Teej is a festival that promotes the age-old tradition of male domination. It is no secret that this is a male dominated society. Women are still, figuratively and literally walking two steps behind men, whether they are in the family or in the workplace. A woman has to pray and fast for the long life of her spouse who may or may not be nice to her, but who fasts and prays for her? Then, Teej promotes unhealthy eating. Women indulge in binge eating for a day, then they starve themselves the next. How on earth does bingeing, then starving help anyone? For some women it is an opportunity to show other person how much accessories they have. These women blind innocent passersby with their tasteless displays of gold and chiffons. That too in broad daylight! It’s horrendous!

But on the other hand, it’s really nice when a group of women get together and have a good time. They forget their nagging mothers-in-law, demanding husbands, pesky children, cooking, cleaning and washing just for a day and have the time of their lives.

— Sonia Smart,

Bhat Bhateni

n Teej is a remarkable festival. The red attire, merrymaking with dancing and singing defines the festival. But then another sad part unfolds — this festival is celebrated singing, dancing and of course having delicious food but that is changing. While we refer to the countryside, people celebrate Teej as before. People dance to Nepali folk songs and enjoy food, share their joys and pain. Every house is heard playing a beautiful rhythm. But Teej has become a way of showing off in urban areas. People gather and wear red but it has only become means to show what one simply possesses. People dance to Hindi songs rather than Nepali. To protect our tradition and culture we must learn to enjoy it. We must respect its originality and not try to distort it in any other way.

— Kalyani Devkota, Gorkha

n Teej is a major festival for women especially from Brahmin and Chhetri communities, though nowadays women from other societies also celebrate this festival with full zeal and enthusiasm. I believe our traditional values and norms are being respected rather than just having fun. Women do respect the values and follow traditions. They visit temples, worship God for the betterment of their husbands and keep fasts. But a research has shown that maximum women have spent a lot of money and time on jewelleries, ornaments and dresses. I don’t think becoming a spendthrift has changed the way Teej used to be. The values are still the same, whether one spends much or not. I would like to wish every Nepali women a very Happy Teej.

— Abhilasha Rayamajhi

n With the celebration of Teej, women have developed a tendency to spend much for the occasion. I agree to the fact the real celebration of Teej has been relegated somewhere else. But keeping in mind the changing perspectives of society, one cannot simply argue that such tendency has reduced the traditional values of the festival. Being a woman, whether married or single, they are expected to follow every ritual of the festival. Most of the women mark the festival because they believe their fastings enable their husbands to live a long and healthy life, while many celebrate it merely to enjoy themselves. Because a woman views fasting as a ‘have-to-do’ work, many harm their health. We can feel that the standard of their enjoyment has risen from just folk songs to songs related to gender equality, women’s participation in the so-called male dominant society. Such songs help women become aware about oppression in this patriarchal society. But a devoted woman, still, fasts wishing for her hubsand’s long life. So,

I think the values of Teej festival are being modified.

— Savyna Dhakal

n Teej is indeed a festival meant for get-togethers and looking good. But the cultural importance of the festival shouldn’t be neglected. There have definitely been changes in the way Teej is celebrated. The change is more prominent in cities like Kathmandu, where the festival has become more of an excuse for women to party and show off their clothes and jewelleries. Singing and dancing have been replaced by kitty parties and drinking. The women are less bothered about religious significance of the festival. However, the traditional ways are still followed in villages, where women gather in groups and dance to folk tunes. Adorned in red, they keep strict fasts, visit temples and stick to their rites and rituals.

— Sadichchha Pokharel, Kupondole

n Teej is an important festival for women. I think this is a festival of fasting and having fun as well. Women keep fasts for their life partners and worship Lord Shiva. I think Teej has its own importance and value in our society but sadly it is not well maintained by women. In some form or the

other, women in the name of Teej, are deteriorating the value

of this tradition with over and unnecessary expenditure. Women these days tend to celebrate this festival just for fun and shopping.

— Sunita Twati,

Bhaktapur

n Teej, like any other festival, is supposed to be about having fun with friends and sharing with families. Festivals are all about sharing quality time with family and also teaching young ones about family values and traditions. I don’t think Teej has been relegated to having fun only. Women and girls still take Teej seriously and they don’t have a single drop of water for the sake of the well being of their

family and life partner. Women, especially mothers, constantly take care

of the whole family without any complaints. Therefore, being men, we should

understand and support the efforts of women in this festival.

