Karva Chauth - A must see festival

Overview

                         Karva Chauth is a one day festival celebrated by the Hindu women in North India. During the festival married women fast from sunrise to moon rise for the welfare, prosperity, well being and longevity of their husbands. The festival falls on the Kartik ki Chauth which means the fourth day of the waning moon or the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Kartik. According to the English calendar, the festival falls in October or November. The term Chauth means the forth day and karva is a pot with a spout – a symbol of peace and prosperity which has been seen in most of the Hindu rituals.

The ritual

                      The Hindu wives fast from sunrise to moon rise without taking any food or water. They get up early in the morning to perform the poojas and wear new and festive raiment. Mother in law give their daughters in law sumptuous food called “ Sargi” to eat before sunrise as the fast starts before sunrise and ends only after worshiping the moon at night. The Lord Shiva, his wife Parvati and their sons Karthik, Ganesh and the moon are worshiped on this day along with the ten ‘karwas’ (pots) filled with sweets.

In the evening women dress up with special clothes usually a red or pink sari with golden woven patterns. The new brides often wear their bridal costume. All of them dressed up beautifully with ornaments , henna on their hands and decorative Bindis on their forehead. The fasting women from the neighborhood gather together for the rituals and narrate the mythological stories of Karva Chauth.

                            The women sit around the image with the baya ( a basket full of sweets, fruits and a saree which is meant for the mother in law ). Each woman also places a karva ( pot ) or a pitcher full of water and seven pieces of pua ( a special sweet prepared for the festival)  in front of her . It is adorned with kharia, aipun and a little roli. A red thread is tied around the karva (pot). At the beginning of the pooja women apply the roli teeka to the Goddess and also for themselves. With the thumb and the third finger of the right hand, water is sprinkled on the image of the Goddess. The same procedure is followed with aipun and roli. Lastly rice is showered on the image.

In the modern days

                      The festival has become a fashion symbol of the modern era. The Bollywood has a significant role in adding style and glamour to the festival. Even unmarried women are also fasting these days for their fiancés or desired husbands even though it's against the tradition. Social clubs are organizing special events during the evening which includes various cultural programs and events of fun and entertainment.

Tourism

               Karva Chauth is a must see festival as it is one of the most unique festival in which the wives fast for the well being of their beloved husbands. Most restaurants have special menus for this day. The events during the evening is so colorful with music, dance, bangles bindies and so on. 

                                                                     **************************** 

                      Have you experienced the festival of Karva Chauth ? If so, share your views and  experience with the fellow readers. 

 

A hug to death

A hug to death

Tomorrow when my soul leaves me,

I hope there would be someone,

Who will shed a tear for me.

A drop of a tear, a drop of love,

That binds us together in this world.

Love is my greatest strength,

And love is my greatest weakness,

Through my strength and weakness,

I felt the beauty of this world.

And as I opened my eyes,

I saw the joy of the souls,

Those who has been liberated,

From the sufferings of this world.

Everyone has to leave,

Leave this world of dreams,

There is a time that we all have to leave.

To the world of heavenly peace.

Forgive me my dear ones,

Here’s my time to leave,

Leave this world of my dear ones,

To the world of oneness and peace.

And my soul rejoices,

The beauty of the death,

A hug to the angel,

The angel of the death.

Beautiful Arabia

Introducing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia                                                   

Saudi Arabia- An Overview                          

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (K.S.A) is the largest oil producer in the world and has the world's largest oil reserves. The Kingdom has centuries old traditions and culture. Saudi Arabia, as the cradle of Islam has many of the most significant historic Muslim sites including the two holiest cities of Mecca and Medina. K.S.A is also known as "the land of the two holy mosques" and the king "the custodian of the two holy mosques". 

"Change in concept"

                           The real picture of the kingdom is largely unknown to the rest of the world. Most of the stories known to the outer world are a cocktail of myth and reality. No other country in the world is as misunderstood as Saudi Arabia. KSA is so unique in its own way of life, culture, heritage, natural beauty and rules. The visitors from the outside world find it so difficult to adjust with the culture as well as the rules of the country. But those who can build a rapport with the culture can surely enjoy the splendid Arabia.

