Home
B360 National

Teej festival being observed across the country

A A- A+

KATHMANDU: Haritalika Teej, one of the major festivals celebrated by Nepali Hindu Women, is being observed throughout the country today. Teej festival is a three-day-long celebration, that combines gatherings‚ singing‚ dancing, eating and fasting. During the festival, women usually dress in red clothes, observe fast, dance during the day and offer their prayers to Lord Shiva. Married women put on bangles, ‘Potay’ (a necklace made of glass beads), 'Tilahari’ and ‘Sindur’ (vermilion powder) considered the symbols of good luck and dress themselves up in red saris or other red outfits and adorn themselves with different kinds of ornaments. Married women wish for a prosperous life for their spouse while unmarried ones perform various ‘pujas’ (worships) and observe fasting, praying for fulfilment of their wish for a happy and prosperous conjugal life. Devotees throng various temples of Lord Shiva including Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu to offer their prayers. On the first day called 'Dar Khane Din' women visit places of their kin and friends and eat various delicacies. The main day of Teej is the second day when women observe fasting. The final day of the festival falls on Rishi Panchami when women break their fast after performing puja of Sapta Rishi, seven sages. This unique festival of Nepali women is also a celebration of sisterhood as sisters gather at their parent's homes and participate in jubilant dancing and singing. The legend has it that Parvati, the daughter of the Himalaya Raj, was on her maiden fast, wishing for the health and wellbeing of her spouse, Lord Shiva. Since then the same day has been marked as Haritalika Teej. READ ALSO: