Teej being celebrated across the country today

KATHMANDU: The festival of Teej, also known as Haritalika, is being observed today across the country, especially by women.

The festival falls on the third day of the waxing moon of Bhadra, according to lunar calendar, and revellers — predominantly women — observe a fast, praying for longevity and prosperous life for their spouses.

Devout Hindu women and revellers throng the premises of Pashupatinath Temple to worship on Teej in Kathmandu on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Photo: RSS

Devout Hindu women and revellers throng the premises of Pashupatinath Temple to worship on Teej in Kathmandu on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Photo: RSS

Devout Hindu women and revellers throng the premises of Pashupatinath Temple to worship on Teej in Kathmandu on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Photo: RSS

The three-day festivity begins with 'Dar' on the second day of Bhadra’s fortnight and is marked by fasting and cultural programmes on the following day. Women first enjoy various traditional dishes known as 'Dar' before commencing their fast. On Teej itself, they take ritual baths in the morning and offer worship in the evening, paying homage to Lord Shiva, lighting oil-fed lamps and keeping vigil through the night.

The festival concludes on the fifth day of the fortnight after worshipping the Saptarishi (seven sages). Celebrating sisterhood, women return to their natal homes to dance and sing together. Married women don bangles, potey (glass-bead necklaces), tilahari and sindoor (crimson powder) — all symbols of good fortune — and dress in red saris or other red attire with matching ornaments. Both married and unmarried women perform various poojas and continue fasting, seeking fulfilment of their wishes for a happy and prosperous conjugal life. Shiva temples, including the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, see an overwhelming number of women devotees on this day.

By RSS