Nepali Women Annual Festival - "Teej"

\”Teej\” is a major annual festival celebrated on the waning phase of the moon in the month of September according to Nepali Calendar by Nepali married Women and unmarried young girls all over the world. Actually, this festival is observed for four days seeking blessings of Goddess Parvati, remembering her union with Lord Shiva. Traditionally, women pray for the well-being and long life of their family members and firm relationships among family members. Teej is observed for marital happiness, well-being of spouse and children and purification of own body and soul. Teej also refers to the monsoon festival observed in the areas inhabited by Indian and Nepali. The festival celebrates the bounty of nature, arrival of clouds and rain, greenery and birds with social activity, rituals, rigid fasting and customs.

First of Day of Teej

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 duet songs. The grand feast called “Dar” takes place in the evening and fun often goes until midnight and start strict fasting even do not drink water for twenty-four hours. The “Dar” is traditional cuisine consists of deserts, sweets, Nepali food like sel, puri (bread), fruits and mutton and chicken by some communities.

The Second Day

This is main fasting day; women live without a piece of food and drops of water and some take some liquid and fruits. Women dress in red color, ornaments, jewelries and visit to Lord Shiva’s temple signing and dancing all the way. After reaching temple, women offer flowers, sweets, coins pleading Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati to grant their blessing upon the husband and family and worship takes place in the evening with lighting oil lamp, (108 sute batti) which should be burning throughout the night.

Third day morning

Women get up in the dawn, take bath and perform worship with diyo (oil lamp) to Goddess Parvati. The most important part of this worship is a banana and holy basil (Tulsi Patta) leaf. After worship, women take solid food made of pure butter.

After the completion of previous day worship (Pooja), women pay homage to various deities and bathe with red mud found on the roots of the sacred plant called “Datiwan” bush along with its leaves. This act of purification is the final rituals of Teej, after which women considered forgiven from all their sins or misdeeds.

The Teej program that Community Building Serving is observing on Saturday, September 11, 2021 from 3:00pm to 6:00 pm at Columbus Community Center is one day event. In the beginning, women will eat Dar and followed by cultural dances.