Lugging four shopping bags, Tanmay is glowing. Wednesday is his big day when he will fast for his partner’s well being. The 26-year-old belongs to the growing breed of gays in Ahmedabad who are quietly gearing up for Karva Chauth—a ritual ususally performed by a wife for her husband. Only, the men will have a different prayer to chant—they’ll ask god to make them a woman in next life. While most are going to make it a no-food affair, some have decided to follow the traditional ‘nirjal’ (without water) fast to pray for long lives of their boyfriends. From applying homemade face packs to buying new clothes, they are going about it just like women. Says Dipak, a 29-year-old engineer, “I am going to fast for my boyfriend’s long life. Though I won’t apply henna on my hands, I’ll eat only after I see his face against the moon.’’ For some, hiding their orientation from their families is a hindrance to following the tradition in toto. Jatin rues that, unlike women, he won’t get a ‘sargi’, a platter of eatables and a few gifts from a mother-in-law. “Last year, I woke up before sunrise and ate what I had prepared the previous night. Although I keep a rigid fast, I wish I had a sargi,’’ he said. Jatin got an expensive branded watch last year as a gift and Hitesh, who is fasting for the first time, is looking forward to the promised gold bracelet. The fast, they say, is an expression of love but they confess that it requires a lot of patience. “Unlike women, we don’t get to rest and end up working without food or water. I hope the moon rises early,’’ says Dipak. For Hitesh, it will be a dream fulfilled. “I have always wanted to do this fast and look at him through the strainer. I have seen it in many movies and am looking forward to do it. I hope that in next life, I am born a girl,’’ he said.
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