Ratna Pathak Shah expressed how women in the 21st century are still following age-old traditions like Karwa Chauth, a Hindu ritual in which a woman fasts and prays for her husband’s long life.
Ratna Pathak on Karva Chauth
Actress Ratna Pathak Shah, who is the wife of Naseeruddin Shah is worried that how society is becoming more conservative. In a recent interview, Ratna also said that India could become like Saudi Arabia as it’s very very convenient.
The 65-year-old spoke about how women in the 21st century are still following age-old traditions like Karwa Chauth (a Hindu ritual in which a woman fasts and prays for her husband’s long life). She also said that she was asked for the first time last year if she will observe ‘Karwa Chauth’ fast for her husband.
“Our society is becoming extremely conservative. I feel that very strongly. We are becoming superstitious, we are being forced into accepting and making religion a very important part of one’s life. Suddenly everyone’s talking about, ‘Karva Chauth ka vrat nai kar rahe hai aap?’. Till today no one has asked me this, last year was the first time someone asked me about it,” she said.
“I said, ‘Pagal hun main?’ Isn’t it appalling that modern educated women do Karva Chauth, praying for the lives of husbands so that they can have some validity in life? Widow in the Indian context is a horrible situation, isn’t it? So anything that keeps me away from widowhood. Really? In the 21st century, we are talking like this? Educated women are doing this,” she added.
“We are moving towards an extremely conservative society. The first thing a conservative society does is clamp down on its women. Look at all the conservative societies in this world. Women are the ones who are most affected. What’s the scope of women in Saudi Arabia? Do we want to become like Saudi Arabia? And we will become because it’s very very convenient. Women provide a lot of unpaid labour within the home. If you have to pay for that labour, who will do it? Women are forced into that situation,” she added.
Twitter Reactions
As soon as the remarks surfaced on the internet, netizens were quick to troll the actress.
When a Hindu festival is celebrated in the open, they send Abdul and Shahrukh with stones.
When a Hindu festival is celebrated inside, they send #RatnaPathakShah
— Princess Woke Liberal ?️? (@Pwokeliberal) July 28, 2022
Modern women earing hijab is ‘Freedom of choice’
Modern women doing Karva Chauth is ‘Appalling’!!
कहाँ से लाते हो इतना दोगलापन??#RatnaPathakShah #RatnaPathakShah #KarvaChauth #Hijab
— Gonika Arora (@AroraGonika) July 28, 2022
Woke modern women like #RatnaPathakShah and Twinkle Khanna leave no stone unturned to mock or insult Hindu Culture. Girls its ok if u don't celebrate #KarwaChauth but, pls don't insult the age rituals your dadis & nanis have been following
— PragT.Dt (@SaRaPragT) July 28, 2022
Look at this ugly shameless Bollywood actress #RatnaPathakShah who openly criticizing Hindu culture and women. #Bollywood is practicing Hindu hatred in its films. So I support this #BoycottbollywoodForever
And u also support and boycott Bollywood and its actors. pic.twitter.com/WZLLo4FvbA— Nandini Das (@DasNandini97) July 28, 2022
#RatnaPathakShah if your husband is not worth to keep fast for, doesn't mean no one can. We have worthy husbands n we love to observe fast for them.
By the way don't you think Hijab is regressive and that gives Saudi feeling? https://t.co/XPuWqkOxKE— Ritika Wali ?? (@RitikaWali) July 28, 2022
So guys Halala,Mutah,hijab, polygamy, triple talaq r symbols of progressive society & Karva chauth is regressive for secular #RatnaPathakShah waise she is married with a Islamist #naseeruddinshah so feel her pain..she is still in marriage yahi bahut badi baat hai?#KarvaChauth pic.twitter.com/C5xpbFmTaM
— karuna Tyagi(Proud Hindu) (@K_tyaagii) July 28, 2022
#RatnaPathakShah is a living example of how 40 years of #LoveJihad could totally hamper the mindset of a person.
– Issued in public interest
???— Wondering Woman ?? (@indiclogic) July 28, 2022
Anti hindu #RatnaPathakShah may be in #depression now as she can't utter a word against halala, hijab n all coz she know the consequences….triple talaq or "Sar tan se juda" #BoycottbollywoodForever #depression https://t.co/a6vyMOAlkA
— Suneita guptaa (@sunita_06) July 28, 2022
Naseeruddin shah's wife,Ratna Pathak:Modern women doing Karva Chauth is appalling.India turning into Saudi
But
School going girls demanding Hijab
M men marrying dozens of women
Sar Tan Se Juda zombies ki/lling in the name of religion is Progressive pic.twitter.com/N1jIJOAggw— Shruti (@kadak_chai_) July 28, 2022
#RatnaPathakShah is Muslim. Her husband is Muslim. Her sons are Muslim. In her religion women don't have equal property rights, men can have 4 wives women can't, underage girls are legally married.
Therefore she thinks Karwa Chauth makes India Saudi Arabia. #KarwaChauth #WTC23 pic.twitter.com/X5cTyD1rmy
— Priyanka Tiwari (@iamptiwariz) July 28, 2022
Ratna Pathak Shah thinks 'India Turning Into Saudi' as Women still follow Karva Chauth.
Woke Libbies while giving Gyaan to Modern Women on
Karva Chauth Hijab, Burqa pic.twitter.com/B2nkPSuuFA
— g0v!ñD $#@®mA (@rishu_1809) July 28, 2022
