For that reason, maintaining our beliefs is crucial for sustaining our ancient and valuble culture. I encourage all married women to pray for their husband’s long life via fasting and/or rituals, such as Karva Chauth. It will not make us less uneducated, instead it will help us to become devoted wives.

“Why don’t men fast for us?” – Because back in the time when this tradition began, most men were required to do back breaking work to support their familes, thus fasting would not be right for men, because if the men did not have energy to work, the children may starve to death. Instead the men give gifts such as churiyan and sari to their wives for fasting, thus its mutually beneficial.

I hope this answered your title question, Arnika.

BTW, Pati Parmeshwar Hai.