Moonlit vows & mansion feasts — Karva Chauth on new high in Chandigarh Tricity

On the eve of Karva Chauth, the Tricity is glowing — not merely with street lights, but with enthusiasm, romance and commerce.

What was once a quiet, sacred fasting ritual has now morphed into a full-blown cultural festival, touching every market, mall, hotel and heart. From mehndi cones to chandeliers, from street bazaars to banquet halls, the city pulses in anticipation of moonrise and romance.

From Chandigarh’s Sectors 22, 15, 17, 18, 19, 26, 7, 8 and 35 to Mohali’s Phases 3B2, 7, 5, 9 and 10, and Panchkula’s Sectors 7, 8, 9, 14 and 17, shops and stalls glowed with festive energy. Women and girls, across age, creed and marital status, queued at mehndi stalls, jewellery counters and boutiques.

“At 8.30 in the morning we’d started getting frantic calls from our regular customers,” said Saira Begum, mehndi artist from Manimajra. “This year, clients bring Instagram prints and ask for customised art.”

Gift shops, apparel stores and jewellers reported surge in sales. “Karva Chauth is now our second Diwali,” said Sahil Jain, a leading jeweller in Sector 8. “We are seeing 60% growth over last year’s festival week despite skyrocketing metal prices.”

In a shift in tradition, many husbands and male partners are hosting Karva Chauth dinner parties on the eve, treating their fasting wives to elaborate candlelit meals. Leading hotels and fine-dine restaurants across Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula reported near-full bookings, often days in advance.

“Eve footfall is higher than a usual weekend,” said Narottam Singh, manager of a Chandigarh restaurant chain. “Couples are reserving two days ahead. Without a booking, you might have to wait hours for a seat.”

Liquor vendors, too, reported a notable uptick in sales with wine and premium spirits seeing high demand. “People are celebrating in advance, knowing tomorrow’s fast forbids indulgence,” said Shakti Singh, a manager of a Sector 40 liquor shop.

Symbolically and socially, this year sees more men fasting alongside their wives, beaus or partners, a throwback to equality and modern sensibility. Social media is abuzz with couples pledging to “fast together, feast together”.

“If she fasts for me, why shouldn’t I fast for her?” said Amit Verma of Mohali, gearing up for the fast. Breaking age-old custom, these men join in the moonlit vigil as equal participants, not just spectators.

Karva Chauth has become a lucrative ecosystem involving mehndi artists, event planners, DJs, caterers, boutiques and hosts. Anshu Seth, content strategist, remarked: “We’ve progressed from vrat, pooja and chandrama to full-scale event formats. Mehndi nights are now like shows. Special artists from Maharashtra and Rajasthan charge Rs 5,000-10,000 per lady.”

“Boutiques begin messaging clients a month in advance. Waiting till the last moment is risky,” said schoolteacher Vandana Kaushal.

Event manager Pankaj Singh added: “DJs, caterers and event planners find Karva Chauth a goldmine. The biggest parties are held even two or three days before. If you don’t pre-book, your couple might stand waiting at the restaurant.”

Meanwhile, salons offered bridal-level services — airbrush makeup, hair artistry, gold facials — all booked fully a week ahead.

Tricity traders estimate overall Karva Chauth spending at Rs 75-80 crore across sweets, garments, jewellery, beauty and hospitality sectors.

Jewellery sales were up 40-50 per cent, mehndi artists were earning Rs 5,000-15,000 in a day, salons and parlours reported full bookings, footfall nearly doubled, restaurant occupancy remained at 90-95 per cent, even on the eve, and liquor sales were up by 20-25 per cent at many outlets.

“Karva Chauth bridges devotion and commerce — it’s a one-day fast with week-long economic ripple,” said Vinay Kumar, president of the Traders Association.