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Writer's picturePriyanka Sharma

Teej Festival as a Girl

Teeyan is the Punjabi name of the festival of Teej which is celebrated in Punjab and Haryana (where it is also called Haryali Teej). In my family, there were 3 sisters n only me boy..dad has 2 brothers they have 2,2 daughters each so it was totally a girl's family..and when this festival used to come I always used to side cornered by all my sisters because it's only for girls and women. I used to hate when m ignored these days bcoz I was the only son and always wanted attention but one of my sisters always said to me girls seek attention why u?? I don't know I do seek..there has to be something in my dads n family males gens otherwise all girls as a child is strange..n that's the reason I was also like a girl..if I sideline my male parts..my remaining body was smooth..my hairs quality. .n my shy nature too..actually this festival is celebrated from the third day of the lunar month of Sawan on the bright half, up to the full moon of Sawan, by women. Married women go to their maternal house to participate in the festivities. In the past, it was traditional for women to spend the whole month of Sawan with their parents. Whether or not a married woman goes to her parents, brothers take a gift set to their sisters called a 'sandhara'..and I had to give gifts to all my sisters..and whole my pocket money goes into their gifts..I just hate it...I never get anything at all these festivals so only for girls..this festival ..including rakhi. Bhai Doj n all. A sandhara which is a gift I give includes a Punjabi Suit/sari, laddoo, bangles, mehndi, and a swing...which cost me very high..n this ritual went on for years. when I was 19 years old...that year one week before this festival when all my sisters came to our house..one of my di find me sitting sadly on the couch. .she asked what happened. I said I feel alone these days....u all get gifts u dance u swing u dress u enjoy together n wat about me...never no one noticed my feeling..she took me close consoled me n said this time it will not happen..2 days before the festival starts..that night di gave me few tablets and said take it will relax u from the feeling which is bothering u.. I took and I felt drowsy & went to deep sleep. When I woke up I felt strange..it took time for me to feel. I opened my eyes all my 6 sisters were seated on stools in front of the bed observing me. I put my feet down n the sound came like payals. I put the next step again it came. I ignored it I felt like something in my hands was heavy when I saw it was bangles now I was getting conscious. I ran to the mirror..one girl I see in the mirror I looked back turned around n what the f** .. it was me. They have painted my nails hands and feet..I was wearing Payal..patiyala dress..heavy material on my chest which I noticed it was water balloons. .chunni on my shoulder..long braid like typical Punjabi girl..ribbon on the end of it..color full bangles. .bindi on the forehead. Hanging earrings..hair buds on my forehead...omg, I was transformed into a girl by my sisters. .my.older sister came to me and said my Lil girly brother now don't panic it's a gift from all of us to u for all those gifts u till date u gave to us every year..but this year u will be there being one of us now. I started crying all my sisters came close we had a group hug..mom.came into the room di told me all about the plan mom was also happy ...me and my girly side waiting for my fav festival eagerly. ..

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