In fact, the community did not organize any party at all this time, thanks to the warning by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to avoid unnecessary show off during Teej. [break]
Mishra, who is a general sectary of an NGO based in Kathmandu, is just one among hundreds of women in the Valley who would have otherwise been visibly gripped by Teej fever almost one month before the actual date of the festival.
“Yes, the warning has worked. It literally curbed the pre-teej activities. Not just in Kathmandu, women all across the country have welcomed the CIAA´s call for a decent Teej,” said Shreedhar Sapkota, spokesperson at CIAA.
“The reports indicate that lavish parties and even shopping has drastically come down. So much so that the businesspersons are complaining to us as they were kept from doing brisk business,” he added.
CIAA had directed district administration offices to strictly monitor pretentious celebrations and it itself is involved in the monitoring activities. On August 12, it had issued a notice calling for women to abide by Social Practice Reform Act 1976 while celebrating Teej festival or face punishment -- a fine of up to Rs 3000 or a jail term of up to one month.
Though Mishra said she longed for the Teej party, she looked at the brighter side that left her with sense of satisfaction. “Of course, I am missing the party, but then we have taken it very positively. More than a cultural practice, it was becoming a social ill, as women resorted to one-upmanship over what they wore and how much they spent on lavish gatherings.”
According to Sapkota, in CIAA´s reading, the festival of Teej had become one of the reasons fueling corruption. He added that unhealthy competition among women and their families during Teej leaves many of them with inferiority complex.
“That is why when the CIAA warned against no holds barred Teej celebrations, women in general were happy. So, we did not have to use any force to enforce the rule.”
Kishore Thapa, secretary at the Ministry of Urban Development, feels the same way. Like many others, he got no invitation to join Teej functions this year. “Wife associations, women´s organizations and so on would invite even me to their parties. But this year, I have got no invitation,” Thapa said. “It is really good. Or else, Teej celebration was getting so commercial that it had quite overshadowed the social and cultural essence of the festival,” he remarked.
What people say
Sarita Paudel
Social Reform Act was there. But it was not enforced. But this time the government directed the CIAA to enforce it. And so the CIAA strongly warned against over doings during Teej. Women were gripped by Teej fever from one month before Teej. But this time around things look far more simpler.
You don´t see women in red sari and heavy make up even though there is just one week left for Teej. In my opinion, people are very happy with the change because many of them were not spending in Teej willingly but due to moral pressure. For example, if your sister organizes a party or get together and I join that, I am under pressure to do the same thing in return. While few would do it to show off, many people like us would follow the trend just to save our face.
Sharada Thapa
I came to know about the CIAA´s ruling through the popular TV show ´Jire Khursani´. They had presented that so interestingly. Even otherwise I was not among those who believed in show off in name of festivals. May be it is also because we do not have much money to do so.
But it feels good to see that the government took notice of the festival getting uglier. Until last year, we could see so many women decked in jewelries much ahead of the Teej festival. There would be get-togethers and parties here and there. But this time, there were relatively fewer such women and such parities. In fact, I have not noticed it at all around my locality in Ghattekulo.
Isha Thapa
In my observation, women are not buying expensive saris and other items this time. I have heard them say ´what´s the use´ since they could not join parties. But as far as my shop is concerned, ladies have been buying beads, bangles and so on as usual.
Actually, the CIAA directive has made the difference to those who used to indulge in over expenditure. Those who would believe in decency are happier. I came to know about the warning through radios and TV shows. And I felt good about it too. This time, CIAA has really done it wonderfully but I doubt this will continue in the coming years. But we general public always support every good move of the government and wish it manages to keep things under control.
Related story
DAO, Kathmandu, urges to celebrate teej in decent and disciplin...
-1200x560-1779450784.webp)
