My wife is fasting yet again ! Today is Varalakshmi Puja, the Karwa Chauth of south but with a twist. While Karwa chauth fast is for the husband's long life, Varalakshmi fast is to seek health, wealth and prosperity for the family. This means when the wife does this fast thing, depending on what day it falls almighty decides what is to be given. Apparently, GOD maintains a database which has the details of all humans (only Hindu Indians I guess) and the relation between them. This database supposedly has the expiry date for each and every person which I believe is set by Brahma, who is the official manufacturer of humans as per Hindu mythology.
During karwa chauth the expiry date of the husband is pushed further. The increment might be in hours or days or months or years depending on how devoted the wife is. There is one story on how a lady broke the fast and her husband died, she then preserved his body for a year and he came to life when his wife fasted (with full devotion) the following year. What a ridiculous folk story ! This is like fasting at a gun point and the fasting rules are even more rigid, the wife does not even drink water on this day (till sunset in south and until the moon is visible in North). You question about this and you will have a standard answer - TRADITION and some folk story to go with it.
It is definitely a myth but my wife (like millions of others) is still inspired to follow them and I am sure the wife's undaunted love for her husband and family is the only reason behind this. Love in any form is beautiful, I take this as those small moments of happiness which makes a marriage very special. Its nice to see your wife in a gorgeous saree and jewelry, frequent SMS or calls during the day on how she is desperately waiting for the sun to set and then a disclosure by the husband when the wife breaks her fast - "I have also fasted for your darling" and those Kisses and hugs..choo cute. Behind the cuteness the fact is, the husband decided to fast because the scotch, kebabs and greasy curries from the last evening's party were creating havoc in the intestine, so fasting was more of a medical decision.
Moral - Fast to detox, it will surely delay your encounter with Yama (the Hindu God of death) but don't forget to enjoy these festivals as they bring in some lovely moments in married life.
During karwa chauth the expiry date of the husband is pushed further. The increment might be in hours or days or months or years depending on how devoted the wife is. There is one story on how a lady broke the fast and her husband died, she then preserved his body for a year and he came to life when his wife fasted (with full devotion) the following year. What a ridiculous folk story ! This is like fasting at a gun point and the fasting rules are even more rigid, the wife does not even drink water on this day (till sunset in south and until the moon is visible in North). You question about this and you will have a standard answer - TRADITION and some folk story to go with it.
It is definitely a myth but my wife (like millions of others) is still inspired to follow them and I am sure the wife's undaunted love for her husband and family is the only reason behind this. Love in any form is beautiful, I take this as those small moments of happiness which makes a marriage very special. Its nice to see your wife in a gorgeous saree and jewelry, frequent SMS or calls during the day on how she is desperately waiting for the sun to set and then a disclosure by the husband when the wife breaks her fast - "I have also fasted for your darling" and those Kisses and hugs..choo cute. Behind the cuteness the fact is, the husband decided to fast because the scotch, kebabs and greasy curries from the last evening's party were creating havoc in the intestine, so fasting was more of a medical decision.
Moral - Fast to detox, it will surely delay your encounter with Yama (the Hindu God of death) but don't forget to enjoy these festivals as they bring in some lovely moments in married life.
