No food! No water!...and that’s too for hubbies???

I find it so sad that women the world over are still willing to sacrifice themselves for a cause. What disturbs me most that in this case men go free. I know it is tradition and at one time there may have been a good reason for this but even tradition has to change. In the Catholic Church the rule used to be no meat on Friday's ,this was because meat as a commodity was very scarce. Both men, women and children were obliged to obey this rule. In the Islamic faith Ramadan obliges all adults men and women to abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset. In the Jewish faith on the Day of Atonement all adults fast. So I guess Hidu men got away with something that is to their benefit since they don't have to fast to honour their wives on a specific day.

Hi nishant.. I am still unmarried.. but glad to known that there is no such thing for men. I really don't like to have fast. Even at my home everybody go for fasting (on other festivals too) but I always avoid it. For that my mom always get angry on me.. But I guess I can't help. I really don't understand this fasting concept too.. But its related to religious so I respect them.

Hello Nishant, I think you are relieved much to know that there are no such fasts for men. There is some fasts needed for men too for their beloved wife, do you agree Nishant. Fortunately or unfortunately no rule for men, does it mean that the ladies are there for sacrificing and men can take all the freedom. Now the jokes apart and will tell you about the topic. In south we do not observe any fast for husband or to be husband today (The unmarried girls too observe this fast for getting a good husband). But we too observe a day for husband and a day for kids too which falls in the month of December/January (either in the second half of December or in the first half of January). But the manner is different, we don’t need to starve for the whole day, we can eat foods, which are the roots (there are different root vegetables are available in our place plenty) and adding green gram or red gram, we make special food, infact healthy food, for ladies. The special or attractive part on this festival is, on the particular day ladies won’t sleep in night, instead they will gather in a particular house (if there is newly wedded couple then all will gather in that house) and engaged in different types of activities like “Thiruvathira kali”(which is a dance form) then before sun rising they will take the bath in nearby river. This festival is called ‘Thirvuathira’ in our place and it related to Lord Shiva and wife Parvathy. (when the God Shiva swallow poison to save the whole world, Parvathy hold his neck for not getting the poison to his stomach, so the poison struck in his throat, that is why there is blue colour in his neck and he got a name ‘Neelakandan’). Parvathy did the sacrifice to save her husband. You can watch video on Thiruvathira kali http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWoXaU_qEdk&feature=related I tried to write the story in brief.

After getting married into a Hindu family I saw the women of the family observing this fast. But I had never followed any fasting rituals after marriage. Many husbands fast of Karva Chauth with their wives to show them their love.

nishant! I think, this festival is for North Indians alone and not practiced in the South. Well, some festivals come by traditions and we cannot question them as they are sentiment oriented. In the long run, people may understand the original idea behind such festivals. Our ancestors would not have started something silly!

i feel every tradition and festivals we celebrate could have medical reason... If the fasting is for just one day, then it is ok, because it might cleanse our body too. Apart from this i believe in faith. God is all about faith. If we have true faith in any thing definitely we would achieve it.

hi nishant, i have heard about this practice by the hindus and it is like an offering sacrifice to God to make their husbands live longer. i know of indian friends too who are into it. they are very religious. maybe it will change in the future.. like husbands doing puja for their wives, and wishing them long lives too. and yes, fasting. seems the men are getting bigger bellies nowadays. probably because they dont fast or at least eat a little less during this times. ann

Hi Nishant My wife is on fast today and so is my mom and brother's wife. I dont know abut dad or brother but I too am fasting (after my lunch and breakfast) . Seriously, I am on daily medicines that force me to have my food and water since 2005. So I cannot participate with my wife here. Before that I used to be on a fast for just one day per year - the occassion of Maha Shivratri. Personally, I think this is more about personal health as I read somewhere that a fast like this once a while is of great use for the body. For the other religious beliefs, I have none and think this is superstition. Not sure personally though.

Nishant i don't want to hurt any indian lady but personlly i think is not nacessory to show like this ways and second side of men also try give advise or force to stop this kind of fast if any dangerous situation happen with his wife.

Hi Nishant.. U would agree that our country is famous for its cultural rituals and festivals too and this is one amongst that. It is not just a festival but it is a traditional festival majorly celebrated by North Indians. Even Punjabi celebrate this in a grand manner. Lot of my friends who are from Madhya Pradesh also celebrate this 'fasting' day. In some part like Bihar, Maharashtra there is another similar festival known as 'Teeja' but there is no moon watching on this day. its another fast without water. Some of my friends did a lot of papering themselves too for today (such as visiting the beauty parlous, applying mehandi/tattoos etc). What they tell me is she should look at her best today when they see the Moon (rising) at night. And you would be surprised alongwith wife the husband also keeps fast and do not eat anything. Also some husbands plan a surprise gift for his wife on this day. I really appreciate those couples who have so much care/ love for each other. May be it is not a sacrifice for them, it is another opportunity to show / share their love. Personally speaking, I do not keep any fast and we (South Indians) always have a feast on many occasions while the others are fasting.