Posted by: Stiffler September 1, 2011
What part of Teej is for women?
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Saani
 
Your article epitomes what I hate about the liberal idealism. Thoughts like these will certainly eradicate whatever we have left of our culture.
 
First of all religious scriptures and beliefs were constructed hundreds and thousands of years ago; essence of which we still practice today. While there are many quirks associated with them, one good thing they do is they bring us together and give us a group identity. If you start dissecting each religion, everything it celebrates will have some evil association. Why celebrate christmas when it promotes greed? Eid promotes sacrifice of sheep because Abraham was almost going to kill his son, wait that sounds bad…doesn’t it? Why celebrate Dashain-Diwali when it promotes war not peace?
 
Teej, by its strict definitions, will definitely promote some form of male superiority. But is it that bad really? One day of fasting will actually help your body, not harm it. You say it is a festival for Men. What do men really get out of it? It’s not as if we get to eat your portion of food, is it? It’s the women who gather around, dance and sing to celebrate this festival; why make it look bad by pointing out the negativity which you might or might not even believe in.
 
I defend teej because it is one quentisential Nepali festival besides Shiva Ratri. Dashain and Diwali are celebrated elsewhere; but when you goto a temple in Teej, all the women wearing red sarees you will find will predominantly be Nepali. Nepali coming together in Nepal or abroad, having fun, singing/dancing and rekindling that Nepal’s essence; and you are against it? 

Thanks but no thanks; we like it the way it is. 
 
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