Fasting and feasting

I came across a lot written about fasting. My source of information was the Facebook. The reason why I choose this topic is that people like to comment and form an opinion, no matter whether they qualify to do so. We have an opinion and we look for people around to impose it on. Then there's the herd mentality, one opinion and thousands endorsing it.

I am in no way critising anyone, its just the thought and a few misconceptions that I am talking about. I respect ever individual for their thoughts and expressions but in no way do I accept the ignorance and little information that's used as a weapon to hide inadequacies. Here's the incident that inspires me to think and write about.Women especially the North Indians fast for Karwa Chauth, which generally falls in the month of October - November every year. They don't even have water till they see the moon in the evening and first offer water to the moon. This is believed to be for the long life of their husbands. This year Karwa Chauth was on 2nd November. When women were fasting, a lot of people were talking about it and discussing the occasion / ritual in their own way. Some of them were of the opinion that the women were after getting expensive gifts from their husbands. As the ritual is to wear new clothes and adornments of the married women. 

There were some who said, "Our celestial accountants are working hard today . . .adding life to gentlemen whose wives dutifully deprive themselves of food and water". Some people felt that it literally meant bitter pill (karwa Chauth). And some thought that it came from the Yash Chopra movies and had a lot of glamour  attached to it. In reality its just a day of fasting and the remaining 364 days were spent finding faults in their better or bitter halves.Some of them said that it was a hypocrisy a high drama. Some women wanted expensive sarees and jewellery  and wanted to be pampered by their husbands and in laws. Women are career oriented these days and earn, may be as good as their husbands, they can very well buy what they wish to.


This definitely could be from their own experiences. Men who feel they are adored one day in the year and the wife is after them for the remaining days of the year. Its their own personal equation with their spouse. What they experience is what they express. I have nothing against this and I am certainly not being a bra burning feminist here.

Now these are the people who don't follow the ritual, What I ask is if you don't walk the path how does the road to the destination matter to you? How can you write a travelogue just by sitting at your comfort desk?

In India, fasting is an integral part of our culture. I am not talking about superstition here, neither am I talking about any religion. Its just a part of our culture ... period! I am an educated woman, come from a liberal family. Was always given the right to choose my own path and decide my own journey. I made all the choices in my life! 

In the Hindu calendar (Me being a Hindu) would like to add here that fasting is done on many occasions by both men and  women, young or old. Hindu sages learnt the importance of fasting thousands of years ago and they believed it to be a healthy way of living. Scientifically speaking also, it is considered to be good for health as one gives rest to the stomach and the digestive system. There is a kind of  rest to the body and its vital organs and  its not deprivation of any kind. But yes, one should be physically fit to fast. Even in other religions there's a mention of fasting be it Ramadan or lent. Hindus Fast during Shravan, Navratri, Puranmasi, Ekadashi, Chaturthi, Janamashtami, Shivratri to mention a few.

There are many ways to fast, some take only water, some take fruits and fruit juices some even have a few roots such as potatoes and sweet potatoes but they don't have any salt. If you look at these food groups they are good for one's system and also kind of give rest to the digestive machinery. One learns to control their mind and the urge to indulge (even when a fabulous spread of some of the best food is laid in front of them). Its about controlling mind and body. Also a bit of detoxification of the body. 

Biodun Awosusi  (Yahoo contributor network) has to say the following:

• Fasting Promotes detoxification
• Fasting Rests Digestive System
• Fasting Resolves Inflammatory Response
• Fasting Reduces Blood Sugar
• Fasting Increases Fat breakdown
• Fasting Corrects high blood Pressure
• Fasting Promotes Weight loss
• Fasting Promotes Healthy diet
• Fasting Boosts Immunity
• Fasting May Help to Overcome Addictions

I have seen my mother fasting, she still does for various occasions and so is my mother in law. I started to observe the occasional fasting when I was in college and after my marriage I try to observe the fasts that are meant for the married women. I fast on Mondays, that I have been doing for very long now. Again no one asked me to its just that I like following it and being in touch with my roots. Like the other women of my generation I like dressing up be it a skirt, shorts or our very own saree. I love interacting on the social media just the way I love my occasional drinks.  Where is 'putting an act' here. I guess unless one knows the reason behind such rituals there's certainly no need to dissect the others who follow them.  

Fasting for occasions like Karwa Chauth is also a kind of social function for women, where they gather and celebrate the occasion. In the olden days, it was a day of rest and celebrations for the women folk. It was very different from the way the festival is celebrated now, with over the top emotions and whole lot of drama. My mother in law told me what she was told by hers and that's what I try to follow. Most of the fasts conclude with feasts. We Indians are a nation of hopeful people. We celebrate and indulge, for us everything is king-size. That's how we are and we should be proud of who we are! Please note that when I say "I" its not just "Me" but many women of my generation.

PS

I'll keep with my promise of writing about Abhilash Tomy in my posts till he is back from his historic voyage.

(Abhilash Tomy is attempting to be the first Indian on a solo non stop unassisted circumnavigation of the globe)

The officer has completed one month of his voyage, he says 30 days gone and 150 to go. I would put it slightly differently, 1 month down and 5 to go. So everything is manageable and fits in the fingers, in just one hand. 

Talking about fasting, I am sure Tomy too exercises the aspect of fasting and feasting. He must be judicious in his use of the allotted ration, that he is carrying with him to last the entire voyage. Also, the kind of self control that he posses has to be commendable. He needs to plan and eat wisely, no overdoing  and of course no under doing either. Just the right amount of calorie intake and best use of his energies. He sure must be meditating to overcome the occasional frustrations that he might be facing being all my himself on the voyage.

To know more about Lt. Cdr Tomy and his boat the Mhadei, follow he link below.

Check: www.sagarparikrama2.blogspot.com

            www.Facebook.com/www.mhadei.co.in