What is the Teej Festival
Teej festival of Nepal is the only festival that is celebrated by Nepali Hindu women all across the world which is also named ‘Hartalika Teej’. It is celebrated in monsoon season primarily by girls and women by singing songs, dancing, dressing up with henna-colored hands and feet, wearing red, green, or yellow clothes, jewelry, and many more. Teej is dedicated to goddess Parvati and her reunion with lord Shiva when lord Shiva accept goddess Parvati as his wife. Goddess Parvati is also known as Teej Mata.
Teej festival is celebrated for the well-being of spouses, and children and the purification of one’s body and soul. This festival contains three days long celebration which combines sumptuous feasts as well as rigid fasting. It is celebrated for the long life of her husband as well as the long-term relationship between them in the present and the life to come. The folk music, dances, and women with red clothes add more flavor to the traditional values of teej. Most of the Nepali Hindu women sing, dance in the street, and also visit the temples in a fasting mood.
Day One
The first day of teej which is called ‘Dar Khane Din’. On this way women gathered at one place in their finest attire and start dancing and singing. Women work throughout the year therefore on this day as the feast is hosted by man. This is a day for them to assemble themself in sorha singhaar, dressing up and using excessive makeup. The food served on that day is seems to be abundant and rich. This is also a day of full freedom of expression in the whole year. The jollity often goes till midnight after which 24 hrs fast starts.
Day Two
This second day is known as fasting day. Some women live without a drop of water and food while some other take liquid and fruits. The fasting is observed by most of the Hindus women in the world. There is believe to all the married women’s that their husband and family will be blessed with longevity, prosperity and peace. Unmarried women observed the fast with a hope of being blessed with a good husband in future.
Day Three
The third day is the end of teej festivals it is also named as ‘Rishi Panchami’. After the end of fasting day, women pay homage to seven saints or sages, bath with red mud from the roots of the sacred datiwan bush, along with its leaves and offer prayers to deities. After the act of purification women are considered absolved from all their sins.
