GALA CELEBRATION: Nepalese expatriates dance to a folk song during the Teej festivities at Quality Hypermarket.
By Usha Wagle Gautam
It was a cheerful Teej celebration over the weekend for expatriate Nepalese women. The cultural programme was hosted by Gulmi Welfare Society (GWS) in the hall of Quality Hypermarket, where scores of Nepalese women came from different parts of Qatar to celebrate their biggest festival.
Chaired by Shiva Khadka, president of GWS, the guests included T B Karki, vice president of NRN-ICC, Sangita Lama, president of Nepalese Women Society, Purna KC, Gulf Vice Co-ordinator of NRN, Binod Bhattarai, secretary of NRN-NCC, Dorna Basnet, lifetime patron of GWS, Amrit Gurung, NRN-ICC member, entrepreneur RK Sharma and others. Teej is a festival dedicated to Nepalese women. This year it will end on August 30.
Celebrated largely in Nepal and northern India, Teej falls on the third day of the new moon in Shrawan (July/August) month of Nepalese calendar. The four-day celebration includes feasting and fasting. Teej is traditionally observed by married women for the well-being of their husbands.
The venue in Quality Hypermarket was decked in traditional charm. Most of the female participants wore red sarees. The event started with the rendition of Nepalese National Anthem followed by dar, the traditional feast of Nepalese delicacies — pickle, bread, fruits and juice — distributed by GWS members to the participants.
One of the participants, Indira Shah sang Jau Jau Sathi Maiti Aja (Let’s go, friends, to the parents’) and Reetika Magar danced to the song (let’s dance with a twist).
Likewise, Mina Gaire, Sushmita Bhusal and Sabitri Thapa among others danced in popular folk tune dedicated to the auspicious day — Teej Ko Rahar Aayo Barilai (excited to have Teej on our backyard). Pabitra Lama, living in Qatar since 2008, said that celebrating Teej with others in a foreign land was refreshing. Working in a cleaning company, Lama shared that she remembered her childhood and teenage days in Nepal where she with her friends celebrated the festival.
During the programme, she got a chance to meet her compatriots and make some friends. Apsara Burma participated in the programme with her family.
Living in Qatar since 2005, this is the first time she celebrated Teej in Qatar. She says, “This celebration is no less than that of Nepal.”
Ambika Gurung is planning to get married next year. She said, “I guess there will be a positive response to this year’s Teej fasting.” Sumina Malla has been married for 25 years. She says, “I fast each year for the wellbeing of my husband.”
The event was hosted by Bhim Taramu Magar, Parbesh Dahal and Iswora Magar while Mina Khadka delivered the welcome speech.
On the same day, Nepalese United Society (NUS) celebrated Teej in Golden Fork Restaurant. Nepal Women Society is planning to organise a Teej celebration next Friday with popular folk singer Binu Tamang.
