Gunla has
just gone, I can still hear the last bands departing from Swayambhu...
...and
Teej is turning the corner -
For three
days Hindu women celebrate the great austerities that Parvati underwent
to catch Shiva's three eyes...
Nepalese
women undertake these rituals in order to achieve what is desired by
women everywhere - a happy and productive marriage, good fortune a long
life for their husbands, and the purification of their own bodies and
souls. 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. They feast, fast, and
get high, they dance in their red wedding saris, and finally they
imbibe their divine husbands' foot-bath.
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 there finest
attires, and start dancing and singing devotional songs. Amidst
all this, the grand feast takes place. The jollity often goes on
till midnight, after which the 24-hour fast commences. Some women
go without a morsel of food or a drop 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 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 Parvati, beseeching Their blessing upon husband
and family. The important part of the puja is the oil lamp which should
be alight throughout the night for it is bad omen if it dies away.
The
ladies fast from midnight on until the morning of the next day. On the
first morning, they flock to Shiva temples, usually wearing their
wedding (red) saris. There, the women perform pujas and take a holy dip
in the river. After that, they congregate in temple yards and open
spaces, where they dance and sing, replaying the dance of Parvati for
Shiva.
On the
following morning the fast is broken by a ceremonial worship of one's
husband, which includes drinking (a few drops of) the water from
washing his feet. Then on the same day or the next, depending on how
the astrologers forecast it, the women proceed again to river banks
near temples, where they undergo the elaborate purification rites,
which Parvati Herself performed on behalf of Her divine spouse.
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 their 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.
May all
couples be steadfast like Shiva and Parvati, and may singles find their
soul-mates...
In the
midst of Teej celebrations, the elephant-headed son of Parvati and
Shiva is worshipped.
Here's wishing you a happy and auspicious Ganesh Chaturthi ! May
all your obstacles melt like lemon-drops...
Love
and Pranams,
Billy
