Wednesday, October 4, 2017

COLORFUL KARVA CHAUT & TEEJ FESTIVALS



  COLORFUL  KARVA CHAUT & TEEJ FESTIVALS 

(Compilation for a Discourse by N. R. Srinivasan, Nashville, TN, October,   2017)



Karwa Chauth and Teej are regional traditions and festivals celebrated    on the fourth Day after Sharad Poornima every-year.  Karwa Chaut is celebrated in most part of the North India and Teej in Rajasthan.  Women wear their bridal dresses for the prosperity of the household and longevity of their husbands recalling their wedding day promises.  On this day married women do not eat until they see the reflection of the moon in the platter of water and paying their respect and love to their husbands.   The moon symbolizes Siva, the husband of Parvati.  Siva is believed to be very handsome but unpredictable and also unconventional too in his ways.  He is a very care-free person as for as the family is concerned. He is always deeply involved in meditation and not a regular breadwinner for the family. It needs all the resilience and patience of Parvati to subdue him to bring back to family way of life.  Women pray to possess the resilience of Parvati so that they could develop an ideal temperament to tolerate their husbands and live in peace but not in pieces avoiding everyday fighting.

Karwa means a small earthen pot filled with sprouts, which is given by elderly married woman to new brides on this day, a North Indian Tradition.   Remember Elephant Festivcal of Iyengars here! It is a gift symbolic of fertility passed from woman to woman as an offering of Devi's grace. Sprouts are symbolic of fertility and are used in Paalika Visarjan in Southern tradition (Please refer to the discourse on Hindu Samskaaras).

Teej is celebrated in North India, especially in Rajasthan dedicated to Goddess Parvati, the princess of Himalayan Kingdom who domesticated the recluse Siva and charmed him to become a householder. Parvati's image is bedecked with bridal finery (Sola Sringar) and carried in procession on this night.

Karva is another word for 'pot' (a small earthen pot of water) and Chauth means 'fourth' in Hindi (a reference to the fact that the festival falls on the fourth day of the dark-fortnight, or Krishna paksh, of the month of Kartik).  The festival originated and came to be celebrated only in the Northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. One hypothesis is that military campaigns were often conducted by men in far off places whereby men would often leave their wives and children to go off to war. Their wives would often pray for their safe return. The festival also coincides with the wheat-sowing time (i.e., the beginning of the Rabi crop cycle).  Big earthen pots in which wheat is stored are sometimes called Karvas, so the fast may have begun as a prayer for a good harvest in this predominantly wheat-eating region like Pongal harvest festival of South India.  

 Another story about the origin of this festival relates to the bond of feminine friendship. With the custom of arranged marriage being prevalent, the newly-wed bride would reside with her husband and the in-laws. Everyone being a stranger to her, the custom arose of befriending the other woman   as her friend (kangan-saheli) or sister (dharam-behn) for life. Their friendship would be sanctified through a Hindu ritual during the marriage ceremony itself. The bride's friend would usually be of the same age (or slightly older), typically married into the same village (so that she would not go away) and not directly related to her in-laws (so there was no conflict of interest later). This emotional and psychological bond would be considered akin to a blood relationship. It is said that Karva Chauth festival evolved to include celebrating this special bond of friendship.

A few days before Karva Chauth, married women would buy new Karvas (spherical clay pots) -- 7"-9" in diameter and 2-3 liters capacity—and paint them on the outside with beautiful designs. Inside they would put bangles and ribbons, home-made candy and sweets, make-up items, and small clothes. The women would then visit each other on the day of Karva Chauth and exchange these karvas.

Since Karva Chauth is celebrated primarily by women, men are entirely excluded from the festival's observances until moonrise, though they are expected to demonstrate attention and concern for their fasting wives.    Because beauty rituals and dressing-up are a significant part of the day, the festival is seen as an event that bonds women together.  In the urban areas of North India and Northwestern India this festival is interpreted as a prayer for a loving husband in the future.  Another trend in the northern urban areas is the spreading of the festival's observance to women originating in communities and regions that have not traditionally celebrated Karva Chauth or even been aware of the festival's existence. Hindu Americans observing these trends in India have introduced this colorful religious ceremony   as a Special Religious Worship day    in   Hindu Temples as they have adopted the Valentine’s Day Mass Worship trend in Churches in Hindu Temples. In modern North India and Northwestern India society, Karva Chauth is considered to be a romantic festival, symbolizing the universal binding force of love between a   man and a woman.    Bollywood  movies have strongly promoted  this festival as a Community Festival with singing and dancing.