— Shashi Balami

n Teej is a festival celebrated by ladies and this practice is not just done only for enjoyment. The pre-shopping and all the happiness they share among each other is not just a matter of entertainment, but the whole thing is about respecting our culture, tradition and to show how devoted they are to their husbands. In our male dominant society, ladies are always compelled and bound in stress. Hence, they should have the right to enjoy at least a day of celebrations as such. And therefore, celebrating Teej is not taken for granted as a holiday or kind of ‘hang out day for ladies’ day, but it’s a matter of adoration and strong devotion to show how much women cares their husband and family.

— Pranit Sharma,

Balaju

n Teej carries both religious and cultural significance. Women attired in red keep fast on this day wishing for prosperity, good health and long life of their husbands. The holistic reason behind celebrating Teej has largely been overshadowed by the showy attitude of women residing in urban areas. Leaving apart its serenity and true spirit, women have been using Teej as an occasion where they can exhibit their social and financial status. Organising feasts weeks before Teej has become a fashion. Actually Teej has nothing to do with wealth and property. It can be celebrated in a simple manner incorporating all sections of people. Binding people from various walks of life and enhancing goodwill among them should be the objective of Teej. Merrymaking, singing and dancing are parts of celebration and should be preserved and promoted. But extravagance in any form or kind should be checked and put under control before they overshadow the originality of Teej.

— Ambika Pandey,

Chitwan

n Teej today is more of a fun and merrymaking way than tradition or culture. Women are focusing more on dressing, make-up, gatherings, singing, dancing and eating darr. But it hasn’t yet lost its real essence because it was always about expressing love for one’s husband or loved ones. This is one of those festivals with a purpose and the Nepali women always seem to have fulfilled it sincerely. It has given a woman another reason to shop but, after all, a festival means celebration.

— Rhea Gurung,

Maharajgunj

n Having darr has not just been confined to the house but has taken a form of social gathering like Teej mela, parties, potluck. If we look at the celebrations positively, we can observe a growth at a certain level. It is not just a mere celebration but women get to enjoy their womanhood with their mothers, aunts, sisters and other relatives who otherwise live in different parts of the city. Long lost friends meet each other if not personally — at least calling them or wishing through an SMS. The exchange of gifts like pote, tika, bangles is a gesture of showing love and concern. Teej get-togethers which is held in some organisations or places bring women of different ethnic groups together and make them feel united. So, I feel Teej has not been relegated to only having fun. The traditional

values are still maintained and passed on to the new generation. But I feel a lavish shopping and showing off in the name of Teej should be avoided to preserve our culture, which has a mythological, and a historical value.

— Anupama Mukhia, Tikhedewal

n Festivals in Nepal are enriched with cultural practices followed by rites and rituals that is observed by family and friends. And Teej is one such festival in Nepal. It is a celebration of womanhood. From dresses to jewellery, food to dance everything can be observed during this festival. But what we must not forget is the respect and dignity of woman in our society. Having fun is the supreme authority that one woman can follow, keeping in mind that every work she does affects society. But I feel it’s not only the fun side but people are more interested in getting new ornaments and clothes. Earlier, only family members were invited for dinner but today it seems the number of people invited has increased to show one’s prestige in society. People of higher class may afford to do this, but it causes problems for lower class people. So, Teej should be celebrated in a way that it is suitable and sustainable for everyone.

— Aneeta Bhattarai

n Teej being one of the major Hindu festivals for Nepali women is regarded with respect. But due to modernisation and westernisation most women have forgotten the real tradition of Teej. In the name of teej, they are just wasting their money in buying jewelleries and other unnecessary goods. However, they should celebrate this festival wearing simple things and traditional ornaments like tilhari and pote, and wearing designer wear is going to make their husbands to be a hundred. They should observe this festival very seriously and according tow what is stated in our purans and old customs.

— Aashutosh Aryal

n Festivals bring love, joy and a feeling of togetherness among one another. So, people wait for this colourful festival to be celebrated with great pomp and show. Though nowadays Teej means a time to get together with friends and relatives, shopping, going to parlours for mehendi, it is also the festival which is being celebrated following its traditional customs and rituals. Till now rituals like the tradition of adorning

oneself in colourful clothes and gold-diamond jewellery to look like a new bride, tradition of vat vriksha, another important ritual to worship Nyagrodha tree, tradition of worshiping Teej Mata, the charmingly decorated idol of goddess Parvati kept at the centre of the place where women gather to offer Teej prayers are still performed. Hence, we can say that the festival has not yet lost its true meaning.

— Roopsi Dalal