Gay couples observe karwa chauth in Nagpur city

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Gay couples observe karwa chauth in city

Soumittra S Bose, TNN 9 October 2009, 05:37am IST

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NAGPUR: Like Moon, marriage may be a distant dream for them but not the sacred ritual of karwa chauth. Several

same sex couples in city, ducking

the eyes of moral police, dared to followed the ceremony traditionally observed by Hindu women for well-being of their partners.

The gays who set their shackled feminine soul free on the special day, observed fast for their partners seemed like a dutiful wife praying for husband’s long life. A handful of them gathered at Kasturchand park flooded by moonlight, away from the watch of the buzzing city, to witness three gays offering aartis to their partners on the occasion of holy karwa chauth on Wednesday.

Amidst applause and encouragement of their community members, they completed the rituals by lighting a diya, seeing the moon and then breaking fast by accepting sweets from their partners. “Chand kal bahut pyara nikla tha! (It was an endearing Moon yesterday). I loved seeing it as I saw my partner’s face. I kept fast the entire day just for that moment,” said gay and lesbian rights activist Pawan who claimed to be following the ritual for five years. “We had brought all materials for the ritual and performed it with due devotion and love which is not less than any married woman,” Pawan said. He said he was delighted to receive a ‘surprise’ gift from his partner. Vidya (name changed) had come down from Mumbai for the ritual.

“We were enthralled by the occasion. Our wish is also to get decked up like a dedicated ‘dulhan’ (bride) and perform aarti of our boyfriends whom we consider our ‘Dulha’ (groom). This brings us closer,” said Vidya who too has switched to activism to bring happiness in the lives of ‘her’ community members. ‘She’ claimed she did it just for the ‘feel-good’ factor that occasion brought.