#TGLIFE
Today marks a special occasion of the festival of Karva Chauth which is a major celebrations across northern India and married women from regions such as Punjab, UP, Bihar etc who are settled in Goa also celebrate this festival. Karva Chauth is celebrated four days after full moon. In historical times, it was celebrated as a prayer for a soldier’s long life, but now is also associated with seeking blessings for the long life of one’s husband.
On the day of the festival, married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for long life of their husbands. North Indian communities in Goa also celebrate the festival with vigour. TG Life spoke to members of this community to gain more information about the significance of the festival.
“On the day before Karva Chauth, there is a mehendi ceremony where all women from the community put mehendi on their hands,” informs Dr Sonya Kitey Choudhary from Porvorim. “Then, on the next day, before sunrise, we have bath, light the sacred lamp before the gods, and present the Sargi. Sargi is a group of dishes that are presented before the gods, and then consumed before sunrise. In some traditions we present five dishes, while in others, we present seven” states Choudhary.
Traditionally, the Sargi is presented by mother-in-law to her daughter-in-law. The collection of snacks is also accompanied by a saree gifted by the mother-in-law to her daughter-in-law. The Sargi is way to show the place of honour the daughter-in-law holds in the family, and the blessings from the mother-in-law. Today, with nuclear families living in cities far from villages, women make the Sargi themselves.
“Ladies from the entire community spend the whole day together, singing traditional songs and chatting, and the pooja takes place in the evening. The ladies sit in a circle, and a decorated Pooja thaal is rotated while the story (katha) of Karva Chauth is narrated”, says Dr Choudhary.
Over the years, Karva Chauth has undergone a lot of change, and even taken on some local flavour, informs Dr Ridhi Sampat from Panaji. “Dishes presented in the Sargi differ from region to region. For instance, a kheer called phirni is made in Punjab whereas in Bihar, Gujia finds a place in the menu. In Goa too, we sometimes include local sweets such as Shira,” she informs.
Technology and changing lifestyle has also changed the way Karva Chauth is celebrated, stated the women who spoke to TG Life. Many young women often do not know the traditional songs which are sung during the festival, and hence, these are played on YouTube. With migration, nuclear families, and demands of career, community participation in celebrations is also declining. However, the tradition has adapted to changing times.
