Teej becoming more inclusive

By Our Correspondent

Dhalkebar, Aug 31 : Haritalika Teej, mostly celebrated by women of the hilly region, has, of late, become popular and common to all Nepalis across the country. 

Lately, the women of the Madhesi community in the Dhanusha, Mahottari, and Sarlahi districts in Madhes Province are seen celebrating Teej with joy. They dress up like the women of hill communities and gather at one place and dance together on the day of Teej. 

Lalita Mahato of Mithila Municipality-6, Dhanusha, is one of the women of Madhes, who has been celebrating Teej for a decade. 

She said, “Teej is a festival of all Hindu people. I do not feel discriminated while eating ‘Daar’ and dancing together with others, I enjoy this festival a lot.”

Similarly, Manju Sah, who has been celebrating Teej for the past five years, said that Teej has become an inclusive festival in the past few years. 

She recalled that till a few years ago Teej used to be celebrated only by the women of the hill communities, but now women of Madhes and Tharu communities and other tribes are seen celebrating this festival. Bina Kadari, a women rights activist from Dhalkabar, said that it was good to see Teej being a popular and inclusive festival. 

Teej which falls on Bhadra Shukla Tritiya is celebrated all over Nepal by worshiping Lord Shiva. 

There is a religious belief that if women fast on this day and worship Goddess Parvati, their husbands and family members will be blessed with peace, prosperity, and longevity.

According to a Hindu myth, the practice of marking the festival of Teej had begun on the day when Goddess Parvati got Lord Shiva as her husband after enduring penance at Gaurighat.