Teej promotes social harmony in Morang

By Our Correspondent,Urlabari, Sept.9: Laxmi Maya Tamang a resident of Durgapuri in Morang, Urlabari-9, was dancing elegantly in a Teej special programme on Thursday. She is a Buddhist but has wholeheartedly internalised the festival of Teej of the Khas Aryas.

Purnimaya Dhimal, who calls herself a nature worshiper, also actively participated in the Teej programme.

 Women of the indigenous tribes like Limbu, Rai and Santhal too enthusiastically joined the Teej programme. 

Although people of Urlabari 8 and 9 belong to different castes and follow different faiths, they came together and enjoyed the Teej festival programmes organised by the ward offices. 

Neither did they talk about religion nor the castes. The benevolence of the dwellers of Rajghat was praiseworthy. Fairs are organised in Rajghat during the festival of Santhals, Limbus, Rais, Dhimals, Tamangs and Gurungs. There is mutual cooperation in each other’s festivals in Urlabari. The residents of Rajghat not only participate in each other’s festivals but also they help each other during hard times.

Bimala Pomu, the ward member of Urlabari-9, said, “It’s better to celebrate each other’s festivals together rather than stating that certain festivals belong to only certain religions or tribes.”

There is also a noteworthy participation of Khas Arya women in the indigenous festivals of the Limbus. Pomu said, “Festivals connect people together so the ward office has allocated a  budget for the Teej celebration.” 

Kala Rai, a resident of Border Line in Urlabari-9, said that attempts were being made to disintegrate society in the name of caste and religion. “The sisters of Khas Arya community attend our Sakala festival with a lot of vigour and enthusiasm. They wholeheartedly participate in our festivals so we have also participated in the Teej festival,” Rai said.

Ward member Prakash Kanndagnwa Limbu said that they organised the Teej programme to establish social harmony and there was an equal participation of men as well in the Teej programme. 

The residents of Rajghat participate in the programmes organised by all the communities and tribes who reside over there, he added.