Female power
I have always felt that in the Indian society women are the stronger of the two sexes, emotionally that is. I have seen this in my mother and many other women around me that they are very selfless and emotionally very strong and at most times they are the foundation of the family. But their financial dependence on their spouses and the value system inculcated (pati parmeshwar - husband is God like) in them had led them to take a lot from their husbands without revolting. But of late with more women in the work force and their being financially independent the cases of divorces and re-marriages, a taboo in the past, are on a rise.
In the past many practices like Sati (the willful immolation by wife on the funeral pyre of her husband) and Jauhar (communal Sati by Rajput women in case their army lost to invaders - to protect heir honour) spoke volumes about their devotion and loyalty. Personally I don't approve of the practices and with time they were banned but still there is a case or two after a few years where women would try to commit Sati as there is a huge prestige attached to the act and the women are worshiped as Goddess with temples devoted to them in certain parts of India.
In the Hindu pantheon there is a very important place for consorts of the male Gods namely Parvati, Sita, Durga and Kali etc hence the female divine or Shakti has an integral role in the Hindu religion.
With changing time the traditional roles at home are being blurred with women, especially in the urban landscape, enjoying much more freedom of choice and action. But one day in the year i.e. the festival of Karva Chauth (which falls on 29th October this year) women in the northern part of India observe a day long fast without food and water for the long lives of their husbands. Most women would apply henna on their hands and dress up in their best clothes. They get gifts from their parents, in-laws and husband. In the evening the women break their fast after seeing the moon in the sky.
It is strange how in India a married women is adorned by so many signs of her being 'taken'. Their is the bindi, sindoor, bangles, mangalsutra etc while there are no such 'badges' that the male population have to display. Some people have started to exchange rings but it is more of a western influence. I guess though some people may see these festivals as regressive in terms of female emancipation but I guess such traditions form an integral part of our culture and add some much needed change to the monotony of life.
These are some of the gifts that my sister got from Mum and me on Karva Chauth and she'd get more from her hubby and in-laws. Not a bad deal I guess....
Photo Credit : Kamat's Potpourri
In the past many practices like Sati (the willful immolation by wife on the funeral pyre of her husband) and Jauhar (communal Sati by Rajput women in case their army lost to invaders - to protect heir honour) spoke volumes about their devotion and loyalty. Personally I don't approve of the practices and with time they were banned but still there is a case or two after a few years where women would try to commit Sati as there is a huge prestige attached to the act and the women are worshiped as Goddess with temples devoted to them in certain parts of India.
In the Hindu pantheon there is a very important place for consorts of the male Gods namely Parvati, Sita, Durga and Kali etc hence the female divine or Shakti has an integral role in the Hindu religion.
With changing time the traditional roles at home are being blurred with women, especially in the urban landscape, enjoying much more freedom of choice and action. But one day in the year i.e. the festival of Karva Chauth (which falls on 29th October this year) women in the northern part of India observe a day long fast without food and water for the long lives of their husbands. Most women would apply henna on their hands and dress up in their best clothes. They get gifts from their parents, in-laws and husband. In the evening the women break their fast after seeing the moon in the sky.
It is strange how in India a married women is adorned by so many signs of her being 'taken'. Their is the bindi, sindoor, bangles, mangalsutra etc while there are no such 'badges' that the male population have to display. Some people have started to exchange rings but it is more of a western influence. I guess though some people may see these festivals as regressive in terms of female emancipation but I guess such traditions form an integral part of our culture and add some much needed change to the monotony of life.
These are some of the gifts that my sister got from Mum and me on Karva Chauth and she'd get more from her hubby and in-laws. Not a bad deal I guess....Photo Credit : Kamat's Potpourri
2 comments:
Nice post. You're a very responsible and generous brother. :)
Thanks!! But it's Dad's moolah and Mum's generosity.
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