'Curse of Sati': In this Mathura town, women avoid Karva Chauth fast to save husbands from death

According to a local myth, a newlywed bride, whose husband was murdered here, cursed this town. Now, most women believe that observing the traditional Karva Chauth fast will cost their husbands their lives.

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Karva Chauth
Karva Chauth. Photo: Kamir

In Short

  • Women in Surir believe that Karva Chauth fast will lead to their husband's death.
  • There is no scientific explanation for this belief.
  • As per a myth, a newlywed bride, whose husband was murdered, cursed Surir town.

Women across the country may be celebrating the Karva Chauth festival today, fasting and praying for the long life of their husbands, but there is a town in Mathura where it's believed that observing this fast will lead to the death of their spouse.

Although there is no scientific explanation for this belief, the women of Surir town in Mathura are steadfast in following this belief.

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According to a local myth, a newlywed bride, whose husband was murdered here, cursed this town. Now, most women believe that observing the traditional Karva Chauth fast will cost their husbands their lives.

Incidentally, there have also been some untimely deaths in this town that have only cemented this belief.

THE MYTH
Local resident Suresh Chand Sharma narrated the tale to India Today. Sharma says a Brahmin youth from Ram Nagla village was passing through Surir with his bride in a bullock cart on Karva Chauth, when some locals alleged that he had stolen the bulls on the cart. They then proceeded to beat him to death.

Furious at losing her husband, the woman is said to have cursed the entire locality. The widow is said to have subsequently killed herself by committed 'sati' on her husband's funeral pyre, further fuelling the superstition.

SATI TEMPLE
Sharma claims that after the incident, a number of local women lost their husbands after observing the Karva Chauth fast. This cemented the belief that 'Sati' has cursed the town. Since then the women here refrain from observing any fast on Karva Chauth and have even constructed a temple of 'Sati' where they pray on Karva Chauth for the long lives of their husbands.

In fact, Sunahari Devi, another local, claims that since the temple was built and the women began praying here, unnatural deaths of young men in this locality have stopped.

According to another local belief, before mounting his horse to bring home his new wife, a groom first prays before 'Sati' for her blessings and only after that, the wedding procession begins.