Lucknow: Remember the Karwa Chauth sequence in ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’, where love unfolds beneath the moonlit sky? For Marian Sharma, a Roman Catholic, Hindi films’ portrayal of the festival inspired a ritual that has become a deeply personal celebration of her marriage to Ravi Sharma.This year, her daughters-in-law joined her in the day’s prayers, carrying forward a practice rooted in mutual care and affection across generations. “It is a beautiful way of honouring someone who has stood by you,” she says, referring to her spouse.In a city shaped by Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, Karwa Chauth offered a glimpse into how cultural practices transcend religious boundaries. Across Lucknow, women from different faiths marked the occasion, praying for their husbands’ health and happiness or expressing devotion to the partners with whom they share their lives.For Vikasnagar resident Eram Asim, the day culminates in prayers for Asim Anjum’s well-being as the moon appears. Married for 28 years, the couple celebrates the occasion together, with her husband joining her in the day-long abstinence despite his busy schedule. Their families, too, extend their support, celebrating a partnership that has endured over the years.On the eve of Karwa Chauth, mehndi adorned her hands, with Asim’s name inscribed in Urdu. As she prayed for his well-being, he offered his own dua for her good health.Similarly, Emerenziana Yowanka Khongwir, a Christian, has embraced the ritual for six years, cherishing it as an expression of her commitment to marriage. Ahead of the festivities, her husband, Daksh, takes her shopping and gifts her a saree and other things.One gesture she particularly cherishes is his tying a hand gajra around her wrist, a tender symbol of his promise to care for her, and in return she dresses up for him in bridal finery.“This is my way of expressing gratitude to the man I chose to spend my life with,” says Khongwir, a Mall Avenue resident.
