At a time when technology has become a part of life, those celebrating traditional festivals like Karwa Chauth too are using the internet to perform rituals. The use of technology has lent a new form to this festival. Now women whose husbands are out of town or unavailable on the festival, preferto use the internet medium to use video-conferencing or web chat to view and chat with their husbands.
Gurpreet Kaur of Chakrata Road, who is celebrating her 12th KarwaChauth this year said, “My husband’s job involves a lot of touring and he often remains out of town. It feels bad to celebrate this festival in his absence but I really thank the latest technology which has made everything possible. On the occasion of Karwa Chauth I break my fast by video conferencing with my husband”, she said.
Rashmi Gupta a resident of lakshmi Road says, “This is an auspicious day, when we pray for the long and healthy life of our husband. This is my 22nd Karwa Chauth. I prefer performing the rituals by seeing photographs of my husband on internet whenever he is out of station.”
Women celebrate this festival by offering prayer to Goddess Gaura and ask for the long life of their husbands. Women observe a day long fast from sunrise to moon-rise and perform various rituals as per the Indian tradition. Various items including bindi, henna, vermilion and bangles are offered to Goddess Gaura on this day. Married women generally observe the day long fast and start their day early morning with sargi (refreshment taken by women). It is believed that Goddess Gaura bestows her blessings upon the fasting woman, her husband and family members, said Amarjeet Kaur a resident of Rajpur Road.
Elated Manorma Bhatt and Shikha Arora, who are celebrating their first and second Karwa Chauth this year respectively, said, “We started the preparation for the festival one month back including shopping of traditional wear and matching accessories”. They are excited that their husbands are not far away and they will be able to perform the rituals in their presence and wont have to depend on the internet.