In Hinduism, there is a festival dedicated to women who hope for a happy marriage, namely the Teej festival. This festival is prevalent in Nepal and India, and is maintained among the South Asian community in Hong Kong. Even though celebrations have to be scaled down due to spatial and temporal limitations, the community insists on preserving this traditional custom.
This year, on the 8th of September, we were invited to attend the Teej party held at the India Club in Jordan. Although four days had passed since the official Teej festival, more than a hundred Nepalese women attended that night. Dressed in red and green, accessorised with red flowers, the women danced to the music from seven o’clock in the evening until early morning. It was very lively.
The Story Behind Teej Festival
Teej is an important Hindu festival, usually held from late August to early September every year. It is also of great significance to many Nepalese women. Its origin is rooted in the deep devotion of Goddess Parvati towards Lord Shiva. According to the mythology, Parvati endured all kinds of hardships and reincarnations in order to marry Shiva. Finally, in the 108th reincarnation, Shiva was moved by her eternal love and unwavering commitment. The two reached a heavenly union. This tale sets an example for many Nepalese women, who pray for happy marriages and the health of their husbands during this festival.
The Teej festival lasts for three days. The first day is known as “Feast Day”. Women sing, dance and enjoy a lavish feast with their family in beautiful red dresses. The next day is “Fasting Day”. Married women usually observe a strict fast to pray for a happy family and the health of their husbands. Unmarried women also participate, praying for an ideal partner. On the third day, women perform cleansing rituals. They bathe in the river and wash away sins with sacred plants, symbolising the purification of body and mind.
Teej Festival in Hong Kong
The Teej party we attended featured singing and dancing sessions, which are very common in South Asian festive events. Singers were invited to perform on stage, while participants danced with their friends. Meanwhile, more than ten Nepalese dishes were served in two rounds at the venue. The organiser also arranged a lucky draw and the Miss Teej competition. This competition aimed to showcase festive spirit by selecting the most beautifully and traditionally dressed lady of the night.
We had the honour to interview the winner Shrestha Lisa, who explained the customs of Teej festival with enthusiasm. She said, Teej was originally a festival for married women who prayed for their husbands’ longevity, but now, both married and unmarried women celebrate together.
Lisa added that the celebrations are fairly different between Hong Kong and Nepal. In Hong Kong, most people are busy with work. If the festival falls on a weekday, it might not be possible to host a party. This year’s Teej festival faced such circumstances, so the celebration had to be postponed to the weekend and condensed into a one-day event. However, in Nepal, the Teej festival is a public holiday, therefore celebrations would take place on a larger scale. Women would visit the temple specifically on that day to pray for their husbands.
Radhika Gurung, the Women’s Secretary of the Non-Resident Nepali Association, was the co-organiser of this event. She considered the celebrations in Hong Kong to be quite similar to that in Nepal. She said, the main difference is that some participants are located separately from their family members, and would instead attend with their friends. In Nepal, as opposed to Hong Kong, participants would attend with their family, making the celebrations more lively.
At the Teej party, most participants were Nepalese women in traditional clothing. As non-Nepalese guests, we did not fulfill the traditional dress code and felt out of place at first. However, this sense of estrangement was eventually resolved as the activity progressed. From time to time, participants took the initiative to explain to us about the festival and other South Asian cultural customs, and asked us passionately whether we were enjoying the night.
To many people, the South Asian community in Hong Kong seems to only gather within their own group. In fact, they are eager to share with others about their culture, despite lacking channels of communication. During our conversations with some participants that night, they indicated that mainstream media rarely pays attention to or reports on South Asian culture and their traditions, resulting in a lack of public knowledge. This joyful and festive event not only showcased the diverse aspects of Hong Kong culture, but also showed us that as long as we take a step forward, the cultural barriers can be easily overcome.
