Hey, have you turned into a veggie?' one of my friends asked while I moved away from the food stall at a 'Teej Dar' programme without picking up the pieces of roasted chicken, and rather filled an extra bowl with 'Kheer' (rice pudding). I grinned at her in response and said, while I continued being omnivorous, my taste buds were fed up with the same types of dishes served at almost every programmes organised in this city – from press meets and conferences to marriage receptions and Teej Dar. She threw a befuddled look at me and moved away with a plate full with delicacies.
Teej probably has become the longest festival of Nepal with the artistes releasing Teej songs as early as two months before the festival and organisations and women groups organising Dar programme since a month before the big day. While almost every business or social organisation organises Dar programme according to their financial capability, frequency of familial feasts has shot up significantly, with most of them organising multiple Dar (combined with dance as well) before the night dedicated for it.
The traditional concept of Dar has changed significantly. Major delicacies of it in the past included Kheer, ghee, items prepared from bamboo shoots, and varieties of pickles and vegetables. Meat of any kind was shunned during the Dar that was celebrated mostly one or two day before Teej. But the celebrations now have included almost every variety served by the hotels and party palaces which includes multiple non-veg items like roasted chicken, chicken chilly or Manchurian, mutton masala gravy, fish fries, tempuras, paneer items, rotis, and varieties of rice.
There is no surprise. Whatever the organiser or the serving place, the items are same and they taste similar. It doesn't create any fun while munching or swallowing them, and it has become a ritual to attend such events and eat the same types of food. However, the congregation of women (sometimes men, too), sharing of feelings and dancing become paramount during such times and people care less about the foods or drinks being served. If the Dar is supported with liquor, very few care about the types of food as greater concentration goes to the drinks.
Cultures change with time and festivals are no exceptions. We have seen multidimensional changes in Teej celebrations and other activities. New designs of clothes, jewelry and accessories, new varieties of foods and drinks and new methods of entertainment are welcome but the essence of the culture and festival should be preserved. Every festival in Nepal is celebrated with special types of dress, food, observance and communion.
You don't eat the same food and observe the festival in the same way, so they are special. So, if you eat the same food items that are served in all types of lunches and dinners throughout the year during Dar, you fail to create or feel the vibes that the festival is supposed to create in and around you. And in the long run, there are chances that your affection towards the festival wanes gradually and you decide to stay at home rather than attending the programmes that offer you no innovation and add no additional flavours in your routine life.
While personal health and economic management should be considered while celebrating the festivals, innovation in the traditional delicacies and including healthy food in the expansion of choice could help women, especially in the cities and towns, stay healthy. One must be conscious enough to maintain their health and economic wellbeing even beyond the festival time.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 10 September 2024.
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