08/09/2015
Teej festival is widely celebrated on early or mid August during rainy season based on lunar calendar, but this year the festival date lies on mid September because of “MANA-MAS” that comes once in three years. Teej festival is widely celebrated by Nepali women wishing long life of their husband, long and firm relationship between them until death and well-being of their children. It is fascinating to see women in “Red” dancing and singing folk music on the street, visiting temples in holy and fasting mood.
It is believed that Teej festival got its name from the red insect called “Teej” that comes out form soil during rainy season, probably that is why this festival is celebrated in red. This festival is celebrated for 3 days with different activities, normally as follows :
First day of Teej is called “Dar Khane Din”. Women who ever go fasting next day eat heavy meal which in Nepali we call “Darro Khana” (दर्हो खाना) and this word became “Dar” later on. Married women are invited in their birth home by their parents, brothers to have heavy & delicious meal on this day.
Second day is the main day or we can say as fascinating day of Teej. On this day some women will not take even a drop of water for whole day but some women take some fruits and water in the evening. Women dressed in red, married women wear their lagan ko pote, nathhi, other jewelries and chadke tilahari in which Chadke Tilahari, Laganko pote and natthi are must. They visit nearby Lord Shiva’s temple singing and dancing all the way. Pashupatinath Temp (Holy Hindu god) will be heavily crowded by women dressed in red. All the women visiting temple will worship Shiva and his wife Parvati who are taken as symbol of love.
Third day Women get up early in the morning, take a bath and start with ritual worshipping (puja) to Goddess Parvati. During puja they offer banana and holy basil (Tulsi patta) leaf to the goddess only then they take food. In some community Husband get freshen up and cook special meal for their wife.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH0TTusCNrw&list=RDOZCtsyNebEs&index=6