Great festival Hartalika Teej celebration in Nepal.

 Women's festival Hartalika Teej 

Hartalika Teej is also one of the great festival celebrated in nepal. Teej is especially celebrated by women. The full name of Teej is (Hartalika Teej). It is also called fasting festival of women in nepal.

Hartalika festival

Teej is usually takes place in Bhadra of nepali month ( August - September in solar calendar ) and last for three days. Women worship the god Shiva during this festival They fast worshipping the lord Shiva wishing the beautiful life with husband, long life of her husband and the strong relationship.

Nepali Teej Festival is the primary amazing celebration coming toward the finish of the stormy season. Around then, the sky is clear and daylight is comfortable. You'll see Nepali Hindu females singing and moving at the roads and sanctuaries to praise the appearance of Teej Festival. Unmarried young ladies anticipate a decent marriage later on, and wedded ladies appeal to God for the long and solid existence of their spouses. As time passes by, non-Hindus and unfamiliar voyagers can likewise take an interest in the comical celebration. Additionally, if visiting Nepal from August to September, you are probably going to encounter another two major celebrations, to be specific, Gai Jatra and Nepal Kumari Festival.

It's a festival for nepali hindu women , which is also celebrated in some part of India too , for protecting and conserving the traditional culure, the government of Nepal has made the Teej festival as national holiday. 

Celebration of Hartalika Teej in Nepal 

Women's greatest festival Teej is celebrated in this Way :

Day 1 - Fancy dinner day / Dar khane din ;

In the first day women generally got together to enjoy the delicious dinner. They purchase all the required things to make the fancy or delicious meal. They share their present situation of life with their friends and lost their sorrows and pain through performing traditional dances and singing devotional songs.  Their grand celebration continue till the night and some of the women celebrate till mid night too.

Day 2 - Celebration of Hartalika Teej ;

The second day is also known by the day of fasting and praying lord Shiva as well as performing Teej dances throughout the day. In this day, women get up early in the morning and take bath on the holy river near their living places and those one who don't have any rivers near their living places take bath in the bathroom , tap etc. After this , women head towards the near Shiva temple for worshipping the lord Shiva  offering fruits and flowers and sacred things. Mostly women are in red sari and some of the unmarried girls are also in other sari like pink, blue , purple and so on. They worship the lord Shiva wishing the healthy life of their husband and family members. The unmarried girls also follow the Teej rituals wishing a good husband.

 In this day, women's perform dances throughout the day.  In the past days , women's used to perform their Teej dances on Teej song but nowdays women's perform their dances on western songs and music which is not good. We should perform our dances or any other things based on our culture and tradition aiming conserving it. 

  

The oil lamp is keep lit all night to have good omen and don't let off , if they know lamp is getting off. All hindu women don't eat anything from morning till night. They must fast for the whole day. Pious women believed that it will bring the good fortune for their husband. Surprisingly, under the fasting condition, Nepalese women don't feel tired after a one - day prayer. You must be amazed when you know the strong devout faith and strong wishes for a better life.

Day 3 - Rishi Panchami ;

This is espeically the final day of  Teej festival. After paying homage to seven saints Nepali women would bath with red mud found on the roots of the sacred datiwan bush, along with leaves. This symbolic bath will  absolve them al sins then, they go to worship the god ganesh , so that their wishes made in the previous day can be achieved . 

 

Traditional story/ belief behind the celebration of Teej festival ;

Quite some time in the past, the ruler of Himalaya had a wonderful girl named Parvati, who was exceptionally astute and profoundly respected the Hindu God of Destruction and Creation, Shiva. Be that as it may, the ruler chose to wed Parvati to the well off Vishnu. With the help of her companions, Parvati effectively got away from the house and stow away in the thick timberland. From that point on, she had a parsimonious existence. After hearing this, Shiva was so astounded and chosen to test her truthfulness. He camouflaged as the rich Vishnu and rode a perfect carriage to see Parvati, attempting to bait her to wed him. Nonetheless, Parvati actually stayed unaffected. Shiva was so dazzled by her assurance and uncovered his character. Finally, Parvati understood her fantasy and wedded Shiva. Attributable to her companions' assistance, Parvati could dispose of the organized marriage. She was extremely thankful to them and held a party to praise this glad completion. This is the beginning of Teej Festival.

In this way the great women's festival ( Hartalika Teej ) comes to end. Thank you.