...and
Teej is turning the corner -
For three days Hindu women celebrate the great austerities that Parvati
underwent to catch Shiva's eyes... All three of them!
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.
Celebrations in Mumbai
Legend tells us that Brahma prayed to Ganesha for success in His work
of creation. When the moon Goddess Chandrama, rebuked the Creator
for praying to a mere godling, Ganesha cursed her that anyone who
looked upon her would become a thief. It took the intercession of
all the other divinities to placate the offended Ganesha. Now we
can look upon the moon and bask in her gentle rays, except on this
night which is only auspicious for robbers. Tonight people closet
themselves in their houses, shut the windows and doors and even stuff
the cracks so that the moonlight cannot penetrate inside with
disastrous consequences. The only people out are thieves and
robbers (and the police, who after all are part-time
extortionists...). A crook who doesn't get some loot on this
night is most unfortunate and will probably soon get busted. So
beware.
Here's wishing you a happy and auspicious Ganesh Chaturthi ! May
all your obstacles melt like lemon-drops...
Love & Pranams,
Billy
PS. This year, the Teej holidays seem a little compressed. This evening, Friday the 10th, the party starts. Tomorrow is Teej and fasting goes on into the 12th when Rishi Panchami (and Ganesh Chatha) occcur. By the afternoon, the party takes off again, and there's dancing in the streets...
