Festivity in the rains

Teej is the queen of several festivals that accompany the rains. Women feast on the choicest of monsoon delicacies like kheer and malpuas, writes Nirupama Dutt

THE woman in a white sari is grinding wheat inside the tall jail walls and staring at the dark clouds gathering in the sky. She breaks out into a song, Ab ke baras bhej bhayia ko babul, sawan mein leejo bulaye re (This year send my brother, O' father. Do call me home this monsoon). Such is the longing for monsoon festivities, and the queen of the festivals of the rainy days is Teej or Teean as we call it in Punjabi.

Of the row of festivals that accompany the rains, Teej is, indeed, the queen. It is a festival for women when they both fast and feast on the choicest of monsoon delicacies like kheer and malpuas. Traditionally, this was the time when married girls returned to their parental homes and to ride swings, sing, dance, adorn themselves and, of course, pray for the long lives of their husbands. Writer Arvinder Kaur says: "This is one festival that has not been lost to urbanisation. In one way or the other, it is celebrated in cities and towns."

Monsoons signify the season of love, and this festival that is celebrated in the month of bhadon`A0finds women adorning themselves. Shringhar-rasa prevails as colourful clothes are worn and hands and feet adorned with henna. Glass bangles tinkle on wrists and songs hover on the lips. Teej is celebrated with gusto all over India and Nepal. Interestingly, Teej is the name of a small red insect that comes out of the earth during monsoons. The Teej celebrations of Jaipur are very famous and in Chandigarh Rock Garden, an annual festival is held with bedecked swings.

The other important festival of the rainy days is the colourful and sentimental Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi. After celebrating marital love, it is time to revel in sibling bonding. Celebrated all over North India, this festival has sisters tying the thread of love on the wrists of their brothers, and they in turn promise to protect their sisters. Legend has it that in 326 B.C. Roxana, wife of Alexander the Great, sent the sacred thread to Porus, asking him not to harm her husband. It is said that when Porus was about to give a fatal blow to Alexander, he saw the thread on his wrist and held back.

It is also said that Rani Karnavati of Chittor sent a Rakhi to Mughal emperor Humayun and it was duly given. In times of modern consumerism, silver and gold bracelets have replaced the sacred thread among the haves and equally the brother's gift of a traditional shagun has grown manifold. Neelam Singh, a teacher, laments: "Such sacred festivals should not be commercialised. These should be kept pure and simple."

The most playful of the Hindu gods, Lord Krishna, was born on a rainy day, and when Vasudeva was taking him across the Yamuna, it is believed that a turbulent storm started and subsided only when waves had touched the feet of the blessed baby.

Monsoons see the joyful celebration of Janmashtmi with a day-long fast and setting up of a decorated rocking cradle for the idol of Balkrishna. This is the time to sing Radha-Krishna songs and in Mathura and Vrindavan there is dramatic enactment of the Raaslila, Krishna's song and dance with the gopis. In Mumbai and other places dahi handi is placed high above on a wire or rope strung between two buildings and teams of young men form human pyramids to break the pot and win the booty that comes along with it.

Last but not least is the modern festival that gives a sense of joy to every Indian. The Independence Day celebrations, of course. August 15 is a national holiday to celebrate the culmination of the long freedom struggle from British rule in 1947. On this day the Prime Minister hoists the National Flag at the Red Fort in Delhi and delivers an annual speech, highlighting the achievements of the government and announcing future plans. Flag- hoisting ceremonies take place all over the country in public places and educational institutions.

Tradition has it that it will always rain on Janmashtmi and the modern belief is that it will rain on Independence Day. Very often one has seen various prime ministers speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort with an umbrella held above and many umbrellas among the crowd of listeners. This belief of rain accompanying our monsoon festivals is perhaps born of the fact that in India rain is considered most auspicious, and monsoons are the very lifeline. So it is time now to participate in the traditional and modern festivities not perhaps by wearing dancing shoes but keeping an umbrella handy.

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