“It’s
the Moon Puja right, Ma?”! “Yes, it is…It’s Teejri”
“THE MOON FESTIVAL - LET”S CELEBRATE!!!” NORTH, NORTH WEST,
EAST, SOUTH EAST- WE’LL TAKE OUR COMAPSS TO THE TERRACE AND CHECK WHERE THE
MOON IS COMING OUT FROM!!”
Oh! What excitement
in their innocent minds. The only thing that my kids remember of this very
authentic Sindhi festival is how the entire family eagerly awaits the appearance
of the moon in the cloudy monsoon sky. It is indeed the highlight of Teejri
which is a poor cousin of the more popular Karva Chauth.
Every year
around the beginning of August in the Hindu month of Saavan comes the festival
of Teejri. Married women fast through the day and pray for the health and
prosperity of their husbands. It is a strict fast wherein merely liquids like
tea, coffee, rose milk are allowed. Only after offering prayers to the moon at
night can the ladies eat a meal.
Do you
think that just by fasting annually we can ensure long and healthy lives of our
husbands? Hardly so, but there is power in prayer and I’d say one special day
in our busy year to pray for our men is alright!
"It’s only demanded of women to pray and fast?
Why don’t husbands skip meals and stay hungry for their wives?” I’d always ask…
The answer I now know-
They CAN’T that’s why. A few years ago Mister
did try only to give up by LUNCHTIME- retiring with a “splitting headache”!!
Personally,
I celebrate Teejri to enjoy the ceremony of “Asur”. Asur is a meal that fasting women consume between 4 a.m. to 5a.m. on the day of Teej. As I sit with my chai and
koki, I see my Mum sitting beside me. She was there on my first Teej fast after
our wedding. She lovingly looked on as I devoured the delicious meal she’d
cooked. The importance of eating something filling at this early hour on
fasting day was grilled in by her.
My next
reason is mehendi. Each year we get together with friends and call a professional
to apply henna on our hands. This is a tradition and is said to be auspicious.
This year we had “AATMANIRBHAR” mehendi due to the corona pandemic. We all
applied the mehendi for ourselves in our homes. Each girl shared the picture of
her beautifully decorated hand on WhatsApp. What better way to bond. This
bonding and shared celebration is also a reason why we fast on Teejri!!
The last and probably the strongest reason is to challenge myself. “You please don’t
fast, you’ll spoil your health”- says Mister.
“I CAN do
it, don’t worry”. I doubt my words but say them very confidently!
IT’S 12
p.m. – the kids’ torturous online classes are done. No headache still! Fingers
crossed we move to Lunchtime. I lay the lunch on the table and the smell of
delicious food is tempting, but I overcome it. Evening comes and I’ve
survived. After the Katha you can’t sip a drop of water till you spot the moon.
We feed the kids their dinner and head to the park downstairs.
It’
pouring! “Rush inside, we’ll all get drenched.”
An hour
goes by. The rain is incessant and obviously there is no sight of the moon.
“Moon
please come fast so my Mom can eat”- with folded hands and eyes closed tight the
little girl prays fervently.
“It’s the
rain” says the first brat. “It must stop for the moon to be visible”
“Please God
make the rain stop so the Moon can appear fast and Mamma can eat”
Hands
clasped tight they both send an earnest prayer in chorus. NO LUCK.
It
continues to pour. We head up home to tuck them in.
It’s past
their bedtime. “Mamma, will you sleep
hungry?” asks the little one.
I don’t
reply –I’m feeling faint…
The phone
rings just then- “Meeta, It’s coming out!!”
A dash to
the terrace this time.
Lo and
behold there it appears- the beautiful moon!
WE stare at
it in wonderous worship and pray- As our eyes meet, I ponder if this is where
the phrase comes from? –“I Love You to the MOON and Back!”
