Teej

Today is Teej, for overall Hindu female either married or unmarried women, a teenager or a girl it is their festival. In this day all the women fast for the long life of their husband and unmarried girls fast so they will get a good husband and have a good future with them.  The person taking this fast will neither eat nor drink, not even a drop of water. It is believed that fasting this way god will be pleased and grant the wish of the fasting person. Since it is very unhealthy not to eat and drink for a whole day straight, priests and Gurus encourage to eat fruits and water to the person who is fasting. Health conscious people, weak women, pregnant women, elder women and ill women can eat some foods which are rated as ‘ok to eat’ like rice pudding, milk product, yoghurt, Sabudana, fruits etc. Basically don’t eat salt, meat, garlic, tomato, onion. This day women would go to the Shiva Temple and if they can they will go to Pashupatinath temple.

some hindu women performing a teej ritual

It is believed that this tradition was started by our Goddess Parvathi when she fasted for days without eating or drinking anything so she will get married to Lord Shiva. And after this she did got married to the Lord Shiva and lived happily with her husband.

The fast starts with taking a shower in the morning and wearing a pure clothes which usually means clean, washed clothes. Since it is Teej, the choice of color is Red for clothes. Married women get ready in Red Sari, beads, golds, bangles, anklet, tika, wear makeups and etc. And goes to the Temple. Then they gather around sing folk songs about Teej and dance.

At the evening, the fasting women will have to lit a diyo and pray to god again. Then they end their fast by drinking water washed from their husband’s foot, and eat only fruits as dinner.  The fast ends properly when they take bath the next day.