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| Karva Chauth in Jammu | | Colourful streets , joyful women all the way | | Munish Gupta | 10/6/2009 11:24:46 PM |
| Jammu, Oct 6
Going through the bazaars of the city, one feels that women that rule the roost.The Capital’s markets wore a festive look today as married women were shopping for Karva Chauth. The festival will be observed tomorrow.
Resplendent with rows of colourful bangles and other Karva Chauth finery and delicacies, markets did a brisk business throughout the day.
Karva Chauth is one of the most eagerly awaited festivals in North India. Though married women observe the festival, it is becoming increasingly popular among unmarried girls. Aastha Sharma, 19, who was waiting for her turn to get “mehndi” applied on her palm by a henna artist, said that she would observe the fast for her boyfriend.
visit to various market places revealed that glitter is the buzzword this year. Right from embedded stones to the shimmering bangles in shades and hues, to Arabian mehndi, clothes with sparkle splashed all over, to sequined foot wear, every woman seemed ready to jazz up her style.
But the real rush is for those getting mehndi applied. Each market in the city was flooded with the artists and their demure customers. In spite of his age, Subodh, a 12-year-old boy from Bihar, is earning popularity, and more than Rs 1,000 a day by applying mehndi.
Babli, a mehndi artist said, ‘‘On an average, I apply mehndi on 25 to 30 hands a day’’. Price for the art varies from Rs 25 per hand to as high as Rs 150, depending on how intricate the design is’’.
Interestingly, as the crowds surged, so did the rates of different items. By late evening, the henna artists start charging anywhere between Rs 150 and Rs 250 per hand, but still there were enough customers.
It is not only the mehndi artists who are pulling crowd well-known hair care and skin care products manufacturing companies too are offering their products at discounted rates to woo the women.
It is the duty of every married woman to dress up and observe a complete fast on the day of Karva Chauth,” said Anita Sharma, who was busy purchasing glass bangles in the market.
She said, “It has been said if a woman observes fast on Karva Chauth, her husband is blessed with a long life. So she has to break the fast only after seeing the moon and the face of her husband.”
Married women for the long lives, prosperity and well being of their husbands observe Karva Chauth. The festival has a great social and cultural significance. The henna that a married woman applies and the colourful clothes that she wears to observe the festival signifies the happy married life.
The shopkeepers, however, feel that the rush is less as compared to last year. Though the sales have increased by 20 per cent in the last two days, the rising prices have put a dent on the shoppers’ splurge. But nothing to beat the festivity and the indulgence as the women, despite the inflation, seem quite willing to shop till they drop.
The festival has become popular in India due to the Hindi films and daily soaps on the TV. However, the increasing commercialisation and consumerism has ensured special gifts and cards for Karva Chauth. During the festival, markets get flooded with discounts and offers on sarees, jewellery and beauty products.
Meanwhile the J&K Police has maintain tight security arrangements by keeping the close circuit cameras and cops in the busy markets like Purani Mandi to avoid any mishappening . As per one of the police official the department besides men in Uniform has also deployed the cops in Civil dress to keep vigil on all the markets.
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