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Karwa Chauth
The Mommy and Daddy of Festive Indian Patriarchy
This could be a scene straight out of a Netflix show, a live telecast from your neighbour’s or even your own house.
Draped in servility, a big bindi of enslavement on her forehead, the mehndi of servitude on her palms, a mangal sutra (the mother of all married tokenisms) dangling from her neck.
The urban Indian wife (Hindu, more specifically) dolls up only to fast and pray for her lord’o’master, completing the look of mental confinement with a pallu on her head.
As a Hindu Valentine’s Day of sorts, Karwa Chauth demands a woman’s physical sacrifice for her husband’s longevity.
The reality is that Karwa Chauth, like so many other festivals in India, is more than just a cultural celebration. It is a subtle but effective tool of social control cloaked under the guise of devotion and love.
Even when some modern men decide to fast alongside their wives, this ‘noble’ gesture is a mere bandage over the core inequality. Whether it’s men fasting out of solidarity or the commercialisation of the festival making it an occasion to exchange lavish gifts and boost social media engagement.
And yes, I am aware this stance risks the wrath of many, including my extended family. But this blatant patriarchal…
