The festival of ‘Teej’, also known as the ‘Haritalika’, is being observed by Nepali Hindu women across Nepal today. Women observe fast without water and food praying for a happy family life, longevity and a prosperous life of their spouse. The festivities begins with ‘Dar’ on the second day of the new moon day in the month of Bhadra of the Nepali calendar, and is marked with fasting and cultural programmes on the Teej day.

Devotees pay homage to Lord Shiva, light  lamps and spend the night awake. In Nepal, this is a unique festival when married daughters return to their natal home on Teej, playing a significant role in keeping family relations cordial.  Teej is also a celebration of sisterhood too as sisters gather at their natal home and indulge in jubilant dancing & singing.

Shiva temples including the Pashupatinath Temple and Baaistara temple in Balajiu in Kathmandu have an overwhelming number of women devotees performing pooja on the occasion of teej. Today in the UNESCO Heritage site of Pashupatinath temple, only women devotees are allowed to enter to perform pooja. To mark the occasion, the Government of Nepal announced a public holiday for women only.