Why do Women Fast Even Today during Karwa Chauth?

1. Karwa Chauth is a very popular festival celebrated by married Hindu women especially in northern parts of India. The celebration of this festival traces its origin back to the times when wives of army men and soldiers observed Karwa Chauth to protect their husbands. Karwa Chauth is all about following some stringent rituals by married Hindu women, for instance, fast for the whole day without food and water till moonrise for the longevity of their husbands.

2. A survey, compiled out of the views taken from the married women of India who observe Karwa Chauth suggests that the tough and hard rituals that they follow through the days, for instance, fasting for the entire day, decorating karwa chauth thali, and doing all the arrangements of the puja, are out of love and not from any forceful compulsion. Adding to that, most people from these younger generations believe that celebrating Karwa Chauth is an old fashioned and regressive custom and they often raise questions about the ritual of fasting. Over the years since this ritual of fasting came into existence, the purpose of this is continuously changing. In the past, women tend to fast and observe these rituals as an excuse to get over their mundane schedule and to meet each other. Today, fasting is an acceptable means for the health-conscious women to detox their bodies and keep it as healthy as possible and at the same time to show a fervor of love for their husbands through it. So, traditions are good and especially when that tradition is maintained, not forcefully but out of self-choice. Source: https://aboutkarvachauth.blogspot.com/2020/06/why-do-women-fast-even-today-during.html