KATHMANDU: The ‘Teej’ festival, also celebrated as the ‘Haritalika’, is being observed by Nepali Hindu women today throughout the country. Women fast and wish for a prosperous life of their spouse on this festival which falls on the third dark day of the lunar month according to Nepali month Bhadau.
Women on this day take ritual baths in the morning and offer worship while in the evening. They pay homage to Lord Shiva, light lamps and spend the night awake. The festivity comes to an end on the fifth day of a fortnight after worshiping the legendary ‘Saptarishi’ (seven sages). This unique festival of Nepali women is also a celebration of sisterhood as sisters gather at natal home and indulge in jubilant dancing and singing.
The legend has it that Parbati, the daughter of Himalayas, was on her maiden fast, wishing for the health and the well being of her spouse, Lord Shiva. Since then the same day has been recognized as the Haritalika Teej. Married women put on bangles, ‘Pote’ (a necklace made of glass beads), ‘Tilahari’ and ‘Sindur’ (crimson powder) considered the symbols of good luck and dress themselves up in red saris or other red outfits and adorn themselves with different kinds of ornaments.
Both married and unmarried women perform various ‘pujas’ (worships) and observe fasting, praying for fulfillment of their wish for a happy and prosperous conjugal life. The Pashupatinath Temple in the capital sees an overwhelming number of women devotees this day.
Devotees, all of them women, have thronged at the Pashupatinath temple since the early morning today on the occasion of Haritalika (Teej) festival today.
They have formed four long queues to the temple from various places, as per the arrangement made by the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT). All the four doors to the temple had been opened since 3 am and they would be opened until the last devotee pays homage by the evening today.
Pashupatinath temple precinct is teeming with women clad in red, green and yellow outfits. Even the eastern door to the temple which was only used for bringing the holy water and not opened to the devotees since 11 years has been opened for the devotees today, PADT member secretary Dr. Pradip Dhakal said.
Four thousand security personnel have been mobilized in the Pashupati area today for the security of the devotees. An integrated security plan has been enforced in partnership with the security personnel belonging to Nepal Police, Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, National Investigation Department, and PADT, it is stated.
PADT expects some 700 thousand devotees will visit Pashupatinath temple today to pay homage to Lord Shiva on the occasion of the Teej festival.
A large number of scouts and volunteers from various organizations are also mobilized to provide assistance to the devotees and facilitate them.
Devotees, most of who keep a fast today, worship lord Shiva and his consort Parbati, the divine couple also known by the name Umamaheshwar on the occasion of Teej festival.
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