Karwa Chauth

Atendendo a pedidos,  vou falar de mais um festival aqui da India.

Karwa Chauth eh um festival traditional aqui na India.

As mulheres casadas jejuam um dia inteiro (sem comida ou agua) pela vida longa dos maridos. O ritual significa extremo amor e devocao aos amados.
Elas comecam o jejum na noite anterior, logo que aparece a lua e esperam ate a proxima lua (dia do festival) para comecar as cerimonias.
Se vestem com a melhor roupa, pintam as maos e pes com henna e se enfeitam com joias.
Ao primeiro sinal da lua oferecem preces e recebem o primeiro pedaco de comida dado pelo marido. Entao consomem uma refeicao especial, preparada para a ocasiao.
Este festival comeca com uma historia triste. Quando os mussulmanos invadiram a India, eles forcaram os Hindus a se converterem para o Islam pela forca, matando e estuprando as mulheres dos homens hindus. Para prevenir as viuvas da India desses ataques, criou-se uma tradicao em que quando o marido (protetor da familia) morria, a mulher tambem se sacrificava, queimando-se viva. (ISSO GRACAS A DEUS NAO EXISTE MAIS). Por isso ate hoje elas fazem esse ritual pela vida longa dos maridos, em sinal de que nao quererem sacrificar a si mesmas.
Hoje ja nao lembram da historia triste e essa se tornou uma festa linda, onde as filhas tambem participam, ajudando a mae a se enfeitar.

Devo confessar que eu nao fiz o jejum, mas pintei as maos com henna, Linda, nao?!
Bjs

Karwa Chauth is a traditional Hindu festival celebrated in India.

Married women fast one whole day without food or water for the long life of their husbands. The ritual signifies extreme love and devotion to the beloved one.
They start their fast at night just after the appearance of the moon. They then wait until the next night's moon (the day for the festival) to start the ceremonies.
In the evening women dress in their best clothing, and adorn themselves with jewellery and henna.
On sighting the moon, they offer prayers and then receive their first bite of food and water from their husbands. Thereafter, women consume their special meal prepared for the occasion.
This festival starts with a sad story. When the Muslims invaded India, they were forcing Hindus to convert into Muslims. Either by sheer force or raping, killing the wives of Hindu men. In order to prevent the widows of India from the Muslim attacks, Hindus created a tradition that once the husband, the protector of the family, passes away, the wife must also sacrifice herself in the cremation. (IT DOESN’T HAPPEN ANYMORE!) This resulted in women praying for a long life in their husbands because they do not want to sacrifice themselves once their husband passes away.
They don’t remember that sad story anymore and now this is a beautiful festival, where the daughters also participate, helping the mothers to adorn.


I have to confess that I didn’t fast, but painted my hands with henna. Nice!