Teej

As I stepped out from the low wooden door of a neighbour's house, adorned in a red sari, jewellery and red bangles like a newly wed bride, the crowd erupted into loud, enthusiastic, cheers and clapping. The white woman had arrived!

Everywhere we went on Teej, the Hindu Women's Festival, women wore beautiful red saris. Women were on the streets, in buses, temples and other public places singing and dancing.

Traditionally married women fast for the long life and good health of their husbands, whereas unmarried women fast in the hope of getting a good spouse. Married women wear their red wedding sari. Unmarried women or widows wear a different colour sari. Can you imagine having a party where you re-wear your wedding dress with all your girlfriends each year!

My new friend Hari invited us to his home for lunch during this special festival. He explained it was very good for the women, as they are considered second class to the men in society. It was their time to be boss. Just as he ordered his fasting wife and mother in-law to make us all lunch! As I protested, he explained "wee arr nut farsting, eet tees only they, wee should not bee da ones to esufferr."  I couldn't help wondering if it was Hari or me who missed the point.

After returning to our village, the local women invited me to the temple to dance and sing with them. I couldn't sing and judging from all the laughter, they thought I couldn't dance either. Despite the fact that they all kept telling me how good I was.

"Meeess you moust tak off yourr clothees." A Nepali woman tugged at my pants and dragged me to a room in her house.

As I stood there uncomfortably in my underwear with six Nepali women looking me over, a couple of thoughts went through my head. The first, I wished I'd worn my good undies and the second; maybe the time had come to introduce myself.

A red sari and jewellery appeared. The women pulled and tugged and pinned me into the new red outfit.

"Meeess you mousta bee keeping yourr eyezas closeed or eet weell nout bee good forr you." They painted my face with pink make up, tikas and red lipstick, all the while saying "Oohh, noow, you arre reealy beautifool"

After my enthusiastic official introduction to the party and the local female community, I was treated like royalty all evening. There is a scene out of the movie 'Mama Mia' where everyone danced around Meryl Streep, who was dancing up a storm. I was Meryl Streep! In fact, I danced right out of my sari!

My rather embarrassed sons just shook their heads in disbelief, my other fourteen charges screamed and cheered with delight.

x Lisa (it's good to be a woman, Mum)

Lisa celebrating Teej Festival