Travel & Tourism

 Saudi Arabia is one of the most extraordinary and diverse destinations in the world. Tourists can experience the deserts, the mountains, the valleys, the beaches, ancient and modern historical sites. The historic locations such as Al Hijr (Madain Saleh) and Al Derrah are in the UNESCO World Heritage List. 

"Deserts of Saudi Arabia"

                         Desert is the most prominent feature of the Kingdom. More than half of the area is desert. Rub Al Khali (Empty Quarter) in the southern part of the country is one of the most famous sand desert.

Desert Hiking

"The fittest will survive"

A few tips for hiking in the desert;

• One should carry minimum five litres of water per person for drinking only.
• Trekking food is all about weight and energy. You eat to survive, not to enjoy yourself.
• Less luggage means more comfort
• Its better to be in cotton shirts and shorts or pants during summer and woolen jacket or sweater during winter.
• Sunhat and sunscreen with high SPF is a must.
• Trekking shoes or running shoes will be a plus point instead of normal footwear.
• Careful with the snakes and scorpions.

"Desert Driving"

Desert driving will be a different experience for the visitors. Although most of the desert driving excursions is organized by individual drivers or operators outside the kingdom, we can find a lot of buggy or ATV rentals throughout the roadside of the outskirts of the major cities.

"Jet Skiing at Half Moon Beach"

Apart from the deserts, Saudi Arabia has a number of beaches which attracts tourists as well as domestic travelers. One of the most beautiful living coral reefs is located beneath the Red sea and the Arabian Gulf. Wind surfing, sailing and waterskiing are also most popular pastimes along the Saudi Coast.

The Jabal Al Qarah Caves (Mount Qarah)

"Mount Qarah"

The Jabal Qarah (Mount Qarah) is at a distance of 10 kilometer from Hofuf . Hufuf is a city in the well-known Al Hasa Oasis of the Eastern Region. Hufuf lies about 140 km southwest of Dammam and 300 km east of Riyadh. Jabal Qarah is well known for its intricate natural caves and is a major tourist attraction.

Art and Culture

"Clay Pottery"

 Saudi Arabia has centuries old attributes and traditions, often derived from the Arab tribal civilization, Islamic heritage and historical role as an ancient trade centre. The society has developed over the past several decades. The Saudi people had taken their values, traditions, customs and their hospitality and adapted them to the modern world.

"A traditional dance during a wedding"

Music and dance have always been part of Saudi life. Traditional music is generally associated with poetry. Among the native dances, the most popular is a martial line dance known as the "ardah", which includes lines of men, frequently armed with swords or rifles, dancing to the beats of drums and tambourines. 

Sports

"Warm up before the match"

Both traditional and modern sports are popular in Saudi Arabia. The people have enjoyed sports for thousands of years, including horse and camel racing. Football is the national sport of Saudi Arabia. Saudis of all ages have taken the game to the heart.

Badminton, cricket, volleyball and basketball are so popular among the expatriates in Saudi Arabia. Indoor games such as bowling and snooker are also gaining popularity in the country.

"Bowling"

Nightlife

"Nightlife"

Nightlife in Saudi Arabia is sizzling with activity. Due to the high temperatures during the day and low temperatures at night, Saudis, expats as well as the visitors prefer to go around during the night. Its so exciting cruising around the corniche road, shopping, food, fishing etc.

Safety

The kingdom has one of the lowest crime rates in the world due to regular police presence in the public. Respecting the laws and the social conventions are the basic guidelines to keep you safe.

Photography in Saudi Arabia

According to the laws of Saudi Arabia, one can take pictures in public. The ministry of tourism has allowed it. And with the introduction of modern cell phones with their inbuilt cameras, society had finally started accepting photos being taken. However, it would be safe to follow the below guidelines;

• It’s better not to show off with your camera, some people may become offensive.
• Always ask before you take the photo of a person, even in public.
• Do not shoot women if you are a male photographer.
• Avoid capturing government buildings

Apart from the above, try not to be in the same area for too long while taking pictures.

Explore the Kingdom

        Are you ready to explore the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia? If you have already experienced the rhythm of the kingdom feel free to share your views, suggestions and your valuable experiences.