HOW CAN LIFE BE PROLONGED BY A DAY’S FAST?

Sahib Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji right from childhood had condemned the useless rituals like janeu, rubbing ash on body, fasting, shedding clothes, reciting mantras, performing yagnas, sacrificing in the name of religion, sati custom and similar rituals which bring no gain to life. The same Jot traveled from 2nd to 10th Nanak and they also guarded the values put forth by Baba Nanak. The details on why these rituals should not be practiced can be found in Hymns of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. One of these rituals has found a large following in Sikh women in our times and that is Karva Chauth.Sikh women observing Karva Chauth indulge in such useless rituals because of three reasons – their narrow mindedness, influence of a society spoilt with futile practices and lack of knowledge. They are caught in this web as they are deprived of teachings of Gurbani and lack knowledge of what the true fasting is.On the Karva Chauth day, the women fast for the whole day and don’t partake food, or even drink a drop of water. Even unmarried girls are asked to observe fast to get a good husband. In the evening, they listen to a funny story from a lady Brahmin. They eat to break their fast only when moon is up. Many fall sick due to starvation. The purpose of this ritual is to wish prolonged life for their husbands. Even if the husband is a useless fellow and abuses his wife everyday, the wife must faithfully keep the fast. In other words this ritual pushes the women towards slavery. Why a man does not fast wishing long life for his wife?There was an instance in Jalalabad (West) in Ferozepur district of Punjab three years back where a man was climbing up the water tank on the roof of his house to search of whether the moon is visible or not. He slipped and lost his life. But as they say in Punjabi, the crazy do not have horns.In today’s scientific world where men and women have equal rights such useless rituals do not hold water. The answer to the pertinent question as to how can one save the life of another person just by keeping a day’s fast, lacks explanation.If the rituals like Karva Chauth could prolong the lives then there would be no history of husband deaths prior to their wives but the facts are otherwise. The soldiers won’t die on battle fronts if Karva Chauth is effective.Like this useless fast there can be a long and useless discussion, as those who follow rituals with blind faith cannot see logic. It is churning water to get butter.