Kathmandu: The ‘Teej’ festival, also called ‘Haritalika’ is being observed by Nepali Hindu women on Friday throughout the country. This year the Festival which is often celebrated with fanfare is being celebrated in a subdued manner due to the risk of COVID-19.
On this day that falls on the third dark day of the lunar month as per the Nepali month of Bhadra, married women and unmarried alike perform various worships and observe fasting. While the married women pray for the fulfillment of their wish for a happy and prosperous married life, the unmarried ones worship Lord Shiva and Parbati, believing to be blessed with an eligible groom.
According to the ‘Skanda Puran’ which is a religious scripture of the Hindus), this festival got the name ‘Haritalika Teej’ as it was on this very day in the ‘Satya Yug’ that the daughter of the Himalayas, Parvati, was hidden by her maids because of her refusal to marry Lord Vishnu.
The women on the day of ‘Teej’ are seen dancing and singing in a care-free mood. Women put on bangles, ‘Pote’ (a necklace made of glass beads), ‘Tilahari’ and ‘Sindur’ (crimson powder) considered the symbols of good luck and dress themselves up in red saris or other red outfits and adorn themselves with different kinds of ornaments. Women in the morning take ritual baths and offer worship.
Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu and other temples of Lord Shiva in other parts of the country would generally see an overwhelming number of women devotees on this day in the past. However, Pashupatinath temple remains shut with the increased risk of coronavirus cases. Due to the risk of COVID-19 and prohibitory order, lockdown, shutdown ordered in many places across the country including the Kathmandu Valley with high risks of COVID-19, the celebration is likely to be a low-key and indoor affair this year.
Meanwhile, President Bidya Devi Bhandari has urged all Nepali sisters living in the country and abroad to celebrate the haritalika teej by maintaining health safety in view of the increasing cases of coronavirus across the globe.
Giving a message of best wishes on the occasion of the Teej festival today, she wished all Nepali sisters happiness peace and prosperity. “Such cultural festival fosters unity in diversity, religious tolerance and social amity,” she said, adding that with the celebration of the festival, the tawdriness should be discouraged. She further wished the Teej festival-inspired all Nepali women to build a progressive society by ending all sorts of inequality.
Celebrate Teej staying indoors: Vice-President Pun
Similarly, Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun has also urged all Nepali sisters to celebrate Teej festival staying indoors, considering the present adverse situation caused by the coronavirus. Giving a best wishes message on this occasion, he appealed to all to observe the festival by maintaining health safety. The Vice-President also sought cooperation from the people on the government’s efforts to prevent and control COVID-19. (RSS)
भाद्र ५ गते, २०७७ मा प्रकाशित
