Hindu women in Nepal observe the celebration of the festival Hartalika Teej today, September 2
Teej is a festival celebrated by women all over Nepal for three days during the month of August every year. Adorned in red sarees, red tika and bangles, women sing and dance to traditional folk songs for days. This festival is more significant for married women following a long feast also known as Dar, the women, sit for a 24 hour long fasting after that, where most do not eat or even drink water. What is fascinating is to watch their devotion both young and old, dancing and enjoying for hours without a drop of water or food for an entire day.
The festival of Teej is primarily dedicated to Goddess Parvati and her union with Lord Shiva. The significance of this festival is for women to ask for special blessings by Lord Shiva to have a good husband in life and to pray for his longevity and prosperity. Rishi Panchami is the final day celebration where women offer food, money and various offerings to seven saints and also bath with red mud and brush their teeth with Datiwan herb believes this purifies their body and soul.
A festival that brings women together to share their stories of hardships and joy. Celebrated throughout the country by all Hindu women, this is a day of laughter, tears, singing, dancing and merriment.