How women are celebrating Teej across the country
Traditionally, women observe a day-long fast, visit temples and worship Lord Shiva and Parvati for marital harmony and good fortune.
Teej is a major festival observed by Hindu women, mostly the members of the Brahmin and Chhetri community in the hills and women from Awadhi culture in Tarai. It falls on the third day of the waxing moon in the Nepali month of Bhadra (September).
Traditionally, women observe a day-long fast, visit temples and worship Lord Shiva and Parvati for marital harmony and good fortune. On the eve of Teej, women gather at a place and feast on a variety of savoury dishes so that the food will keep them going throughout the day of fasting.
The tradition of celebrating Teej festival is believed to have originated from Hindu legend. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati’s wish to marry Lord Shiva was granted after she undertook a rigorous fast.
[Read: For many younger women, Teej has nothing to do with celebrating womanhood]
Apart from the religious aspect, women attire themselves in red clothes, which are believed to be auspicious and indicate sensuality and purity, sing and dance in traditional songs. This is also a time when women take a break from the monotony of their routine life.
Here are some of the photos that show women celebrating Teej on Monday.
Women throng at Pashupatinath Temple area in Kathmandu. Elite Joshi /TKP
A swarm of women converge at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. Elite Joshi /TKP
Women dance during a Teej celebration programme organised by Ganesh Youth Committee in Ram chowk, Janakpur on Monday. Shyam Sundar Sashi/TKP
Women sing traditional Teej songs and dance at Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu. Elite Joshi /TKP
Women dancing in Gamgadi bazar, Mugu during the celebration of Teej on Monday. Raj Bahadur Shahi/TKP
Women offer incense sticks and butter lamps after offering worship at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu on Monday. Elite Joshi /TKP
Devotees queue up outside Pashupatinath Temple for their turn to worship. Elite Joshi /TKP
Women pray with butter lamps and incense at Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu. Elite Joshi /TKP
A woman prays with incense sticks at Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu. Elite Joshi /TKP
Women worshiping the sun during the celebration of Teej in Dhankuta municipalty-4, Debrebas. Ramesh Chandra Adhikari/TKP
Women dance as they celebrate Teej festival at Pashupatinath Temple. Elite Joshi /TKP
Women, who have observed a day-long fast during Teej, worship Lord Shiva at Tauleshwarnath Mahadev temple at Taulihawa, Kapilvastu on Monday. Manoj Paudel/TKP
A woman takes the photo while the other women dance in Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu. Elite Joshi /TKP
A woman rejoices the sight of pigeons at Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu. Elite Joshi /TKP
Women sing and dance to celebrate Teej at Patan Durbar Square on Monday. Hemanta Shrestha/TKP
Teej celebration at Ghorahi, Dang. Durgalal KC/TKP
Police personnel hold incense as they take part in Teej celebration at Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu. Elite Joshi /TKP
Women lit butter lamps and incense at Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu. Elite Joshi /TKP
Women pray with butter lamps and incense at Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu.
