TOGETHER: Sangita Lama and her team during their performance.

By Usha Wagle Gautam

Nepalese women in Qatar gathered at Quality Hypermarket to celebrate the third and final day of Teej, also known as Rishi Panchami, over the weekend.
The programme was organised by Nepalese Women Society (NWS) — an umbrella organisation of Qatar-based Nepalese women — and was chaired by NWS President Rekha Rai. Hari Prasad Aryal, second secretary at Nepalese Embassy, was the guest of honour.
More than 500 participants, mostly women, attended the event. They wore red saris, ornaments and bangles. Fifty local artistes along with national folk singer Januki Tarami Magar performed songs and dances during the programme.
The Teej celebrations last three days, with the third day known as Rishi Panchami. Rishi Panchmi is considered sacred and auspicious and is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. Men and women fast on this day.
The programme started with a one-minute silence for those Nepalese who died during recent political violence and the Great Earthquake of April 25.
The first performance was by Tau Maya Gurung, accompanied by 20 female dancers.
Singer Rubin BC performed a folk song, and dancer Roshani Rai performed twice during the programme.
A group dance by Sita Thapa, Barsha KC, Kumari Basnet, Sangita Lama and Basanti Rai followed. The dance revolved around love, sympathy and sentiments of a mother towards her children.
Maya Tamang performed a folk dance in her Teej outfit. She said the sari she was wearing was sent by her mother in Nepal.
A group comprising Sabina Tamang, Kiran Lama, Hemanta Lama and Ajaya Thapa performed Bom Bom Bhole—a  religious folk dance. The dance was choreographed by Kiran Lama.
National folk singer Janaki Tarami Magar performed thirteen Teej-based folk songs, encouraging the audience members to get on their feet. Her two-hour-long performance saw her joking with the audience, saying that she was looking for the right man in the crowd. Performing for the first time in Qatar, Magar is a veteran singer who has already given her voice to over 300 songs and has toured over 15 countries. “Larger female audience made my performance worthwhile,” Magar said.
Singer/songwriter Madhusudan Dangi also sang, while the dancing duo of Kamal Yonjan Tamang and Maya Tamang danced.
Puspa BC, finalist of a recent dancing reality show, performed twice during the programme.
Thirteen-year-old Rabina Pokhrel and Santi Tamang also performed. Suraj KC, Kumar Tamang and Manish Tamang also sang.
Hari Prasad Aryal, the guest of honour, said he was happy to attend. He also requested all people at the event to respect Qatar’s rules and regulations.
People from all over Qatar came to attend. Menuka Bista who came from Al Khor said she felt as if she was in Nepal. Male participants were equally happy about attending. Rajan Shrestha and Dilip Parajuli said they enjoyed the programme.
Participants were served Dar — a special Teej cuisine at the end. The programme was hosted by Rabina Rai and supported by Pigeon Engineering Trading and Contracting Company, Green Gas Trading and Contracting Company, Basanta Films, Uttam Gurung, Lali Gurash Restaurant and Sarita Pandey.