'Chatur Maas' is the time to exercise restraint

In Indian religions, one of the most widely followed customs is of Chatur Maas (four months). 

Every community of India  follows the custom, and some quite religiously.  Though the customs are quite similar and have the common objective of gaining  self-control, especially to control the greed for food, the significance differs from community to community. 

Tamilians observe only one month which is called ‘Addi’. The period of one month from July 15 to August 15 is totally dedicated to God and no activity for self is done.

“In fact, no auspicious activity is done during this period. We perform poojas for our late ancestors on Amavasya which comes in this month. Also, on all Fridays of this month, we perform special poojas for gods and goddesses,” said Dr Saroja Valarivan, executive committee member of Ahmedabad Tamil Sangam.

Why are no auspicious activities undertaken during this period?  She said there prevails  a belief in Tamil Nadu that if any activity is carried out during this month,  it gets repeated seven times. Some people do buy property or gold during these day to get more till seven years, but marriage is a strict no-no in this month, she says.

On similar lines, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have four months of strict fasting. During the first month, green leafy vegetables are given up.

People do not prepare any food item with green vegetables. During the second month, yoghurt is given up and not consumed at all for one month. Similarly, the third and fourth month, milk and pulses are respectively abandoned.

About the significance, people of the three states said that during these four months, several diseases raise their head and hence certain food items are restricted.

The Sindhi community follows the customs for 40 days, not four months. People fast, perform evening poojas and consume food only once a day. Speaking to DNA, manager of Jhulelal temple of the city, Omprakash Kherajani said, “To perform evening poojas at river banks, we Sindhis living in the city go to Indira bridge.

Also fasting for 40 days is common. It is believed in our community that for 40 days, one has to abstain from social life and certain food items so as to remain pure.”

Interestingly, the Havelis of the city do not observe fast or abstain from any food product. But instead, the swing of Lord Krishna is decorated with a different theme every day for one month. “We decorate the swing with dry fruits on one day and fruits on the other. Peacock feathers, green vegetables, gold, silver etc are used to decorate the swing and devotees get to see the swing in a totally new avatar each day. Lord Krishna is put in it and the swing is rocked back and forth to appease him,” said  Mayur Parekh, one of the volunteers at Vrajdham Haveli in the city.