Kathmandu- Teej is considered as one of the greatest and special festivals of Hindu women. Mainly, the festival is dedicated to Goddess Parvati, who was the wife of Lord Shiva. During this Teej festival in Nepal, married women take fast for the long and healthy life of their husbands as well as pray for prosperity.
On the same occasion, unmarried girls take fast to get a good husband in the future. Both Married and unmarried women celebrate Teej with love and dedication.
During the festival, women are dressed in red Sarees with gold ornaments from head to toe. This festival is highly based on religious belief and is being followed till these decades by all women over the nation. This festival occurs during the month of September in Nepal. It has unique styles or rituals to celebrate, they do gather in a large and entertain themselves through different folk song and dance. As they do visit Lord Shiva temple nearby them to worship, most of them go to Pashupatinath temple standing in a huge row line. The Teej is an old traditional festival of Nepal; it is more popular around the modern city as well as the village.
On this day both married and unmarried women keep fasting, they don’t even put the single drop of water or any grain in their mouth for the whole day. They believe that fasting means the symbol of sacrifices or prayer towards to their family well-being and for the long life of their husband.
On the other side, they do get chances to purify their body as well as a soul through this occasion. Young and unmarried women also get to interact with this celebration. As they too have a religious belief in keeping fasting for the sake of getting perfect bridesmaid in the future.
This is one of the happiest and special days with them because they do get free from the regular work and stress and can fully enjoy with another closer feminine. This day the red color gets priority, as they put red sarees, colorful bangles, Meh
endi in their hand and put (necklace) which are the strides that totally beautifies them. In Nepalese community, these things identify the women and carries its essence during this festival the most.
Teej is a special festival among Nepali women. The day is declared as a public holiday so that women can wholeheartedly enjoy the joy of Teej. This traditional festival is based on a Hindu mythology that is said to take place in Satya Yug, the era of Gods.
A gorgeous daughter of Prajapati Daksha and Prastuti, Sati fell in love with Lord Shiva and wanted to get married to him. However, her father, being a King, wanted his daughter to marry a King.
Lord Shiva was someone who wore tiger skin and a snake around the neck. He would carry a ‘Damaru’ and would always meditate. Lord Shiva looked no less than a beggar to Sati’s father. So, the King denied Sati’s desire to marry Lord Shiva and arranged her marriage with a rich King.
Upon denial, Sati jumped into the fire. Lord Shiva grieved upon the death of his true love. Later, Sati reincarnated as Parvati to King Himalaya. Parvati prayed and took fasting to again unite with Lord Shiva.
Finally, Lord Shiva was impressed by her determination and sincerity. He realized Parvati is his true love and accepted her as his wife.
This mythology holds a significant place in the Hindu religion. Teej is celebrated as the day when Lord Shiva and Parvati reunited. It is the celebration of relationships and true love. It is believed that the blessing of Lord Shiva and Parvati strengthens our love and marriage.
With the hope that unmarried women get a husband like Lord Shiva himself and married women have their husbands to live a long and prosperous life, women fast on Teej and worship Lord Shiva. Teej has religious importance as it is the day of celebration of the reunion of Lord Shiva and Parvati.
A married woman worships their husband as God on Teej, and after the rigorous fasting, they take the first bite of food and drink the first drop of water from the hand of their husband. They bow down to the feet of their husband for blessings.
Significance of Teej Festival in Nepal
Teej is the great festival for Hindu Women who celebrate as for the longlasting life of her Husband. It is also a monsoon festival celebrated for the union of lord shiva (Hindu God is known as destruction and creation) and Parvati (Hindu Goddess is known as Devi Shakti).
According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that the king (Parvati Father) Wants to make a arrange marriage to the Lord Vishnu but by the help of her friend she escapes from there and married the lord shiva. So this day also takes as a union of lord Shiva and Parvati. This is why we celebrate Teej for the shake of Lord Shiva and Parvati. So, Hindu Married women take fast on this day for the prosperity of their husband’s long life and unmarried women take fast on this day to get the husband like shiva who loves his wife more than himself.
Teej usually falls in Nepali Bhadra month (August to September), so it is also called the moonstone festival. During the festival, people worship the God of Gods Shiva and Devi Parvati at Pashupatinath temple as their union day. It is a day of fasting, so Hindu women dress all in Red Sari, Gold, and Silver jewelry just to look like Parvati and worship their husbands and fast to honour Lord Shiva & pray for the long life of husband and pray for a happy married life. Teej is all about praying the Devi Parvati and Lord Shiva, worshipping and remembering their union day, and staying all night in the name of God and Goddess. Teej is celebrated for three days.
Day1: Daar Khane Din (Getting together to enjoy the fancy dinner)
In the early morning, Nepalese women go to the mall for large purchases. When the night falls, they’ll make a hearty meal and prepare tasty sweets. Good friends will gather together with foods and drinks, perform traditional dances and sing devotional songs. Those celebrations continue till the midnight.
Day 2: Fasting Day (Observing a one-day fast and praying to Lord Shiva for a good marriage)
Today is the fasting day of Teej Festival. It is also a public holiday in Nepal. After having a warm bath, women will wear gold and silver jewelry and dress in their red wedding saris. Then they head in groups to Shiva temples nearby and offer flowers and fruits to Lord Shiva. One of the most important things is to make a wish for the healthy life of their husbands and families. The unmarried girls also follow Teej rituals to pray for a good husband.
What is interesting is that on this day of the festival, no Hindu women can eat anything from morning until night. They must fast for the whole day. Married women believe that it will bring the good fortune for their husbands. In addition, for them, the family is everything. Surprisingly, under the fasting condition, Nepalese women do not feel tired after a one-day prayer. You must be amazed at their devout faith and strong wishes for a better life.
Day 3: Rishi Panchami (Taking a holy bath)
The third day is known as Rishi Panchami. After paying homage to seven saints, Nepali women would bathe with red mud found on the roots of the sacred datiwan bush, along with its leaves. This symbolic bath will absolve them of all sins. Then they go to worship the god Ganesh, so that their wishes made in the previous day can be achieved. On this day, women can enjoy a sumptuous meal. Many dishes are unique to this festival, such as a special bean soup, exotic mutton soup and desserts made of carrots.
Nepali Teej Festival is the first grand festival coming at the end of the rainy season. At that time, the sky is clear and sunshine is cozy. You will see Nepali Hindu females singing and dancing at the streets and temples to celebrate the arrival of Teej Festival. Unmarried girls look forward to a good marriage in the future, and married women pray for the long and healthy life of their husbands. As time goes by, non-Hindus and foreign travelers can also participate in the hilarious festival.
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