“Are you returning from dar party?” asked a friend who stopped me on the way to home. In my surprise without waiting my answer though my answer was “No!” she told me, “You also must have another get-together on coming Saturday.”

With dazzling ornaments and sari she was hurried to reach home. I thought it better to leave her there instantly than getting another punch-line.

This is one of the many anecdotes of today’s Kathmandu. About three months ago, this year’s Teej was over. This festival is not only celebrated by Hindu women of Nepal but it is also celebrated by Nepalese girls and women all over the world.

According to Hindu mythology Parbati worshipped Shiva Linga wishing to get Lord Shiva.

Her devotion, dedication and determination made her successful. Since time immemorial this culture has been followed by Hindu women. They used to celebrate it for the long and healthy life of their husband. Similarly unmarried ones used to celebrate it and wish for the husband of their dreams. But today’s women celebrate Teej differently.

Some women still worship Lord Shiva wishing for the well-being of their husband; some others take this festival as a festival of liberation. They sing, dance and enjoy the way they like.

Their suppressions and frustrations spill in their expressions. Many women are busy in decorating themselves with ornaments, sari and other stuffs. Collectively they throw parties. Parties begin weeks before the Teej Day. I’m not against socialization and celebration of our festivals but I find it an ill-practice.

This way, are we preserving our culture or destroying it? What are we teaching our younger sisters, daughters and daughters-in-law?

My concern is this festival of devotion, dedication and determination should be preserved for our coming generations. Our culture should be handed over in its original form. If we destroy, dismantle and disobey what we were asked to do and follow, are we on the right way?

Are we not teaching them the same, to destroy, dismantle and disobey what we ask them to do? I believe what goes around comes around. So, we need to learn from Parbati ‘s dedication, devotion and determination. We should teach our new generation if Parbati could get what she dreamt of, why can’t we?

She devoted her life not a day but many days and finally she achieved what she wanted. We also can. To cut a long story short, if there is a will, there is a way. So, dream big!