In my part of Punjab they use to celebrate something called TeraTezi (I think that’s what they called it), it was believed that during the 13 days of TeraTezi the demons would visit earth and were free to roam around.
When in Pakistan during this period the grandmothers were extremely strict with us, there was no playing outside even in the houses’ garden or yard during noon and after sunset and no sleeping on the roof or in the courtyard at night because they said the demons could slap us which is lethal and would kill within a few days.
The elder women were very cautious during these thirteen days, when the thirteen days were up usually the demons are expected to leave but there was always a chance that a handicapped demon or two may still be lagging behind so to get rid of them at the end of the thirteenth day all the doors and windows of the house were opened wide and an elder lady would get hold of a metal object, usually a scythe and go to every room and corridor in the house to drive out the remaining demons using it because it was said the demons fear metal, after the house had been cleansed of demons to celebrate then end of TeraTezi a sweet dish was prepared by crushing bread and kneading it into clarified butter, milk and sugar and the mixture was sent to neighbours, family and friends and daughters and sisters of the tribe in particular.
I was talking about it with my momma and was wondering if it is celebrated anywhere else in Punjab (or Pakistan or South Asia) because she says it’s unheard of in the area where my maternal family comes from. I was thinking maybe its just Halloween? Or maybe a tradition from the days of pre-Islamic pagan/hindu ignorance which we still follow even after being Muslims for a good seven-eight generations (maybe more).
