Sudipta Mishra, Puri, 15 May 2023
From time immemorial, we have been fasting. “We” here means a woman and every woman who believes in the rituals and traditions of our country.
On this glorious day, a married Hindu lady fasts for her husband and takes a lot of strain to maintain her integrity by letting no stone unturned. In this Amavasya Tithi, millions of women fast for the well-being of their husbands with great devotion and dedication.
For a long time, this has been continuing. I have never seen a husband who keeps a fast and wishes for the wellness of his wife.
According to medical science, it’s fruitful to keep a fast for at least one day a week. Then why doesn’t a husband dedicate a day to the longevity of his beloved wife? I am not a feminist. I only desire equal treatment from society.
Let’s unveil the dirty scenario:
Breaking News: On the auspicious day of Savitri, a drunkard husband beats his wife and the wife succumbs to her injuries.
And there is another side of the story also. Hence, the moral of the story is a relationship should be valued and honored by both parties.
Festivals are meant to enjoy cherished moments with your loved ones. A good relationship always seeks parity with a tint of acceptance and respect. A lady who is fasting for her husband needs love and some percentage of attention. Nobody is forcing a husband to remain thirsty and hungry throughout the day. A lady only yearns for affection for the selfless sacrifice she renders for her family for years.
Celebrate the festival with a flavor of compassion. Be empathic to your loved ones. Festivals are meant to be enjoyed. Nobody should misinterpret the meaning of festivals.
Responsibilities also encompass sharing and caring for the burden of each other in a family. One should not accomplish their duties only by satiating materialistic things.
A festival always demands commitment from the members of a family. So when a wife wishes and prays for the interest of her spouse, in return, she should be offered some kind of loyalty from her better half. She deserves the kind attention of her companion only.
Let’s fix the pure meaning of a festival by celebrating a primary bond between our body and mind.
And a couple must understand the meaning of Brata Savitri. Why does our Goddess Savitri embark on an unimaginable quest? Why did she rebel against death?
Because she didn’t consider her husband and herself as two individuals and vice versa. Her spouse was also breathing with her essence. This mythical story has a lofty significance for our society. We need to realize it.
The idea behind this celebration is to glorify the oneness of husband and wife like Siva and Sakti. Every festival signifies high cultural values in our country. Particularly, the idea behind this celebration is to glorify the oneness of husband and wife like Siva and Sakti.
It’s the celebration of the manifestation of Ardhanariswera, where two people merge into one entity. One fails to attach identity in the absence of the other one. This abstract and sublime kind of love is beyond the understanding of trivial people.
Hence, to stabilize and boost the importance of marriage and our rich heritage, we need to commemorate such a lively festival even once a year.
We need to brush off the archaic mindset of putting the burden on the shoulders of a lady to bear the entire pressure to justify her chastity every time. Her partner is needed to uphold the dignity of marriage by acknowledging the values of such festivals where both of them can display the same amount of love for each other.
Let’s shower the petals of care and affection for the women of our lives – daughters, mothers, and sisters, and each woman with whom we can relate.
Support them by choice, not by force!
