Posts Written by Neha
By Neha Rayamajhi • 12 years ago

To Teej or not to Teej, that is the question

I believe in preserving my culture. I celebrate the festivals I grew up rejoicing, and worship the Goddesses I grew up glorifying.  I use my hand when I eat, and drink ginger and honey when I am sick. It is my personal way of paying homage to my ancestors, my strategy to be at home even when I am thousands of miles away from the country I call my home, my fight to keep a civilization alive at a time when everything about it is considered to be anti-“development.”

So every time my calendar calls for a holiday attention, I give in. Gladly. Every time except every year in the eve of Teej.

It may be known as the “festival of women”, but to me Teej  very much felt like a festival FOR men. Celebrated among few ethnic groups in Nepal, the married women fast for the well-being of their husbands, and the unmarried ones do it in hopes of getting good husbands. While the women are suppose to fast inside the house, men are allowed to feast outside; carefree and free. As always.

At least that was my understanding of it. To me it represented celebration of patriarchy, reinforced heteronormative coercion, and reminded how even as a young girl, my duty was to scarify and my goal was to find a good man.

As a queer- feminist- student of “development” I am suppose to reject this tradition. No questions asked. But as a Nepali who spent ...
By Neha Rayamajhi • 12 years ago

North Carolina Same Sex Marriage Amendment

In three days, North Carolina will have the choice of determining the faith of Same-Sex Marriage Amendment. This legislatively- referred constitutional amendment will define marriage in the state constitution as a partnership between a “man” and a “woman” only, and further, ban any alternative types of domestic legal unions.

For a pro-family advocate like myself, and moreover a non-citizen student with an immense love for this state and no voting privilege, this makes an extremely important and interesting case to take note of.

It is important because this ballot will hold the state’s stance on the sanctity of family and freedom. These votes will hold the power of determining what may become a patent for neighboring states in the country, as well ...

In three days, North Carolina will have the choice of determining the faith of Same-Sex Marriage Amendment. This legislatively- referred constitutional amendment will define marriage in the state constitution as a partnership between a “man” and a ...