teej

Teej is a festival celebrated by Nepali women, for the long life of her husband and long and firm relationship between them until the death this life and all the lives to come. Teej is observed for marital happiness, well-being of spouse and children and purification of own body and soul. Teej is  the most famous festival among Nepali women. 

The folk music and dances add more flavor to traditional values of Teej. It is fascinating to see women, in “Red” dancing and singing on the street, going to temple in holy and fasting mood. Teej is also called Hari Talika Teej. This festival is celebrated by Nepali Hindu women all across the world.

Teej is a small red insect that comes out of the soil during the rainy season. It is said Teej got its name from the same red insect. That is why Teej is celebrated in red. 

When is Teej Teej is celebrated on 3rd day of Bhadra Sukala Paksha (according to Nepali lunar calendar). It generally falls in late August or early September Teej is traditionally dedicated to the Goddess Parvati,   remembering her union with Lord Shiva. It is a three-day-long celebration that combines splendid feasts as well as rigid fasting.  Teej also welcomes and celebrates arrival of monsoon after a season of summer heat. In 2072, Teej is on Sept 16, 2015. That is Bhadra 30, 2072. How do we celebrate Teej The eve (first day of Teej) is called Dar Khane Din. On this day all the family members especially the women, both married and unmarried gather at one place, in their finest outfits of red (called Saubhagya) and start dancing and singing devotional songs mixed with Nepali folk and Dohori songs.  This evening the grand feast takes place. The grand feast is called “Dar”. The fun often goes on till midnight, after midnight the 24-hour fasting starts.   What is Dar - दर    Women who go in fasting the very next day eat a very big feast...."daro khana" (दर्हो खाना) that means a heavy food in Nepali....it is said daro khane became dar. Whatever, the meaning is, they go for big feast that evening with deserts, mithai, nepali foods like sel, puri, fruits and non vegitarian foodslike mottons and chicken by some communities.