09/10/2013, 00.00
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Nepal : Teej festival, a hymn to the materialism of Hindu women

by Kalpit Parajuli
The celebrations in honor of the goddess Parvati and her marital devotion to Shiva increasingly show the gap between rich and poor. Traditionally, the women, dressed in a red sari , exchange gifts and jewelry, a day before the holy fasting .

Kathmandu ( AsiaNews) - A hymn to materialism , rather than a celebration of faith and spirituality : that's how many experts describe the traditional festival of Teej , the largest Hindu celebration dedicated to women. The festival which ended yesterday , according to some highlights the gap between rich and poor, rather than being a time of fellowship and prayer for the faithful .

"The festival - Govinda Tandon representative of the temple of Pashupatinath told AsiaNews, - has its sacredness and shows the devotion of women to the god Shiva. Today, however, we see an exhibition of personal material superiority, instead of faith. There is a huge rush to use expensive jewelry, which faith does not require. This desire for superiority is creating a gap between rich and poor that is likely to create a conflict in the community".

Dedicated to the goddess Parvati commemorating her union with Lord Shiva , the festival of Teej is an opportunity for Hindu women - married and unmarried - to ask for a happy married life or to find their great love . According to tradition, a day before the fast of Teej women gather together to share gifts of food, clothing, and jewelry , wearing a red sari . During fasting - which lasts from sunrise to sunset - they can not touch even a drop of water and have to sing hymns and songs before the images or temples dedicated to Shiva.

With each passing year, however , this celebration is losing its "spiritual" meaning, and it is not uncommon to hear of young women - especially from poor castes - who sell a kidney to buy jewelry to donate to Teej .

 

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