Haritalika Teej Vrata/International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances

Haritalika Teej fast
On the day of Bhadra Shukla Tritiya, Hindu women celebrate Teej with pomp and fanfare by worshiping Lord Shiva, fasting, and dancing. Ganesh Chaturthi and Rishi Panchami are also considered part of Tija. For the protection of husband and family, the women who are fasting today feel as if God himself descends on the earth for unwavering good fortune and eternal fullness.

Mythological connection of Haritalika Teej
Haritalika is also associated with the story of Parvati, in ancient times, Parvati, the daughter of the Himalayas, did severe penance to get Lord Shiva as her husband, although her penance could not successful due to a mismatch between the method and schedule of penance. According to the legend, Parvati first prayed to Lord Vishnu that Lord Vishnu, the Sustainer, surely knows how to succeed in her penance and that Vishnu made elaborate arrangements regarding fasts, worship, and methods to attain Lord Shiva. According to the information given by Hari, it is said that after Parvati had observed a strict fast and finally succeeded to achieve Lord Shiva as her husband.

Haritalika Teej commemorates the 108 years of penance performed by Mother Parvati to get Lord Shiva. In modern times, there is no such austerity for the bride and groom, however, we all know that many love stories are destroyed by social bonds, economic inequality, and materialistic thinking. With the infinite grace of Mother Parvati, may the love and feelings of lovers always get justice on this earth.


International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances
On December 21, 2010, the United Nations General Assembly officially proclaimed August 30 as the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. The UN General Assembly on December 21 expressed its deep concern about the increase in enforced or involuntary disappearances across the world.

More than a human rights violation against an individual
Enforced disappearance has frequently been used as a strategy to spread terror within society. The feeling of insecurity generated by this practice is not limited to the close relatives of the disappeared but also affects their communities and society as a whole.
Enforced disappearance has become a global problem and is not restricted to a specific region of the world. Once largely the product of military dictatorships, enforced disappearances can nowadays be perpetrated in complex situations of internal conflict, especially as a means of political repression of opponents. Of particular concern are:
the ongoing harassment of human rights defenders, relatives of victims, witnesses, and legal counsel dealing with cases of enforced disappearance;
the use by States of counter-terrorist activities as an excuse for breaching their obligations;
and the still widespread impunity for enforced disappearance.

Special attention must also be paid to specific groups of especially vulnerable people, like children and people with disabilities.
Hundreds of thousands of people have vanished during conflicts or periods of repression in at least 85 countries around the world.

Even in Nepal, thousands of people have disappeared during the decades-long conflict, but it is extremely sad that even after half a decade of the ceasefire, justice has not been inaugurated. Everyone is waiting for justice, meaningful wishes.

Suyog Dhakal