Women mark Teej with fanfare

By Binu Shrestha

Kathmandu, Sept 19 : All big and small temples of Lord Shiva across the nation were crowded with women, all attired in red saris, on Monday on the occasion of Teej, the great festival of women. 

Women across the country celebrated the festival in a grand manner. The government had provided a public holiday for women.   

The roads leading to the Pashupati area and Hanumandhoka Durbar Square, especially from the New Road gate, were filled with women donned in red saris. 

As per the Hindi tradition, women on the third day of the dark half of the lunar calendar in the month of Bhadra observe a day-long fasting wishing good health and longevity to their husbands.

Women wearing bangles, and necklaces made of glass beads, and vermillion powder, which are considered the symbol of good luck, were seen dancing on the temple premises both in Pashupati and Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square. 

Haritalika Teej was enjoyed not only by native women but also by foreign women. A group of foreign women were seen dancing to the Teej song in the Pashupatinath temple complex on Monday.

For the security of the devotees, 2,966 police personnel were mobilised in the Pashupatinath temple area.

All four doors of Pashupatinath remained open from 3.00 am. The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) had arranged four separate lines for the devotees to enter the main temple. 

After offering worship to Lord Shiva, the women inside the temple complexes were seen dancing and singing songs. The entire Pashupati area looked red as all the women devotees were wearing red saris and blouses. 

Similarly, the devotees also thronged at Chittapol of Sanga of Bhaktapur, Doleswhor, Makhendreshwor Mahadev Temple of Makhan, Gopaleshwor Mahadev Temple of Pharping and other temples.