Kathmandu, September 7

Women’s rights activists today participated in a programme organised to celebrate Teej and discuss issues related to women empowerment.

Saathi and Jayanti Memorial Trust had organised the talk programme on the topic ‘Go red for women — saving heart and empowering women.’

During the programme, Dr Bhagwan Koirala, a cardiac surgeon, suggested that women should take care of their heart to live a happy life. Koirala also said because of increasing cases of depression and anxiety in women, they were at high risk of heart attacks.

In the same way, actress Rekha Thapa said the country as whole could not develop and see much changes over the years as the majority of women were still not able to speak for their rights and  raise their voice against injustice and exploitation.

Speaking at the programme, Dil Bhusan Pathak, a TV journalist, said some positive changes were seen in Nepali society, which were not enough for country’s overall development.

“Teej symbolises freedom of speech for women, in the past and even at present. It is a festival celebrates relationships. So both male and female must learn to respect each other and try to maintain good relations within a family,” shared Babita Basnet, a women’s right activist and journalist.