women in north India, Karva Chauth, is going hi-tech this season. Tech savvy women are planning to use web-cameras in their lap tops to see their husbands before they break the day -long fast.
‘My husband has gone to USA on official tour and will return next month only. I have no option but to see and talk to him through my web-cam installed in the lap top,’ said Sugandha Sharma, a software engineer in Delhi who is celebrating the festival for the first time. ‘Since, I live alone here I will also connect online with my in-laws in Chandigarh to catch up on the festivities there, specially, the women-only gathering in the evening,’ added Sharma.
As per the rituals once the moon is visible, depending on the region and community, it is customary for a fasting woman, with her husband nearby, to view its reflection in a vessel filled with water, through a seive, or through a dupatta. Then water is offered to the moon to secure its blessings. She then repeats the rituals with her husband. Women pray for husband’s long life during Karva Chauth. It is believed that at this stage, spiritually strengthened by her fast, the fasting woman can successfully confront and defeat death.
In the evening, women assemble together, wearing red saris, and listen to elder women narrate stories stressing the importance of the festival for married women. ‘I used to look at my husband’s photo before, but now the technology has given an edge to the women. Its funny how technology has come to the aid of culture,’ said Kushum Kumar, one of Sharma’s neighbours.
Sharma, is not an exception but several tech savvy new-age married women, whose husbands are not around, are opting for this technology to celebrate this festival this time.
‘My husband has gone to USA on official tour and will return next month only. I have no option but to see and talk to him through my web-cam installed in the lap top,’ said Sugandha Sharma, a software engineer in Delhi who is celebrating the festival for the first time. ‘Since, I live alone here I will also connect online with my in-laws in Chandigarh to catch up on the festivities there, specially, the women-only gathering in the evening,’ added Sharma.
As per the rituals once the moon is visible, depending on the region and community, it is customary for a fasting woman, with her husband nearby, to view its reflection in a vessel filled with water, through a seive, or through a dupatta. Then water is offered to the moon to secure its blessings. She then repeats the rituals with her husband. Women pray for husband’s long life during Karva Chauth. It is believed that at this stage, spiritually strengthened by her fast, the fasting woman can successfully confront and defeat death.
In the evening, women assemble together, wearing red saris, and listen to elder women narrate stories stressing the importance of the festival for married women. ‘I used to look at my husband’s photo before, but now the technology has given an edge to the women. Its funny how technology has come to the aid of culture,’ said Kushum Kumar, one of Sharma’s neighbours.
Sharma, is not an exception but several tech savvy new-age married women, whose husbands are not around, are opting for this technology to celebrate this festival this time.
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