Women collect  traditional adornments or jewelry, and puja items, such as the Karva lamps, matthi, henna and the decorated puja thali (plate).  Local bazaars take on a festive look as shopkeepers put their Karva Chauth related products on display.  On the day of the fast, women from Punjab awake to eat and drink just before sunrise. In Uttar Pradesh, celebrants eat soot feni with milk in sugar on the eve of the festival. It is said that this helps them go without water the next day. In Punjab, sargi   is an important part of this pre-dawn meal and always includes fenia. It is traditional for the sargi to be sent or given to the fasting woman by her mother-in-law. If she lives with her mother-in-law, the pre-dawn meal is prepared by the mother-in-law.

The fast begins at dawn. Fasting women do not eat during the day. In traditional observances of the fast, the fasting woman usually does no housework.   Women apply henna and other cosmetics to themselves and each other. The day passes in meeting friends and relatives. In some regions, it is customary to give and exchange painted clay pots filled with put bangles, ribbons, home-made candy, cosmetics and small cloth items (e.g., handkerchiefs). Since Karva Chauth follows soon after the Kharif crop harvest in the rural areas, it is a good time for community festivities and gift exchanges. Parents often send gifts to their married daughters and their children.

In the evening, a community women-only ceremony is held. Participants dress in fine clothing and wear jewelry and henna, and (in some regions) dress in the complete finery of their wedding dresses. The dresses (saris or salvars) are frequently red, gold or orange, which are considered auspicious colors.  In Uttar Pradesh, women wear saris or lehangas. Those who fast sit in a circle with their puja thalis. Depending on region and community, a version of the story of Karva Chauth is narrated, with regular pauses. The story-teller is usually an older woman or a priest, if one is present.  In the pauses, the Karva Chauth puja song is sung collectively, the singers perform the feris (passing their thalis around in the circle).

The first six describe some of the activities that are taboo during the fast and the seventh describes the lifting of those restrictions with the conclusion of the fast. The forbidden activities include weaving cloth (kumbh chrakhra feri naa), pleading with or attempting to please anyone.

In Uttar Pradesh, a priest or an elderly woman of the family narrates the story of beejabeti or Veervati. Celebrants make Gauri, Ganesh and Shankar idols with mud and decorate them with colorful and bright clothes and jewelry. While exchanging Karvas seven times, they sing (ruthda maniyen naa), and awakening anyone who is asleep (suthra jagayeen naa).  Thereafter, those  who fast  offer baayna (a melange of goodies like halwa, puri, namkeen mathri, meethi mathri, etc.) to the idols (mansana) and hand over to their mother-in-law or sister-in-law.

In Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, participants exchange Karvas seven times between themselves. In Rajasthan, before offering water seven times the fasting woman is asked "Dhapi ki Ni Dhapi?" (are you satiated?), to which she responds, "Jal se Dhapi, Suhaag se na Dhapi" (I am satiated by water, but not from [love of] my husband). An alternative ritual conducted by Uttar Pradesh  is prayer of "gaur mata" the earth. Specifically, celebrants will take a bit of soil, sprinkle water, and then place kumkum on it, treating it as an idol/manifestation of the fertile Mother Earth! In Rajasthan, stories are told by older women in the family, including narratives of Karva Chauth, Shiv, Parvati and Ganesh. In earlier times, an idol of Gauri Mata was made using earth and cow dung, which has now been replaced with an idol of Parvati. Each fasting woman lights an earthen lamp in her thali while listening to the Karva story. Sindoor, incense sticks and rice are also kept in the thali.

The fera ceremony concluded, the women await the rising of the moon. 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 sieve, or through the cloth of a dupatta. Water is offered (arka) to the moon (som or chandra, the lunar deity) to secure its blessings. She then turns to her husband and views his face indirectly in the same manner. In some regions, the woman says a brief prayer for longevity of  her husband's life. It is believed that at this stage, spiritually strengthened by her fast, the woman can successfully confront and defeat death (personified by Yama). In Rajasthan the women say "Like the gold necklace and the pearl bracelet, just like the moon may my Suhaag always shine brightly."

The husband now takes the water from the thali and gives his wife her first sip and feeds her with the first morsel of the day (usually something sweet). The fast is now broken, and the woman resorts to complete the meal .

Traditional tales

There are legends associated with the Karva Chauth festival. In some  narrations, the tales are interlinked, with one acting as a frame story for another.

The Story of Queen Veervati

A beautiful queen called Veervati was the only sister of seven loving brothers. She spent her first Karva Chauth as a married woman at her parents' house. She began a strict fast after sunrise but, by evening, was desperately waiting for the moonrise as she suffered severe thirst and hunger. Her seven brothers couldn't bear to see their sister in such distress and created a mirror in a pipal tree that made it look as though the moon had risen. The sister mistook it for the moon and broke her fast. The moment she ate, word arrived that her husband, the king, was dead. Heartbroken, she wept through the night until her shakti compelled a Goddess to appear and ask why she cried. When the queen explained her distress, the Goddess revealed how she had been tricked by her brothers and instructed her to repeat the Karva Chauth fast with complete devotion. When Veervati repeated the fast, Yama was forced to restore her husband to life.

