Today is Teej, for
overall Hindu female either married or unmarried women, a teenager or a girl it
is their festival. In this day all the women fast for the long life of their
husband and unmarried girls fast so they will get a good husband and have a
good future with them. The person taking
this fast will neither eat nor drink, not even a drop of water. It is believed
that fasting this way god will be pleased and grant the wish of the fasting
person. Since it is very unhealthy not to eat and drink for a whole day
straight, priests and Gurus encourage to eat fruits and water to the person who
is fasting. Health conscious people, weak women, pregnant women, elder women and
ill women can eat some foods which are rated as ‘ok to eat’ like rice pudding,
milk product, yoghurt, Sabudana, fruits etc. Basically don’t eat salt, meat,
garlic, tomato, onion. This day women would go to the Shiva Temple and if they
can they will go to Pashupatinath temple.
|
some hindu women performing a teej ritual |
It is believed that
this tradition was started by our Goddess Parvathi when she fasted for days
without eating or drinking anything so she will get married to Lord Shiva. And
after this she did got married to the Lord Shiva and lived happily with her
husband.
The fast starts with
taking a shower in the morning and wearing a pure clothes which usually means
clean, washed clothes. Since it is Teej, the choice of color is Red for
clothes. Married women get ready in Red Sari, beads, golds, bangles, anklet,
tika, wear makeups and etc. And goes to the Temple. Then they gather around
sing folk songs about Teej and dance.
At the evening, the
fasting women will have to lit a diyo and pray to god again. Then they end
their fast by drinking water washed from their husband’s foot, and eat only
fruits as dinner. The fast ends properly
when they take bath the next day.