While chatting with a friend yesterday, I had a realization about how subtly fear dictates our habits. We were talking about Karwa Chauth, which she had observed just a day prior. It led to a larger, uncomfortable question we rarely ask out loud: Why do we actually follow these rituals?
1. It’s Not About Belief—It’s About Conditioning
Let’s be honest: do most of us genuinely believe that skipping food and water for a day can mathematically increase our husband's lifespan? No, we don't. We know it’s a custom, not a superpower.
Yet, we still keep the fast. Why? Because we have been conditioned since childhood. Whether it’s Karwa Chauth, Vat Savitri, or any other puja traditionally kept by women for the health and longevity of husbands, brothers, or children, the script was written long before we were born.
2. The Curious Case of Modern Clothes vs. Ancient Guilt
Think about how our lifestyles have evolved. The modern Indian woman has seamlessly traded traditional sarees for comfortable jeans and work trousers. We don't wear glass bangles 24/7 like our mothers and grandmothers did.
Yet, while our wardrobes modernized effortlessly, our superstitions remained intact. Why?
Because deep down, a quiet, nagging fear lingers: What if?
What if something goes wrong? If a husband catches a mild fever the day after Karwa Chauth—just after a woman contemplated skipping the fast—she will instantly blame herself. That lingering guilt is powerful enough to keep us compliant. We are still not brave enough to detach our life's outcomes from an abandoned ritual.
3. From Community Connection to Instagram Competition
Historically, these elaborate rituals likely served a very different purpose. Back when television didn't exist and literacy rates among women were low, festivals offered a rare form of socialization. Elaborate meal preps, dressing up, and gathering together provided a much-needed break from grueling daily routines.
Even our mothers practiced these age-old customs, but they didn't have the pressure of constant commercialization. Today, the landscape looks entirely different.
Festivals have morphed into a high-speed social media race. My feed is flooded with reels showcasing designer sarees, intricate mehendi, and heavy ornaments. What used to be a community bonding exercise now often feels like a performance of perfection.
Will Gen Z Break the Cycle?
Everything in culture grows, peaks, and eventually transforms. I believe these fear-based rituals will see a sharp decline, likely led by Gen Z. I certainly don’t expect them to carry forward customs born purely out of anxiety—and frankly, I would applaud them for letting go.
We’ve already lowered the bar from forcing daily sarees to embracing comfortable jeans. It’s time we find the courage to drop the practices we maintain solely because we are afraid of what might happen if we don't.
No comments:
Post a Comment