I am not overtly fond of festivals in a religious way... actually I am not really a religious person...think I am an agnostic person. But Yes - I do celebrate festivals. Not for their connection to the God Almighty, but simply for the reason that its a one big family activity, happiness is in the air, the shops are in their full splendour, there is a change in routine, one gets dressed up in a traditional attire (not a fan of wearing saree) and of course the hogging of anything delicious and sweet.
I think I really am a homesick person. Always missing home. Always on an nostalgic trip. Of course, you can read my post on Navratri HERE and also the happiness when I tick something off my list.
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The next festival on my list *eyes rolling* is Karwachauth. Yeah....I know...dharam patni and all... sometimes, traditions just do not leave you. I am not trying to demean a tradition / festival , but sometimes, people just don't understand the logic why it is celebrated. These days, the movies and the soaps have made it so fashionable to have a KarwaChauth PARTY *eyes rolling again* that even the people who have not celebrated it before, start following 'tradition'.
Hmmmm......I actually asked one of the learned astrologers who teaches in Gujarat University about the logic of the festival. 'Pati ki lambi umar' and all is really good, I want hubby dearest to have a long and a happy life.......but...FAST....sigh!!!!
Okay, the logic goes, in the old days, traders (read businessmen) used to travel far and wide to sell their wares or conduct their business. The wives were left alone at home. So they wished well for their husbands and prayed that no harm comes to them. It was tradition to celebrate Diwali at home and perform the Lakshmi Pooja, so it was evident that they come before Diwali...and this day being the last full moon before Diwali. Since, they were coming from so far, all the 'chappan bhog' was cooked and prepared and food was consumed only when one saw the face of the 'pati'.....Hmmmm...
There, thats it... and this thing has been followed for ages and ages....Hubby dearest is just a phone call away... does not travel far and wide...even if he does, he is just a phone call away... and the biwi - she is also working....just a phone call away.... even if she travels far and wide...even she is just a phone call away....but celebrate Karwachauth - we must...for the lambi umar of our pati!!!!!
P.S. Personally I think, half the festivals or traditions were made or followed to keep the biwi at home busy x-)
LoL. These festivals keep the biwi busy alright! But despite the inconvenience, festivals mark that change in routine; that reason to get out of your jeans ( in my case, pyjamas) and don something fancy. All this in an effort to feel different, to do different and etch something special down in our memories for time to come.
ReplyDeleteLovely post.
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ReplyDeleteMost of the indian traditions have their roots in keeping women occupied.. theres this vata savitri puja followed in maharashtra where women fast for the long lives of their husband..however this fest is celebrated in monsoon..the reason being that there is no festival before janmashtami during monsoon and the houses were really far away in old times. So this festival is just a bahana for women to gather and enjoy!
ReplyDeleteRead this PJ recently. Why Women live longer han Men... Because they don't have wives ... Lolz
ReplyDeleteBut on seriously, your last line say indirectly that men should also have some rituals like this :p
@M so true ....actually I think most of the festivals are just bahana to keep the women folk busy..atleast that was the intention during the old days
ReplyDelete@Nikhil: Yess..... men should have such festivals too
@Anita: ya...thats a good excuse to get of the Pj.... but but but...why r all the festivals for the women to celebrate...???
@Namitoes...:-) please send me ATLEAST... send a couple's watch!!!!;-)
ReplyDeleteFestivals are really meant to keep both the husbands and the wives busy! IDEALLY! :D
ReplyDelete