What we gained and missed in Hartalika Teej 2017

Teej or Hartalika Teej is a well known and famous festival among the women of Hindu culture. It is of great significance in Nepalese and Indian community. Until 2017, society has gone through massive economic and technological advancements.On one hand eastern women have become significantly more educated since the last twenty years. Women have more freedom to choose the right from the wrong and are more aware of their equal human right they share with men.

We are proud of

So,  more women with  widened perspectives celebrated Hartalika Teej 2017 compared to the Teej of 1997. These open modern women who could fast didn’t do it for the sake of their husband’s long life because they know one’s long life os determined by his/her healthy lifestyle and not because of somebody fasting for them. These women rather fast for the appreciation of their conjugal life and also as a devotion to Lord Shiva.

On the other hand there is much technological advancement that have occurred until today. The internet has boomed along with social medias. Everyone has a phone that takes a ‘selfie’ (the word that had no place in the English dictionary up until recently).  So these technologies have also greatly affected the way women celebrated Hartalika Teej of 2017.

We are missing out

The ‘Fun’ part of Teej has not diminished at all. But, Teej is not just a community based festival. Rather, Teej has become more of an internet based event. Hindu women, especially of Nepalese origin around the world have shared how they have celebrated Teej this year. Today every social media  is full of Teej stories and selfies with smiley faces.

As perfect as it looks and sounds there are few downsides to these kinds of celebrations. Celebrations like Teej have now become a major event to show off. People celebrated festivals like Teej and Dashain to bring closeness in a community. But now these festivals have become platform for Narcissism. People are busy giving their best poses to post online rather than to share a smile with their own family.