Women's holiday

Wedneday was a holiday in Nepal. Unique thing about the holiday is that it is a holiday set aside only for women – the men go to work. Our Neplali language lecturer explained to us that this week will witness two special holidays for women, the first us teej which involves fasting and feasting.

Teej" is the fasting festival for women. It takes place in August or early September. The festival is a three-day long celebration that combines sumptuous feasts as well as rigid fasting. Through this religious fasting, hindu women pray for marital bliss, well being of their spouse and children and purification of their own body and soul.

The second is a day when women go and visit their mother’s homes. In Nepal, it is a custom that when you get married you stay with your mother in-law and are discouraged from visiting your mother’s home. So this holiday is a special day for married women to go visit their mothers and share the joys/challenges of living with your mother in law. It is also a day to celebrate your woman hood by thanking God for giving you the power to be able to give birth. On such occasions, women dress in red saris.

Are there any special rules that dictate the relationships between married women and their in-laws?

Do you have any special holidays dedicated to women in your culture?