Red-clad Nepalese women fast and pray for their husbands By Shyam Bahadur

Deutsche Presse Agentur
Published: Monday August 28, 2006

By Shyam Bahadur, Kathmandu- So many women in red dresses could be spotted all over the Nepalese capital lately that an outsider might be forgiven for thinking the Maoists were about to take over of the Himalayan kingdom. But the explanation has more to do with ancient belief and custom than politics. The red-clad Nepalese women were preparing for their annual fast to ensure a long life for their husbands. Red is the colour associated with Hindu married women whose husbands are living.

Boutiques and clothing stores across Nepal, once the world's only Hindu state, were filled with a variety bright red clothing for women.

This is generally the scene in the country every year at this time as devout and not-so devout Hindu women prepare to undertake a day-long fast praying for the long life of their husbands.

The actual fasting took place Saturday but the preparations began well over a week before with feasting, music and dance.

And it is not only married women who undertake the fast. Unmarried women too undertake the fast to ensure that they are married to the men of their choice or at least men who are "good and understanding."

The fasting known as "Teej" in Nepal is undertaken mainly by Hindu women but, because the main religions in Nepal is so intermixed, non-Hindus like Buddhists also undertake the fast.

The Teej fasting is like no other. Both women and men undertake a number of annual religious fasts but usually during such fasts some food or liquid is allowed. But in the case of the Teej fasting, no food or drink is allowed, not even a drop of water.

All agree that the Teej fasting is very difficult. Husbands whose wives are sick or are physically incapable of fasting feed their wives; and this is said to be quite in line with religious norms.

Teasingly termed the "festival of married beauties," Teej is a day of showing off for the married women.

They spend hours on their hair-dos and make-up. They also bring out their finest jewellery. All women put on the same type of dress: bright red, the traditional colour of Nepalese bridal attire.

"It has become fashionable for Nepalese women to dress in red saris and blouse, put on their best ornaments and show off during the Teej," said a woman working for an international non-governmental organisation.

Over a dozen FM stations in the capital and all four Nepalese TV channels warned the women not to put on their jewellery when going out in crowded places. Women in the past were known to have been robbed of their jewellery during the Teej festival.

Women take pleasure in making meals for their women friends and relatives before the Teej festival. Almost all married women go to their parental homes where they are given the best of foods and also money. This usually happens a day before the festival but the recent trend has been that women indulge in feasting and partying almost two weeks before the event.

Apart from eating, dancing and singing are two important parts of the women gatherings. Women sing songs in which they relate to their friends and relatives about the happiness and woes they experience in their homes.

All the festivities culminated Saturday when the women dressed in red went off to offer worship at the Pashupati Shiva temple in the Nepalese capital. Most danced outside the temple along with women they never met before.

At least 200,000 women were expected to visit the temple Saturday and the police said over 2,000 police personnel were mobilised to maintain law and order.

The temple authorities say that at least a dozen temporary health posts were to be established for the Teej festival.

Why do women undertake the difficult fasting?

"Yes, I want long life for my husband because I love him. But even more, we have to preserve our customs and traditions if Nepal is to have a unique cultural identity of its own," said housewife Smriti Karki.

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur