TO THE MOON and BACK

 

“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!”