Being a socialite and food lover, I have always had an emotional attachment to Hindu festivals and the food items prepared on these special occasions. But in New York for the last two months, I missed celebrating Father's Day for the first time in years. I remember giving him packets of mithai over the years but devouring most of them myself. Dad's high BP meant good luck for me on 'his' Day.
It's no surprise that Teej is one of my favourite festivals. In Kathmandu, we girls used to hang out, sing, dance and have lots of fun. But this year was a completely new experience for me. I had just got married and was celebrating the fest abroad. But the change of country did little to dampen my spirits. I celebrated Teej with as much verve and enthusiasm as I did while in Nepal. For I am lucky to be living in a locality where the Nepali community has managed to preserve our culture and identity.
I never though Teej could be so much fun. We friends were all draped in red and covered with traditional ornaments such as tika, pote, chura, sindur. When we ventured out on the streets of the Big Apple, people were ogling at us as if we were from another planet. While some took us for participants of a fancy dress party. Some even braved to inquire about our rather quaint attire.
During the daar party, we met hoards of Nepali women, all clad in red. We danced to Nepali folk songs and feasted on typical Nepali food. This is the best part about living in a cosmopolitan city like New York: One gets to have foodstuffs from all corners of the globe. Even while most of the women were fasting the next day, no one was bothered about attending their work or college. Surprise! Even the gluttonous Barsha was fasting.
Teej is not all about fasting for the hubby's long life. It is as much about having loads of fun and enjoying life to the fullest. Teej would have been a different affair back home, but I can't help feel proud about our local community that managed to put together a stupendous gala, thereby celebrating the cultural richness of Nepal.
New York might seem dour and business-like most of the times, but I discovered that it surely comes alive on every Teej.
