Karva Chauth celebrated with traditional fervour in Amritsar

The city was all decked up for Karva Chauth celebrations with women fasting and having fun while performing traditional ceremonies. Special events were held to mark the festival and clubs and hotels in the city made arrangements for exciting activities for the day to keep the ladies high on energy.

Elegantly dressed married women went out for shopping and participated in events specially designed to engage them. They also walked the ramp. Archna Thakur, an organiser of a programme at a resort on the Albert road, said women put on display their finery and style for the title of Karva Chauth Queen and other competitions.

Another colourful programme was organised in a resort on the Airport road in which heart surgeon Dr Manan Anand and Dr Maxima Anand distributed prizes to the winners of different contests, including music, singing, solo dance, skits, gidha, bhangra and others.

It was otherwise a tough day for women who kept a fast but these activities helped distract them from the rigour of the day, said Rachna Mehra, a participant. “We had a fun-filled afternoon and also adjudged winners in different categories between 25 to 45 years of age.”

Hotels, resorts, clubs and others organised activities like card playing, tarot reading, henna and carving tattoos for their members. Stalls lined up in the bylanes of the walled city and at Karva Chauth hot spots where women and young girls gathered to buy sparkling bangles in every possible colour.

Beauty salons and wellness experts too made the day special for the womenfolk with discount offers on make-up and beauty treatments, which caught the attention of many. Women could be seen applying henna on their hands for the big day.

Sweet shops did brisk business offering sweet and plain ‘maathi’, a round slice made up of maida (refined flour), which is dipped in sugar syrup. Dry fruits are sprinkled on it. Another tradition sweet for the occasion ‘Pheniyan’ is also prepared on the day. Both these items are traditionally consumed and gifted during the festival.