Teej traditions
No one can deny the fact that we are rich in culture. Whether it features animal sacrifice or fasting, we have many different ways to celebrate festivals. We have different kinds of festivals like the festival of colors (Holi) and the festival of sacrifice (Dashain). Each festival has its own significance and its own features.
Each fall, women get excited and eagerly wait for Teej—wearing a red sari with the long gold ‘tilhari’ attached seems wonderful for sure. And it’s certainly fun to watch Teej songs and dances. Teej is a wonderful festival except for a few facts. First, the festival is made only for married women. Although unmarried girls are also involved, to focus of women celebrating Teej is to pray for the longevity of their husband’s life. Has anyone given thought to the cases of young widows at such a time? At the time when the entire community, friends, and relatives are dancing and wishing a good future for their husband, what might be the widow be doing? When festivals are meant for all, why does Teej feature such discrimination? If she even appears at celebration she will be cursed. Though women should be able to understand other women, somehow all is forgotten at this critical time.
Another criticism of Teej is in regards to the trend of fasting. Staying hungry without food or a drop of water is no joke. I wonder if anywhere in the Hindu holy book it has mentioned that such fasting will lead to longer lives for their husbands. Cultural practices are nothing more than constructed beliefs we have been following from generations past. Just think, if you are fasting, your daughter will obviously try to follow in the same manner, and so will your granddaughter. If you are the senior female member of your family, if you introduce the system of drinking lemon water mixed with tulsi powder it would be a great relief to your generation for sure.
There are cases of women fainting during the festival of Teej. So my question is, without any proven reason for refraining from eating throughout the day, why should women blindly follow such a hard and fast rule with such threats to their health? And although Teej should bring women together, the jewellery and costumes of the day highlight the gap between the rich and the poor. Special programmes draw a boundary line between the rich and the poor, and can make those unable to afford the nicest dress insecure. Festivals are meant for all; we shouldn’t let the ornaments of the
festival create discrimination during the time of celebration.
It is society and humans that create cultural practices and keep them alive. Teej is certainly a wonderful festival. Limited fasting from time to time can keep us healthy, but it shouldn’t be done out of the belief that it will help our husbands. Let’s join hands to get rid of these unnecessary parts of Teej so that the upcoming generation won’t criticise our backwards practices.
PUBLISHED IN THE KATHMANDU POST (AUG 18 2010)
http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/08/17/oped/teej-traditions/211708/
No one can deny the fact that we are rich in culture. Whether it features animal sacrifice or fasting, we have many different ways to celebrate festivals. We have different kinds of festivals like the festival of colors (Holi) and the festival of sacrifice (Dashain). Each festival has its own significance and its own features.
Each fall, women get excited and eagerly wait for Teej—wearing a red sari with the long gold ‘tilhari’ attached seems wonderful for sure. And it’s certainly fun to watch Teej songs and dances. Teej is a wonderful festival except for a few facts. First, the festival is made only for married women. Although unmarried girls are also involved, to focus of women celebrating Teej is to pray for the longevity of their husband’s life. Has anyone given thought to the cases of young widows at such a time? At the time when the entire community, friends, and relatives are dancing and wishing a good future for their husband, what might be the widow be doing? When festivals are meant for all, why does Teej feature such discrimination? If she even appears at celebration she will be cursed. Though women should be able to understand other women, somehow all is forgotten at this critical time.
Another criticism of Teej is in regards to the trend of fasting. Staying hungry without food or a drop of water is no joke. I wonder if anywhere in the Hindu holy book it has mentioned that such fasting will lead to longer lives for their husbands. Cultural practices are nothing more than constructed beliefs we have been following from generations past. Just think, if you are fasting, your daughter will obviously try to follow in the same manner, and so will your granddaughter. If you are the senior female member of your family, if you introduce the system of drinking lemon water mixed with tulsi powder it would be a great relief to your generation for sure.
There are cases of women fainting during the festival of Teej. So my question is, without any proven reason for refraining from eating throughout the day, why should women blindly follow such a hard and fast rule with such threats to their health? And although Teej should bring women together, the jewellery and costumes of the day highlight the gap between the rich and the poor. Special programmes draw a boundary line between the rich and the poor, and can make those unable to afford the nicest dress insecure. Festivals are meant for all; we shouldn’t let the ornaments of the
festival create discrimination during the time of celebration.
It is society and humans that create cultural practices and keep them alive. Teej is certainly a wonderful festival. Limited fasting from time to time can keep us healthy, but it shouldn’t be done out of the belief that it will help our husbands. Let’s join hands to get rid of these unnecessary parts of Teej so that the upcoming generation won’t criticise our backwards practices.
PUBLISHED IN THE KATHMANDU POST (AUG 18 2010)
http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/08/17/oped/teej-traditions/211708/
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