Earthquake(18/09/11)

I have ever never thought that I would be alive till I could see earthquake engulf me with FEAR and leave me TREMBLNG like an hour! Today it happened in Nepal at around 6:30-6:40 pm. It lasted for a minute or so. As sources are telling it was 6.8 rector scaled quake of earth and all the home appliances shaked hard discoing left to right; and some jumping up and down. The impact was so huge that people were crying out EARTHQUAKES all over. News reported peoples' injuries, cracks in many houses and more and more deaths are reporting.The epicentre was Sikkim, India and estimated 13 were killed there.

At the very minute when I my whole body was shaking with the earth, I saw fear in everyones' eyes and I was questioning myself what my life is worth if it ends today? There are more I wanted to do with life. More to live life, more color to fill in and more to experience....That was the moment I realized, how am I going to live my life.

TEEJ-festival of women

 

Say Teej

AUG 30 -
Finally, the day is here to end, alas, not to end forever. The day of red saris and bangles for Hindu women is ending today. Nevertheless, the rest of the day is just about to unfold happy faces, a joyful environment and numerous songs and dances. Unmarried Hindu women considered this annual festival a blessing empowering a good life partner, and married women prayed sincerely for their husband’s long and healthy life.

The festival, which is important to both married and unmarried women, has been taking a different turn culturally, traditionally and conceptually year by year. When I was in grade three, I hardly knew what the word Teej actually meant. After asking a respective subject teacher for more information, she told me it was a festival of red worn by women. At that time, too young to understand everything meant by it, I reckoned it as a festive season of red where it is mandatory for them to wear red like at a theme party.

As I grew older, I saw not only the red theme parties of fun, but I came to know the true meaning behind it and a vital festival especially reserved for women to gather and celebrate. I accepted the fact of the country’s richness in terms of culture and traditions. As years come and go, this festival of red has changed along. One of the major changes is the songs. The songs marketed these days are more a pain and less a relief. Teej songs need to be soul-touching and provide relief to women. But the songs these days have less meaning and more laugh riots.

I have also come across songs where instead of praying and wishing for the well being and good of one’s husband, asking something precious like gold in return has become more important. The songs have supposedly created a bad impression by comparing gold and husbands. Most songs are unhealthy, producing bad vibes; and many others unimpressive to hear altogether. Additionally, in the name of the festival, women engage in a competition to wear the most expensive clothes.

Showoffs have played their part in starting arguments between husbands and wives.

However, there are other good changes in the festival like fasting. Fasting being really important, women in the villages don’t even swallow saliva. Swallowing it is considered to be swallowing the blood of one’s husband. This belief is kind of prehistoric and rather superstitious in the modern world. Today, city women are drinking water, and in some cases, they also eat fruits to avoid fainting in the middle of the day. This change for and made by women is quite surprising.

The bottom line is that whatever changes in the years to come, women have this particular day to celebrate with. Like in other festivals, Teej may also have some unacceptable flaws and changes. Whatever, let’s hope that it won’t bring arguments between a husband and wife!

Posted on: 2011-08-31 09:47

P.S. : Once again! This blog article is on print on Nepal's English Newspaper, The Kathmandu Post titled as Say Teej .

Cycling At Its Best!

Banda-as in Nepali means closure. Nepal could be famous for its delicacies particularly dal-bhat(rice and pulses) and may be known as the land of Himalayas but Banda is an affective word that shakes up the preplanned  plans if you had any and certainly making you angry or happier depending on situations you are in. Today was the good Banda day.

I never was an athlete during my school years so I never had the intention to be one either. 28^th August 2011 is a day to rejoice throughout my life. I actually rode on a bicycle for the first time ever in my life! I fell badly, got hurt more than thrice but I stand up even in the times when I didn’t fall or about to fall. My legs and arms are in terrible pains due to the hour’s long practice and I am in no mood to walk the walk of my feet. However, I am too happy to express.  

During my first ride of practice, people to be more precise strangers helped me giving and sharing their past experiences making me feel like I belong with those people. As if I was someone they know. I really appreciated their small yet informative tips. They were very supportive. Men, women, olds and young were giving me something special, little to their good old memories and more of expertise’s helping hands.  To my surprise, I learnt to paddle and was able drive it for a minute. With that, my whole body was shouting as if they are cheering upon my success.

Trust me, my day wouldn’t be joyous to mention unless those people weren’t there to help me out. Nepal could get worst in coming years or if God has other decision may be it could possibly change but I am confident that people had seen worse at its worst and they would probably help each other because if they are capable of helping an individual on her efforts of cycling then, I am one hundred percent sure that people will be there for people in the most dreadful scenarios.