Teej Vibes In Air

Dixya Poudel

This time of the year sees a festival amongst Nepali women during which they get together to sing, dance, and relish rich cuisines. They also fast for an entire day, with many even forsaking water. The festival here in reference is Teej. Although it is a three-day festival, often the celebrations start as early as a month from the actual days of the festival.

During Teej, invites and greetings are exchanged for parties and get-togethers and it is mostly exclusive to the fairer gender. Garment shops see a sharp increase in sales in red saris and kurthas. Cosmetics sales increase as well, so do accessories such as red bangles and gold ornaments. It is an opportunity for girls and women to dress up in red finery and gold jewelleries. Of course, Teej celebrations and attires are all showcased on the social media creating a spool of virtual posts. 

In Hindu religion, Teej is a festival curated exclusively for the females. As a festival for girls and women, it certainly highlights the sanctity of womanhood. It is said that Goddess Parvati prayed, worshipped and fasted to appease Lord Shiva, whom she consequently wedded. And this gave way to a tradition in which both married and unmarried girls and women would pray, worship and fast for matrimonial bliss. Married women would hope for the longevity and good health of their husband. Likewise, unmarried girls and women would hope for a marriage to a suitable husband. 

Could Teej have been created by Hindu ancestors so that females would get a break from their daily routine and responsibilities? It is indeed rare that in the patriarchal Hindu society like Nepal, the females have a festival that they can solely enjoy among themselves. For once, they get to relax and relish the festivities. One could find that there are certainly deeply entrenched patriarchal norms in this festival. 

Like Goddess Parvati, young girls and women are expected to aspire to marriage. And the married ones are expected to celebrate this festival for the benefit of their husbands. Nepali feminists have been calling out this patriarchal convention, but it can be attested that Teej at best celebrates the essence of womanhood and its many elements.

In this age and time, as Nepal catches up with the rest of the world, its young females are attending schools and colleges in greater numbers. They are breaking the glass ceilings in most fields of profession and setting an example for the rest. However, they are also quite sacrosanct in traditional and cultural festivals. They are thus upholding the traditions that they inherited from their elders. 

While curbing a growing culture of extravagance and lavish festivities, Teej festival has to focus on what it is truly about. Ultimately, it is about the sacredness of being a woman as destined by the nature, culture, and traditions of Hindu religion.