In a recent ruling, the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed a petition seeking the mandatory observance of Karva Chauth by all women. Narender Kumar Malhotra, a resident of Panchkula, Haryana, filed the plea, arguing that the tradition should apply to all women, including widows, who are often excluded from performing the rituals.
The division bench, consisting of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel, rejected the plea, stating that the matter falls within the domain of the legislature. The bench clarified that it would not interfere with the issue, as it is a legislative matter, according to a report by The Times of India.
Malhotra’s petition called for a law that would make Karva Chauth a mandatory practice for all women, claiming that certain women, particularly widows, were not allowed to observe the ritual. The petitioner also suggested declaring Karva Chauth as a special festival, proposing names like ‘Maa Gaura Utsav’ or ‘Maa Parvati Utsav,’ to honor the occasion as a celebration of good fortune for women.
While the court declined to entertain the plea, it allowed the petitioner to withdraw the case, imposing a token cost of Rs.1,000. The amount is to be deposited into a welfare fund for the poor at PGIMER Medical University in Chandigarh.
Karva Chauth is a significant Hindu ritual observed by married women, particularly during the Chaturthi of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik. The observance involves a strict nirjala vrat, where women fast from dawn until moonrise, refraining from food and water to pray for the longevity and well-being of their husbands. The fast is broken only after offering prayers to the moon and performing the Arghya ritual.
The court’s decision underscores the importance of maintaining the legislative framework around cultural practices, affirming that such matters should be left to lawmakers rather than the judiciary. The dismissal of the plea reflects the ongoing discussion on personal and religious freedoms, especially regarding traditional customs.
