Nepal is wrapped in the festival of Teej, Nepalis all over the world are living with Teej like environment wherever they are, Happy Teej to all sisters, daughter, friends, and mothers. The beautiful songs on TV and radio, the best wishes of Teej on newspapers, the best experiences of social media and the reddish decoration and beauty in the streets, what has not been touched by Teej?
Is it necessary to see Teej as a dedication rather than a strict brat of fasting? Let's talk today about the Dar khane Din. Although the Teej celebration starts months before the Teej, but traditionally it is customary to eat the Dar one day before fasting. Dar is a midnight food consumption for the endurance to the fasting of the next day.
For centuries, the dimensions of this fast for the good of women and her family have been modernized over time. Some commercialized components and obsolete rituals are added however, the main significance and true meaning of Teej withstands the same.
It is important to consider Teej as a purely simple and important festival and to make it accessible to all, rich and poor alike.
On the other hand, there is summer season, it is necessary to take special care of health, eating too much oily food, the maximum consumption of rich and tamasi food can make you sicker, so it is important to take care of these things while eating. The notion of strict fasting even without water are fruitful, this is not true. The health of a good husband and wife for unmarried and the health of the husband and family cannot be determined not only by a single day of fasting but by a yearlong of coordination, understanding, and cooperation, dedication, and respect for each other.
Men have equal responsibility today, one needs to take responsibility for the kindness of his mothers, sisters, and wives towards him, he needs to play the role of good companions by respecting and caring for them today. As an unmarried man, do you have any idea, is someone going to fast somewhere tomorrow?
Tomorrow's fast is not only fast but also a day of dancing, talking, worshiping, and having fun. In this way, it is customary for all the women to gather together and have fun and eat sweets and delicacies in the middle of the night, this is Dar.
The anguish of the daughters who could not go to their mothers while remembering the days of eating Darr is also shed with deep tears, sometimes in song and sometimes in love.
यसपाला तीजमा यस्तै भयो आमा
अर्कोपाला तीजमा खोलाले नछेके'
This year seems ruthless, next year I shall come to you my mother if the river won't stop me.
The COVID Crisis, floods, and landslides of this year have washed away the homes of many daughters and their families as well as their dreams and aspirations. This wave of Teej is not the same everywhere this year, somewhere its party and somewhere its despair, anyway Teej arrives every year and smiles and cries are the two sides of a single coin.
Teej is also an enthusiasm for gender equality and gender equity. Teej can be taken as a common platform for the smiles of all-female relatives including mother, daughter, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, mother-in-law, sister.
In any case, I wish you all the best on this Dar khane din, good health and longevity of our family, find a suitable partner, and good luck to all the sisters.
End of Gunla Parwa
Gunla, is a name of the month, this falls on the tenth month of Nepal sambat lunar calendar of Nepal. Gunla is a holy and spiritual month where Buddhists, Newars, and even Hindu people recite the scriptures, observe fasts and visits places and pilgrimages with cultural marches and devotional music.
Dating back to traditional time where houses were made up of mud and rainy season would damage houses. Flood and landslides would add melancholy in people's lives, Gunla month is all about spiritual and recovery to turn down the melancholy. Devotional music, rhythms and vajans works as an elevation, Gunla is not just a month but a month-long festival.
The intoxication of rain was at its peak this year. Clouds are sometimes crazy and sometimes stingy. In any case, this month of the year, and especially after the intermission of the rainy season, the Gunla festival has ended today.
In the Buddhist family of the community, the celebration of this festival is found to be more spiritual and contemplative. Lord Buddha and his followers live in the same place during the rainy season without traveling during the rainy season, so this festival is also considered a confluence of rain and knowledge.
Especially in the Gunla festival celebrated by the Newar community, it has been a tradition to go to see Lord Swayambhu in the morning, and this year also the devotees continue to do this regularly despite this COVID crisis and lockdown. Today, the festival started by listening to special Gunla music in the squares of the Kathmandu Valley.
Bahidya: Swavanegu Newa: is a unique part of the culture where there are instruments first and then music and then devotees walk.
Dye: Thayegu is one of today's special activities. The practice of making small stupas out of raw clay continued this month.
In Kathmandu and Lalitpur, Panjara, a statue of the Buddha and other saints, and a khat representing the Lord are circulated in the city, collecting rice and other items, and Buddhism advocates a balance where spirituality, including charity and peace, is highly valued. Let me mention here, unlike other years, a lot of spiritual and religious activities are postponed due to the COVID crisis. The idols of Dipankar Buddha and Pauva are especially worshiped on this day, although Gunla is not just a one-day festival. This festival is celebrated in different ways on different dates of the lunar month. Let's draw the outlines of our daily routine in the open sky and clear clouds that come with the end of the rainy season. Good luck to all.
Suyog Dhakal
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