Teej: A Day of Fasting for your Significant Other
Teej is a very hungry way of showing one's love!!!
Teej (Nepali: तीज) is the generic name for a Hindu festival that is celebrated by women. It is celebrated primarily by girls and women, with songs, dancing, and prayer rituals. The festival is primarily dedicated to Parvati and her union with Shiva. Women often fast in celebration. It is celebrated in all parts of Nepal and most of the parts of North India (Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Rajasthan).
Why is Teej celebrated?
Yes, the question is there despite the hardship that the women and girls have to face during the day of the festival including health problems, why do people celebrate it with enthusiasm? The answer is it demonstrates the determination of women to get the love of their life and live happily ever after.
It celebrates the determination of Goddess Parvati who took 108 re-births until Lord Shiva gave in to her dedication and tied the nuptial knot with her. Many believe that on this day the Goddess declared that fasting and performing certain rituals will bless women with a happy married life.
When is Teej celebrated in Nepal?
In 2022 the auspicious festival is going to be observed on Aug 30 (Bhadra 14th).
How is Teej celebrated in Nepal?
It is a festival celebrated by women for three days. Decked up in red sarees and red tika, bangles, women sing and dance to traditional folk songs for days. It is especially significant for married women, when they get a special invitation to visit their maternal home and feast.
Following a long feast also known as Dar, the women, sit for 24-hour long fasting, where most do not eat or even drink water. What is fascinating is to watch women of all age groups, young and old, dance for hours in the heat, and rain, without a drop of water or food for an entire day.
It is a sight to behold at the Pashupatinath temple, where thousands of women draped in Red and green throng the premises of the temple. Observers can take photos of these women dancing merrily, where sometimes foreigners, especially women tourists are requested to participate in the merry-making.
Types of Teej:
Wait!! What? Yes, you heard it right there are two types of Teej and they are:
- Haryali
2. Haritalika
Haryali Teej:
Haryali Teej is celebrated to commemorate the green lush beauty of mother nature during the monsoon. As the season begins, mother Earth is surrounded by greenery and hence Haryali season can also be called Shravana Teej.
As per Hindu mythology, it is also the day when Lord Shiva accepted Goddess Paravati as his wife. Every year to celebrate the union of Shiva and Parvati, this day is commemorated by devotees all across the country.
Haritalika Teej:
It is celebrated because Goddess Parvati made the holy Shiva Lingam out of the sand. It was on the third day of Bhadrapud that the event took place. Just like Haryali, even Hartalika marks the union of Shiva and Parvati. It is said that Lord Shiva was utterly impressed by the shiva lingam created by Parvati that he decided to marry her.
On this day, women observe Nirjala Vrat for the long life and health of their husbands. Unmarried women can also observe the fast to seek a suitable partner.
Are Karwa Chauth and Teej same?
No, they are not the same. Teej and Karwa Chauth are celebrated at different times of the year and in different months and seasons. Teej is usually celebrated during the monsoon month or the Shravan month and Bhadrapada in the Hindu Calendar.
Karwa Chauth falls in November. It is usually celebrated in the Kartik month of the Hindu Calendar. This day is usually celebrated after Purnima on the fourth day of Kartik month.