By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Aug. 22: Haritalika Teej, the fasting festival of Hindu women, was observed on Friday in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic.
In the previous years, women used to visit the Pashupatinath Temple and other Shiva shrines on the occasion of Teej, but this year, due to the COVID-19 scare followed by the implementation of prohibitory order in the Kathmandu Valley, the Teej celebrations were limited within home with the family members.
The increasing cases of novel coronavirus across the nation and ongoing prohibitory order compelled the women to limit the celebrations of the annual festival at home this year.
On the occasion of Teej, women observe a day-long fasting, wishing for a prosperous life, perpetual luck and happiness of their families.
The Pashupati area, which used to be flushed with women devotees dressed up in red attire, cheerfully singing and dancing, wore a deserted look on Friday.
All the big and small temples remained closed this year during Teej.
Sangita Dhungana, a resident of Balkot, said that she celebrated the festival by staying at home and listening to Teej songs. The temples nearby are closed and the police have not allowed stepping out. Also, it is safer to stay at home rather than to go out during the pandemic, she said.
“I performed Puja at home this year. In the earlier years, I used to visit a temple nearby and spent whole day there. But the situation is not the same this year,” added Dhungana.
Likewise, Pratima Karki said that celebration of Teej by crowding at temples was not safe in the situation of public health crisis. There is a risk of the virus infection with the increasing COVID-19 cases in Kathmandu, said Karki.
“I visited a Shiva temple nearby in the morning to offer Puja by maintaining social distancing. After that, I stayed at home with my mother-in-law,” she said.
It is better to stay home and protect ourselves from the virus infection rather than celebrating the festival singing and dancing in mass just for the sake of entertainment. If we save ourselves from the virus infection this year, Teej can be marked next year with much fanfare, she added.
Meanwhile, according to our Bhairahawa Correspondent, all the Shiva shrines in Rupandehi, Bhairahawa and Butwal remained closed due to the COVID-19 scare on Friday.
As prohibitory order has been imposed in the district by various local levels along with the District Administration Office, women in the district marked Teej by celebrating it within their homes, maintaining social distancing and adopting all other safety measures.