They are the hands that feed and clothe us as children. As we grow, the mother in them never ceases to function. They are a perennial source of support and take this aspect of their being and functioning most seriously. For the most part, the kitchen is their domain, whipping up delights for the family in frenzied fashion. During festivals, this mode goes into overdrive. This is the life of the average Indian woman. As Ganesh Chaturthi steadily approaches, many women don their cape and take on the myriad responsibilities that their shoulders bear during the auspicious occasion. The work that goes into the processes is laborious. While the men-folk undertake the
physical labour of the festival such as decoration and helping out with fireworks, women contribute a lot on the culinary front. “It is a festival that is a very warm occasion. Everybody is welcome. Therefore there is a lot of cooking involved. Preparation can include the cooking of 300
portions of modak and nevri in a day. It can get a tad exhausting, but is well worth it, when you see the satisfied looks on peoples’ faces,” says homemaker Kesar Naik from Shirvodem. One interesting point to be noted is the fact that the role of the ‘woman in charge’ is always in a state of evolution. “Assuming that there are three brothers and each of them is married, it is the duty of the wife of the eldest brother to take charge. By taking charge, she not only has to undertake a greater share of the responsibilities involved, but also help mentor
the other wives so that they are also prepared to take on this mantle if and when required,” says new bride Jahnavi Savaikar from Mangeshi. As work routines and corporate sector demands begin to take their toll, some women find it increasingly more taxing to deliver what is required of them. “Festivals are now taxing to an extent. With the advent of the working class Indian woman, time is a resource that is a rare commodity. Yet, we try to work our schedules around it, because it is an occasion that comes just once a year and as such, the dedication required is not ever-lasting. It is also that one time when you are reminded that come what may, at the end of the day, there’s always your faith and your family to keep you going,” says Reema Kamat from Panjim. Therefore, the consensus is, that whether new bride or old, whether chained and bound to the workplace or not and whether the rigours of the festival take their toll, the celebrations during
Chaturthi make it all worthwhile.
