Sieving the Bitterness for Sweet Love!!
In India, the ritual of marriage is considered to be the ultimate ritual of life. In a country with intricate rituals and customs, it is believed that there is nothing more pious and stronger than the relationship of marriage. It is believed that, the will power of a married woman to change her husband’s bad fortune into good is so strong that it can even change God’s ultimate decision. So, this relationship is eternal and blessed. In our country, Karva Chauth is celebrated with great enthusiasm to strengthen the institution of marriage. Karwa Chauth is regarded as the biggest occasion for the entire married woman fraternity in the country. It is said that the successful completion of this tough fast ensures a long life and prosperous future for her husband. However we need to be aware about the circumstances we come across and act accordingly with purity and innocence.
It begins before sunrise and ends only after offering prayers and worshiping the moon at night… There is a ritual to eat pre-dawn meal called Sargi, sent or prepared by mother in law, before the sun rise. The fast is broken once the moon is sighted and rituals of the day have been performed.
The Moon is to be seen through sieve and not directly. The reason for the same is not described clearly but as per my view we can believe that all the negativities, bitterness should be sieved from within and only the pious SWEET Love should remain in hearts.
It is said that this pain taken by a wife helps her husband get a token of blessings by the almighty. There are different stories to why this festival came in being. Some people believe that this festival of Karva Chauth was actually the day to celebrate the season of autumn and enjoy the company of friends and relatives but later on, few mythological legends were associated with it to give it a religious existence. They often associate it with the legendary story of a devoted wife (pativrata nari), Karwa and her efforts to save her husband’s life. They also quote the story of Satyavan and Sati, the couple who united again despite being destined to be separated due to Sati’s efforts to save Satyavan’s life from Yamdoota.
There are rituals, celebration patterns but in the journey of life, we never know how some circumstances may restrict us to follow all the said rituals and in that case only the prayer with purity in heart matters and that is most important. In such unusual circumstances we should never pollute our mind that any kind of deceiving in the Karwa Chauth fasting and rituals can endanger the life of your partner. If He (God) is watching my situation, why should I fear, surrender to Him and He is always there to save us all.
Four years back I was travelling a long journey by car. We had planned to reach home town for Karva Chauth celebration. As we were on the way, all of a sudden the weather changed into thundering and lightening. We stopped there and next day was Karva Chauth. Soon the night passed rapidly and Karva Chauth dawn was approaching, we started our journey from the hotel. The sky was lovely with its mesmerizing beauty and with splendid sight of sun rise my fasting started. My better half was driving car and soon the day passed like blink of eyes. At evening pooja ritual time when we spend a great time with our friends and relatives, I was missing them for some moment, just then I realized my very life is with me and why I am missing the crowd? I read the Karva Chauth Katha (Story) in the car itself and expressed my gratitude to the setting sun for His divine light to the Earth. Soon auspicious Karva Chauth night followed and we stopped the journey at a very small town at NH6. It was an ordinary hotel and due to such circumstances and no more options we had to stay there. Since it was hotel I did not have sieve and all ritual accessories so I borrowed few things from hotel and went to the terrace as it was Moon rising time. God provided me an idea and I covered my face with my palm so the gaps of my fingers was like sieving device and the terrace was surrounded with so many trees so the Moon light was reaching to me through leaves, I am really short of words to describe the arrangements God provided to me, I felt like, He created a Kara (earthen pot) of entire Earth, Lamp (Deepak) of His divine grace and sacred sieve of his marvelous manuscript. In God’s Grace, is there any fear or guilt of not performing the said rituals? It was He, who could feel my dedication; it was He, who could see my Love for Him. Is there any need to prove my depth of love anymore?
Happy Karva Chauth…☺☺
