My Evening in Jaipur Celebrating Karwa Chauth - November 8, 2012

Though it has taken me awhile to write about it and to show you the photographs,
I had the beautiful experience of being invited to share in part of the celebration of 
Karwa ( Karva ) Chauth by Geetanjali Rathore, who is part of my Jaipur "family."

Karwa Chauth is a ritual of fasting observed by married Hindu women, seeking
longevity, prosperity and well-being for their husbands.  It is practiced mainly in
northern and western India, especially Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Utter Pradesh,
and Gujarat ( about.com: Hinduism ) and in other locales settled by Indians from
these areas.  Karwa Chauth takes place nine days before Diwali.

Women begin preparing several days in advance, buying cosmetics, preparing
their traditional ornaments and jewelry, and their finest clothing.  If the mother-in-law
lives in the home, she prepares the pre-dawn meal.  At dawn, the fast begins and
no food or water is taken after sunrise until the moon appears.  The day is spent
visiting friends, often exchanging gifts.  

In the evening, a women only ceremony is held, with the women dressed in their
finest attire, often in their wedding saris, their best jewelry, with lovely henna designs
on their hands.  They dance and perform special rituals.  Traditionally, the husband
gives the wife her first sip of water and taste of sweets to break the fast.  It is also
expected that the husband will give wife a lovely gift at the end of the evening.

I asked and there is no corresponding fast for the longevity of wives!!

I felt very honored to be part of this wonderful evening.  The women were so
beautiful in their saris and the traditional Rajasthani dress.  The colors were amazing!
They looked like blooming hot house flowers.  I've never seen such incredible
jewelry. After dinner was served, musicians played and the ladies danced.  As they
twirled about, other ladies waved rupee bills over their heads, then gave them to
the musicians.  They even coaxed me up to dance.

Being part of Karwa Chauth was a perfect end to my five months in Jaipur.  I'll still
be here for the beginning of Diwali, the festival of lights, which is celebrated in India
and all over the world where Indians have settled - a wonderful farewell for me.

Photographs of deceased family 

Garlands are used at shrines, temples and memorials

Gifts for the ladies

I am not sure what was inside this!

The musicians for the evening who played traditional Rajasthani music

Beautiful hands and jewelry of our hostess, Geetanjali Rathore

Geetanjali and another guest - I wish I had written down all the names!

Making sure everything is in place

Mrs. Ranvijay Rathore in her wedding sari

Her day will come

This looks sort of like an accordion.

Geetanjali - lovely makeup and jewelry

This young lady stayed near me all evening, wanting to learn to take pictures

Women of Jaipur's lovely heritage hotels, Umaid Mahal and Umaid Bhawan

Geetanjali Rathore and her sister

Preparing the puja or offerings

Dining area

Let the dancing begin!

Longevity, prosperity and well-being to all Hindu husbands and to their lovely

wives as well.  Thank you for sharing this special event with me and letting me

appreciate another special event in your culture.

Thank you to :

bhttp://hinduism.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/p/karwachauth.htm

and

http://hinduism.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/p/karwachauth.htm

for the information about Karwa Chauth.