To fast or not to fast….

The festive switch is in full power mode in India. It is the favourite time of Indians living abroad for visiting India. If you are a foreigner this is the best time for you to experience some good Indian-ness. Most of our festivals start with a fast and end with a feast.

Some follow the rituals to the T, some do as much as they can manage; some just don’t but some don’t and REVOLT.

It is good to have an opinion and also voice one but it should not be coerced. I am a feminist, a 21st-century woman and I fasted on my first “karva chauth” after I got married (I don’t anymore). Nobody forced me to fast as I am a Maharashtrian and we have a different day (Vatt Savitri Vrat) when we fast for the longevity of our husbands (I fasted for that one too). These festivals are more than just fasting and sadly some pseudo feminists have ruined it for most of us. I agree that I don’t have the power to increase the lifespan of anyone but myself. Twinkle Khanna last year, threw statistics at us by comparing the longevity of men in other countries to Indian men’s. Enough, I say!

In addition to the fast, there are other important elements to it. There’s a pre, during and post for every Indian festival. The pre, of course, includes the preparations, for example; cleaning the house, decorating it with lights and flowers, applying henna on the palms, buying new clothes, gifts for the family. During and post sometimes includes a fast and sometimes, a feast. But in general, it involves the family getting together and having a good time. What’s the harm if you are devoid of food for a day, call it detox if you must. No one questions a crash diet to fit into an outfit for a Friday night. But if someone says they are fasting for their husband’s longevity. My god, it’s misogyny!

One needs to be progressive but you cannot force everyone to follow you. People take time to understand and eventually get there. So instead of bashing and trashing someone for it better highlight how you, yourself celebrate the festival. Here’s how I fasted and feasted on my first “karva chauth”

• I got up early in the morning and had an appetizing breakfast before sun rise
• Around 11 am when the stomach started to growl I had half a glass milk mixed with half a glass water
• A handful of dry fruits at 3 pm
• At 7 pm I repeated my milk mixed and water potion
• By moonrise (anytime between 9-11) it was feast time 🙂

That was my cheat sheet to fasting! By following the above, I did not miss out on the festivities nor did I die of hunger.

PS: I don’t fast anymore but I don’t judge the ones who do. Every person has his or her perspective, respect that. 

 

Credits: The featured image is from Amazon’s Great Indian Sale, the fast cheat sheet is as suggested by my friend Shefali. 🙂