In a variant of this story, the brothers build a massive fire behind a mountain instead and trick their sister by convincing her that the glow is the moon. She breaks her fast and word arrives that her beloved husband has died. She immediately begins running to her husband's house, which is somewhat distant, and is intercepted by Shiva-Parvati. Parvati reveals the trickery to her, cuts her own little finger to give the wife a few drops of her holy blood, and instructs her to be careful in keeping the complete fast in the future. The wife sprinkles Parvati's blood on her dead husband and, coming back to life, they are reunited.

The Legend of Mahabharata
The belief in this fast and its associated rituals goes back to the pre-Mahabharata times. Draupadi, too, is said to have observed this fast. Once Arjun went to the Nilgiris for penance and the rest of the Pandavas faced many problems in his absence. Draupadi, out of desperation, remembered Lord Krishna and asked for help. Lord Krishna reminded her that on an earlier occasion, when Goddess Parvati had sought Lord Shiva's guidance under similar circumstances, she had been advised to observe the fast of Karva Chauth. In some narration of this legend, Shiva tells Parvati the story of Veervati to describe the Karva Chauth fast. Draupadi followed the instructions and observed the fast with all its rituals. Consequently, the Pandavas were able to overcome their problems.

The Legend of Karva
A woman named Karva was deeply devoted to her husband. Her intense love and dedication towards him gave her shakti (spiritual power). While bathing at a river, her husband was caught by a crocodile. Karva bound the crocodile with a cotton yarn and asked Yama (the god of death) to send the crocodile to hell. Yama refused. Karva threatened to curse Yama and destroy him. Yama, afraid of being cursed by Pati-vrat (devoted) wife, sent the crocodile to hell and blessed Karva's husband with long life. Karva and her husband enjoyed many years of wedded bliss. To this day, Karva Chauth is celebrated with great faith and belief.

The Story of Satyavan and Savitri
When Lord Yama came to procure Satyavan's soul, Savitri begged him to grant him life. When he refused, she stopped eating and drinking and followed Yama who carried away her dead husband. Yama said that she could ask for any other boon except for the life of her husband. Savitri asked that she be blessed with children. Yama agreed. Being a "'Pati-Vrat'" (devoted) wife, Savitri would never let any other man be the father of her children. Yama was left with no other choice and brought her dead husband back to life. [ Tamils Karaadayan Nonbu Vrata is based  on this Story about which I have talked about]

Teej Festival of Rajasthan

The religious significance of Teej festival is to celebrate the devotion of Goddess Parvati for her husband Lord Shiva. It was on this day that the divine couple Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati reunited with each other after hundreds of years. Even today womenfolk commemorate this mythological event by observing 'Nirjala Vrat' (no water even) for the well-being and long-life of their husband.

Teej celebrates the advent of monsoon season. Teej coincides with monsoon season and thus creates a greater impact for its celebration. Taking full advantage of the beautiful climate at this time women enjoy themselves by swinging, singing and dancing in rain.

Break from Daily Humdrum of Life Teej celebration has great significance for womenfolk as it gives them their much needed break from the daily humdrum of life. For married women it also brings a chance to visit their parents’ house and relive childhood memories. No wonder, women celebrate the festival with great mirth and enthusiasm. They pay special attention to their appearance and deck themselves in beautiful clothes and fine jewelry. Women also apply intricate patterns of mehndi on their hands and feet.

Conclusion

Both Karwa Chaut and Teej attach great religious significance though a cultural, and social harvest and rain festival like Pongal in Tamil Nadu.  The social fabric of a Hindu wherever he is settled is so knitted that no human activity is segregated from the divine. They can neither think of a life without a temple for their worship nor a festival for celebration without a temple visit.  This religious and community celebration of festival helps in strengthening relationship between married couples.  Women who observe fast for the long life of their husband in earnest devotion feel closer and more committed to their husband. While watching their wife straining themselves, husbands feel more special. They reciprocate by being more loving and caring towards their wife. Husbands usually express themselves by presenting gifts to their wife and being more sensitive towards their doting wives. This is particularly of great significance to American Hindu couples where divorces and single parental care for children is slowly influencing the Hindu society also living amidst major culture where it is difficult to hold on to even first marriage out of love for more than five years and where children often are forced to be raised by a single parent based on research studies!

Adapted for a discourse on the topic from the following sources:
1)      Wikipedia and other Internet Sources
2)      Swami Nityanand, Symbolism in induiszmHHinduism, Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, Mumbai, India
3)      Devdutt Pattanaik, Devi, Mother Goddess, Vakils, Feffer and Simons Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India
4)      http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/03/kaaradaiyan-nonbu-vata-saavitri-vrat.html

No comments:

Post a Comment