Every year, Bhadra Shukla Tritiya is celebrated by Nepali women as Haritalika Teej. There is a religious belief that a married woman fasts longing for her husband's longevity and an unmarried woman for a worthy groom. In the mythological age, Parvati fasted on this day without even drinking water to get Mahadev's husband.
Since we had to fast on the third day, it was called tar because various dishes were cooked and eaten on the previous day. On the occasion of Teej, the married daughter-in-law comes to the house and reassures the mother-in-law and relatives about the grief she has suffered at home. It was also of special importance as the disciple had to wait a long time for his mother to come when he was married as a child. However, now that most of them have chosen to get married as adults, Teejko may not have the same social significance as yesterday, but over time, it has also got the opportunity to wear the robe of modernity.
Yesterday, it was customary for Hindus to get married without menstruation. It was believed that donating a bride without menstruation would bring more merit than donating a thousand cows. The family was united. There was a social system based on agriculture and animal husbandry. In a society based on agriculture and animal husbandry, hard physical labor is mandatory. The girl, who was playing wrestling on her mother's soil, used to go to someone else's house as a bride. Even today, no matter how much children love each other, they are comfortable with their own parents. It is also a natural child accessibility.
In such a social system, the remembrance of the festival of being able to go to the family was more exciting than the victory. But now the social system has changed. Agriculture and animal husbandry have been replaced by trade, jobs and other intellectual pursuits. With the change in the social system, the way we celebrate the festivals has also changed. In today's commercial or capitalist age, it is natural that every festival is affected by advertisements. The more propaganda, the more sales. That is, the principle of demand and supply of economics applies here. Advertising encourages demand. Similarly, Teej has also been exaggerated now. For months, party palaces have been overflowing in the name of eating tar.
The business of song and music is equally flourishing. There is competition for food and clothing and jewelry. Even though it has lost its originality, it has widened the true tradition by breaking away from the special ethnic circle.
The main reason for celebrating Teej is its religious and social significance. It is true that it has made Nepali women feel free. Today, no one fasts for the sake of longevity and a worthy bridegroom, as is the case with religious beliefs, but there are few who do not share this joy. Teej, which was limited to Kshatriya and Brahmin castes among Hindu women yesterday, has today directly and indirectly affected women of almost all caste communities.
Today's Teej has promoted women's empowerment, respect and freedom. There are many Nepali women who do not hear the name of March 8 and do not understand its importance. But, Teej has reached everyone. Even though Teej is not recognized as Nepali Women's Rights Day today, it has been used in a similar way socially. Therefore, on the occasion of Teej, we also express our best wishes for the promotion of freedom, equality and empowerment of all Nepali women.