Happy Karwa Chauth!

Every culture, every religion have their very special fasts:

• Muslims fast during the 9th month of Muslim lunar calendar – it’s the Ramadan. No food, no drink, no even saliva in the mouth, no smoking, no sins.. from dawn till dusk. And then happy feasting at night. During Ramadan the day life goes slow, sometimes you can’t even buy any food for yourself – everything is closed to help believers.. I still remember my travel to Kyrgyzstan during Ramadan where we were drinking tea hiding from a colleague who was following Ramadan, just to help her to stay strong during the day:)
• Christians have a great Easter Fasting – the Lent. 40 days before Easter Sunday Christians are very strict in their diet, in particular they avoid meat and all kinds of food related to meat products. Lent commemorates the 40 days that Jesus spend fasting in the desert. Whether you follow this fasting or not, keep an eye on celebrations preceding Lent and Easter. They are lots of fun and joy. Especially in Spain (e.g. Holy week) and Russia (Pancakes week) 🙂 Read more about Easter celebrations.

These fasts are an act of self-denial and purification. It’s also very common to do lots of charity and prayers. All goodness comes out!

Traditionally the big fastings happen between winter and late summer. Historically these are the days when anyway there is not much food available or the weather conditions are such that some kind of fasting will be helpful:)

Autumn is the least appropriate time for fasting. In opposite, it’s time for feasting and enjoying the harvest:)

Surprisingly, it is Autumn when India celebrates probably the most important fast  – Karwa Chauth. It is just one day of fasting but apparently it’s the most challenging fast considering all the Autumn festivities which are full of partying and feasting: Durga Puja, Diwali – all happen in Autumn.

During the Karwa Chauth Indian women are super eager to see the Moon. Full day they are hungry, “angry” but cannot have food (It is truly a torture in Indian culture enjoying food so much). But when the moon rises in the sky everything changes. Women can eat. Men can eat with joy, too, not annoying their wives:) Parties are thrown. And moreover, women get beautiful gifts from their husbands for this heroic achievement – a day without food!

The Karwa Chauth is also an act of self-denial and prayer. Made by a woman for health and wealth of her husband, sons and male relatives.

Well, Indian men are very privileged! Where else there are festivals & fasts specially for men?:)

What can you do to signify your love and care for your partner?:)

Happy Karwa Chauth!

Wish you to see the moon soon!:)

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Get great Travel inspirations for Autumn:

• What to do in Autumn, incl. monthly travel recommendations
• Harvest festivals of Autumn, incl. Wine festivals
• Beautiful Lights festivals in Autumn
• Best and most fun marathons of Autumn

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