Teej
is the fasting festival of Hindu Nepali women. It takes place in August or
early September. The festival is a three day long celebration that combines
sumptuous feasts as well as rigid fasting. Through this religious fasting, Hindu
women pray for marital bliss, well being of their spouse and children and
purification of their own body and soul.
Traditionally,
the ritual of Teej is obligatory for all Hindu married women and girls who have
reached puberty. Exception is made for the ones who are ill or physically
unfit. In such circumstances a priest performs the rites. According to the holy
books, the Goddess Parbati fasted and prayed fervently for the great Lord Shiva
to become her spouse. Touched by her devotion, he took her for his wife.
Goddess Parbati, in gratitude sent her emissary to preach and disseminate this
religious fasting among mortal women, promising prosperity and longevity with
their family. Thus was born the festival of Teej.
The
first day of Teej is called the "Dar Khane Din". ON this day the
women, both married and unmarried, assemble at one place, in their finest
attires and start dancing and singing devotional songs. Admist all this, the
grand feast takes place. The jollity often goes on till midnight, after which
the 24 hour fast commences. Some women without a morsel of food or drops of
water while others take liquid and fruit.
Gaily
dressed women can be seen dancing and singing on the street leading to Shiva
temples. But the main activities take place around the Pashupatinath Temple of
Kathmandu where women circumambulate the Lingam, the phallic symbol of the
lord, offering flowers, sweets and coins. The main Puja (religious ceremony)
takes place with offerings of flowers, fruits etc. made to Shiva and Parbati,
beseeching their blessing upon the husband and family. The important part of
the Puja is the oil lamp which should be alight throughout the night of it is
bad omen if it dies away.
The third day of the festival is Rishi Panchami. After
the completion of the previous day's Puja, women pay homage to various deities
and bathe with red mud found on the roots of the sacred Datiwan bush, along
with its leaves. This act of purification is the final ritual of Teej, after
which women are considered absolved from all sins. The recent years have
witnessed alteration in the rituals, especially concerning the severity, but
its essence remains. No matter how agonizing the fast may be Nepalese women
have and will always continue to have faith in the austerities of Teej.