Thursday, July 31, 2014

Wishing You a Blissful Teej

It's all going down in Rajasthan and Chandigarh today as this year's celebration of Teej comes to an end. The Hindu festival honors the goddess Parvati, commemorating her return after 100 years of separation to her husband, Lord Shiva. Invoking Parvati's blessing during the festival is thought to promote marital bliss. Invoking Parvati Shallow's blessing has a different set of benefits altogether.

The three-day celebration features both fasting and feasting, though it's unclear whether ketchup is involved. Women are encouraged to rest on the first day while men do all of the cooking and serving as part of a day-long party. In the Nepalese version of the festival, the first day (Dar Khane Din) is also one of the few days of the year women are allowed to openly complain. Or, as we know it at my house, every day.

The second day of the festival is one of fasting, at least in Nepal. (Other versions of Teej in India skip the fasting in favor of gift-giving. So we'll probably skip the Nepalese party.) The final day of the festival features ritual cleansing and prayers to various Hindu deities for successful marriage (or in the case of the unmarried, for decent husbands who won't give them much reason to bitch on Dar Khane Din).

The purpose of Teej is two-fold: to celebrate the power of a wife's love and devotion to her husband and to usher in the monsoon season. Our Teej also has a special purpose.

There are other similarities between the festival and the Gheorghian Teej, as I think about it. In India, Teej is marked by colorful costumery. Here, Teej often wears lime green basketball shorts and bright red running shoes. The festival celebrates indulgence, which has happened from time to time in our Teej's world. And those of us that recall the marriage of the Doofus Overlord to his bride will no doubt remember the joy of that celebration.

Blissful Teej, indeed.

36 comments:

zman said...

Teej = monsoon usher?

Danimal said...

happy birthday to the teej.

T.J. said...

do they sell Happy Teej merch? 'cause i'd like some of that

T.J. said...

And today is actually BaconBaking's birthday, so some synergy there with the marriage aspect of the Teej celebration. No Hinduism practiced in our home, however.

zman said...

Teej eats beef.

Mark said...

Oh man, I'm so psyched. DJ Shadow is one of my all time favorite artists and I've only seen him live once (he doesn't hit the South much) and he's coming to Orlando with Cut Chemist.

I actually fist pumped when my friend sent this link to my email.

http://m.concerts.livenation.com/event/22004CCBC40D6EEB?c=EML_LN_352707&camefrom=EMLN_352707

Danimal said...

My bad....happy birthday Jessica!

rob said...

the red sox have traded 4/5 of their starting rotation over the past week. beginning to think they may be throwing in the towel on the season.

Mark said...

Florida plays the top 2 ranked teams in the nation on the road this year. FSU plays two ranked teams total, both at home. ACC life, y'all.

Consider this the first of many comments bitching about Florida Football in some form this season.

Whitney said...

I guess nobody had any recommendations about Winston-Salem, so here's one. Just had lunch at a corner eatery called Mozelles. Had a pimento cheeseburger with fried pickles, lettuce, and tomato on it. Side of spicy collards and some fresh brewed iced tea. Outstanding.

rob said...

glad to see your post-obft health kick has begun.

Mark said...

Jim Bowden is your Bama of the week. Couldn't happen to a bigger douche.

rob said...

ooooh, what'd he do?

Whitney said...

My health kick begins after I get back from Outside Lands in San Francisco on August 11. After that, I will be asking KQ for help. Or being cremated and memorialized. With ashes scattered at the Martha Wood cottage.

Mr KQ said...

Let's get Marls and have another "nutrition" summit.

rob said...

mr kq and i will ride mountain bikes while marls and clarence watch and hand us beers as we go by

Whitney said...

Hope you like empties

Dave said...

even a rube like me loves "endtroducing." interested in hearing the review, mark.

Mr KQ said...

Bout to empty a Mama's Little Yellow Pils or two. Stone IPA in the hole.

Mr KQ said...

Yellow, Yella - 220, 221 whatever it takes.

Mark said...

Rob- http://deadspin.com/jim-bowden-caught-stealing-from-fake-twitter-account-d-1614081824

Ill let you know how the show is, Dave. Greg reports that Shadow/Cut Chemist are playing NYC on 9/5.

I'm pumped for the show. House of Blues is a good venue. Decent size but still intimate. I saw Shadow in 98 with Blackalicious in Gainesville. Epic show. One of my personal top 5.

Whitney said...

Mr. Mom KQ- Stone IPA considering Norfolk as an east coast brewery site. Could be worth a return trip.

Mr KQ said...

I thought it was Green Flash or is it both? Need to get back down to see you and Mr Lynch. Let's hook it soon.

Dave said...

hey?

gheorghies?

rob said...

just walked through the inter milan traveling party as they left their hotel in dc. so there's that.

Greg said...

...and I'm going to the show on 9/5. Also going to a festy called moe.down in Turin, NY over Labor Day weekend.

Mark said...

Dave- if you like Endtroducing then check out The Private Press. Very different style but quite good.

rob said...

danimal, what's the industry scuttlebutt regarding dj's leave of absence. seems like a good dude - sad to see him struggling.

rob said...

if you clowns don't start stepping up your posting game, i'm going to have my daughter write a recurring column.

rob said...

hey, did you guys know the district of columbia can ticket you for having an expired virginia inpsection sticker? i didn't. i do now.

Mr KQ said...

Hundred dollar make you holla.

Mr KQ said...

Dolla dolla dolla. Eff u s5 spellcheck.

rob said...

the ol' peruvian pixie dust for dj, it seems.

Mark said...

Lindo Coffee, eh? Looks like I've found a favorite golfer.

rob said...

he's also alleged to have had a 'sexual indiscretion' with the wife of at least one other pgatour player. settle in - we may get some stories on this one.

Mark said...

New post up for Rob to spread PGA gossip in the comments section of.