Photo: Bijaya2043, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Teej, or Haritalika Teej, falls on Bhadra Shukla Tritiya, the third day of the bright fortnight of Bhadra, usually in late August or September. Hindu women in Nepal fast on this day and worship Lord Shiva and the goddess Parvati. Married women fast for the long life and wellbeing of their husbands, and unmarried women fast to get a good husband.
The festival has two sides: a strict religious fast and temple puja, and gatherings where women in red saris sing Teej songs and dance with friends and family.
This guide covers what Teej means, how its date is set on the lunar calendar, the nirjala (waterless) fast, dar khane din, the crowds at Pashupatinath, and the three days of the festival: Dar, the Teej fast and Rishi Panchami.
What is Teej and when does it fall?
Haritalika Teej falls on Bhadra Shukla Tritiya, the third day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month Bhadra. Because the date follows the moon, its Gregorian date changes every year. It usually falls in late August or September.
The name "Teej" comes from tritiya, the third lunar day, when the main fast is held. "Haritalika" comes from harit (taken away) and aalika (female friend). It refers to the story in which Parvati's friend took her into the forest so she could meditate on Shiva instead of being married to Vishnu.
Since the date is lunar, it does not fall on a fixed day in the Bikram Sambat or Gregorian calendar. Check the panchang or the festivals page each year. The same applies to the dates and rituals of Dashain, which also move with the lunar months. The holidays page shows whether Teej is a public holiday in the current year.
Why women wear red
Red is the main colour of Teej. Married women wear red saris, often their wedding sari, with green and red glass bangles, pote (the green marriage necklace) and sindoor in the hair parting. Red stands for a happy marriage, love and the blessing of the goddess Parvati.
How do women observe the Teej fast?
The main part of Teej is a strict fast. Traditionally it is nirjala: no food and no water for the whole day. Married women keep it for their husbands' long life. Unmarried women keep it hoping for a good, caring husband.
Teej fasting practices differ, and participation is a personal choice. A waterless fast is not required for everyone. People who are pregnant, unwell or taking medication should ask a qualified clinician about fasting rather than relying on a festival article for a suitable diet or medication schedule.
Nirjala fast: no food and no water from sunrise until the fast is broken. This is the strictest and most traditional form.
Phalahar fast: only fruit, milk or water. Common for women who cannot manage nirjala.
Breaking the fast: usually after the evening puja or the next morning, often with food offered at the temple.
If you are keeping a nirjala fast, eat well and drink enough water on dar khane din, avoid long walks in the sun on the fasting day, and break the fast early if you feel dizzy or faint.
Pashupatinath and other Shiva temples
On the fasting day, women in red go to Shiva temples. Pashupatinath in Kathmandu gets the biggest crowd. Thousands of women queue from before dawn to offer water, flowers, bel leaves and prayers, and they sing and dance in the temple grounds while they wait. Expect long queues and traffic around Pashupatinath from early morning.
Local Shiva temples across the country have the same puja on a smaller scale. Women gather in groups and sing Teej songs. Many of these songs are about happy occasions, and many talk about the hard parts of women's lives.
What are the three days of Teej?
Teej is usually observed over three days: Dar Khane Din (the feast), the main fasting day of Haritalika Teej, and Rishi Panchami on the fifth lunar day. The first day is for eating, the second for fasting and puja, and the third for ritual bathing and purification.
Day one: Dar Khane Din
Dar khane din is the day before the fast. Women gather, often at their maiti (maternal home), and eat a big festive meal called "dar" before the fast starts at midnight. Married daughters and sisters are invited home, gifts and food are shared, and the evening goes on with Teej songs and dancing.
The meal is meant to give women energy for the long fast. In the past the eating went on late into the night until the fast began. Many families now keep it lighter. For many women it is also the day they meet sisters and friends they have not seen for months.
Day two: the Haritalika Teej fast
This is the main day, with the strict fast and temple visits described above. Women do puja to Shiva and Parvati, light oil lamps and many stay awake through the night. The puja is for a good married life and the wellbeing of the family.
Day three: Rishi Panchami
Rishi Panchami falls on Bhadra Shukla Panchami, usually two days after the Teej fast (in 2083 it is the next day, September 15). Women take a ritual bath, often using datiwan (a sacred twig) and red mud, and worship the Sapta Rishi, the seven sages. The day is for purification and asking forgiveness for any impurity during the past year.
Teej itself is about fasting and devotion. Rishi Panchami is about cleansing. Another festival with bathing and a fresh start is Maghe Sankranti, Nepal's midwinter festival.
How does Teej fit into the festival calendar?
Teej starts the busy festival season of Bhadra, Ashwin and Kartik. It comes near the end of the monsoon, and the two biggest festivals of the Nepali year, Dashain and Tihar, follow within weeks.
After Dashain comes Tihar, the five-day festival of lights, in Kartik. These lunar dates change every year, so check them on a calendar instead of working them out by hand.
The Nepali Calendar app shows Teej and other festival dates on the Bikram Sambat calendar and can send you a reminder before each one. The app features guide shows how to set reminders. For auspicious times around the festival, see the sahit page, and use countdown to see how many days are left until Teej.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the nirjala fast on Teej mandatory?
No. Households follow different practices, and some people celebrate without fasting. Pregnancy, illness and medicines can change what is safe; discuss fasting with a qualified clinician instead of assuming that a fruit-only or waterless fast is suitable.
Can unmarried women observe Teej?
Yes. Married women fast for their husbands' long life, and unmarried women keep the same fast and worship Shiva and Parvati hoping for a good husband. Both take part in the songs, dancing and temple visits.
Why do women wear red on Teej?
Red stands for a happy marriage, love and the blessing of the goddess Parvati. Married women often wear their wedding sari with red and green bangles, pote and sindoor. On Teej, temple grounds and gatherings are full of women dressed in red.
What exactly is Dar Khane Din?
Dar khane din is the feast day before the fast. Women gather, often at their maternal home, and eat a big festive meal called dar. It gives them energy for the fast, and it is also a day for female relatives to meet, sing Teej songs, dance and exchange gifts.