Lucknow: Love journeys from Azamgarh to Lucknow, arriving as a blessing in the form of a customised ‘sargi’ hamper for Aashiana resident Kajal Srivastava. Every Karwa Chauth, her mother-in-law, Bindu Srivastava, sends her the pre-dawn meal, gifted traditionally by elder women to their daughters-in-law.For the past seven years, the package she receives has included a handcrafted brass sieve adorned with a ‘Jai Mata Di’ scarf, lending a sacred touch to a ritual Kajal eagerly awaits. “While I pray for my husband’s long life, mummy prays for mine, with a heart full of care,” she says.Across Lucknow, mothers-in-law are making the festival memorable through personalised hampers, decorated sieves and ‘thalis’, and homemade sweets that convey warmth and acceptance.At Reshma Notani’s home, the occasion brings an annual exchange of sarees, star-and-mirror-adorned platters and a little mehndi before the festivities.For her daughters-in-law, Suchika and Ruchi Notani, these thoughtful offerings rekindle the excitement of newlywed life, demonstrating how simple gestures acquire deeper meaning over time.“The feeling of oneness is something my in-laws have nurtured throughout my 25 years of marriage,” says Suchika, an Aashiana resident.In Alambagh, Ramanpreet Kaur has found a new way to observe the sargi ritual following her mother-in-law’s demise. Her husband, Harsh, now brings her a hamper before dawn and offers her the first bite of dry fruit, ensuring the family’s cherished practice endures.For Khushi Singh, set to marry on Nov 24, the celebrations have already begun. Her future in-laws have sent her 16 bridal gifts, including heirloom jewellery, a saree, hand gajras, a handmade thaal and an embellished ceremonial sieve for her first Karwa Chauth as a bride-to-be. Each keepsake carries an unspoken message of acceptance: “You belong here.”“This has reassured me that I have made the right choice,” says Singh, admiring the gifts at her Bhootnath home with a soft smile.
