Teej and Sisterhood: A Global Tribute to Nepali Women

Teej is a vibrant Hindu festival of sisterhood, devotion, and cultural pride, observed primarily by Nepali women every year in late summer. In 2025, the main day of Teej falls on August 26, when Nepali women across the globe will come together – in person or in spirit – to honor an age-old tradition of fasting, prayers, music, and communal celebration. This festival holds deep significance in Nepal, but its joyful message of unity and resilience resonates far beyond. From the villages of Nepal to diaspora communities on multiple continents, Teej is a time for women to connect with their roots and with each other. In this article, we explore the meaning of Teej, how it’s traditionally celebrated in Nepal, and ways Nepali women abroad keep the customs alive.

Understanding Teej: A Festival of Sisterhood and Devotion

Teej – often called Hartalika Teej in Nepal – is one of the most important annual festivals for Nepali Hindu women. The festival’s name derives from the Nepali word for “third,” as it is observed on the third day after the new moon in the month of Bhadra (August/September). According to Hindu mythology, Teej commemorates the goddess Parvati’s dedication to reuniting with Lord Shiva, her divine consort. Legend says Parvati undertook years of rigorous fasting and penance to win Shiva’s love and have him as her husband. Moved by her devotion, Shiva finally agreed, and their reunion came to symbolize unwavering love and marital harmony. Thus, Teej is ultimately a celebration of love, faith, and the sacred bond of marriage – a day when married women pray for the health and longevity of their husbands, and unmarried girls hope to find a loving partner in the future, emulating Parvati’s devotion.

Equally, Teej has evolved into a broader celebration of womanhood, solidarity, and spiritual empowerment. In Nepal, it is sometimes nicknamed the “Nepal Women’s Festival” or “Women’s Wishing Festival”, underscoring how it centers on women’s roles and wishes. The festival highlights the strength and resilience of Nepali women: through fasting and prayer, they demonstrate discipline and faith; through songs and dances, they express joy and sisterhood. It’s said that in Nepal, the day of Teej is even a public holiday for women only, reflecting its importance in honoring Nepali womanhood. More than anything, Teej is about togetherness – it provides a safe, uplifting space for women to come together, share their stories, and support one another. The festival is often described as symbolizing the strength, resilience, and empowerment of Nepali women, bringing communities together to celebrate cultural heritage and foster unity.

Cultural and Spiritual Significance of Teej

Teej’s rich significance can be understood on multiple levels – from the religious symbolism to the social values it promotes. Below are some of the core meanings and values associated with this beloved festival:

Celebration of Divine Love: Teej celebrates the sacred union of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, representing the ideal of marital love and devotion. Parvati’s steadfast love is honored as the ultimate example of a devoted wife.

Prayers for Marriage and Longevity: The festival is a time when married women fast and pray for their husbands’ long life and prosperity, while unmarried women join in the rituals, aspiring to find a good husband in the future. In this way, Teej is seen as a prayer for marital harmony and a happy married life.

Preservation of Culture and Rituals: Through its customs, Teej helps preserve Nepali cultural heritage, as women don traditional red attire, sing folk songs, dance, and perform sacred rituals that have been passed down for generations. It is a living link to Nepali traditions and values.

Festival of Sisterhood: Teej offers women a special opportunity to gather together, share experiences, support each other, and celebrate being women in a joyful atmosphere. The sense of sisterhood and community is at the heart of the festival, which is why it’s often called a festival of togetherness.

Spiritual Cleansing and Penance: The rigorous Teej fast (often without food or water) is viewed as a form of spiritual purification and self-discipline. By fasting in honor of Parvati’s penance, women seek to purify their bodies and minds and gain spiritual merit and blessings. Many believe this devotion brings divine blessings for the family’s well-being.

These layers of meaning make Teej much more than just a ritual obligation. For many, it is an uplifting experience – a blend of prayer and play, penance and celebration, all centered on women’s roles as carriers of culture and family devotion. In Nepali culture, women often juggle many responsibilities, and Teej is an occasion when their strength and contributions are recognized and honored. It’s a day when women, whether young or old, married or single, come first and are celebrated.

Traditional Teej Celebrations in Nepal

In Nepal, the Teej festival is marked by colorful, joyful, and deeply symbolic customs that unfold over three days. Each day of Teej has its significance and set of activities, and together they form a complete cycle of feasting, fasting, and purification:

Day 1 – Dar Khane Din (Feasting Day): Teej begins with Dar Khane Din, a joyful evening when women gather with friends and relatives to enjoy a lavish meal called Dar Khane Din. They dress in colorful outfits, sing traditional songs, dance, and celebrate late into the night. This hearty feast prepares them for the next day’s rigorous fast. Traditionally, married daughters return to their maternal homes, where they are welcomed with gifts like red saris, jewelry, and sweets — a gesture of love and family bonding.

Day 2 – Hartalika Teej (Main Fasting Day): The second day is the heart of the festival. Women observe a strict 24-hour fast, often without food or water, in honor of the Goddess Parvati and to pray for their husbands’ long life or the well-being of their future partners. Dressed in red saris and adorned with bangles and tika, they visit Shiva temples — especially Pashupatinath in Kathmandu — to offer prayers, sing, and dance together. Despite fasting, the mood is vibrant and energetic. The fast is broken after moonrise or temple rituals, often with fruits or a light meal.

Day 3 – Rishi Panchami (Purification Day): Teej ends with Rishi Panchami, a day of spiritual cleansing. Women take ritual baths using sacred mud and herbs and perform puja to honor the seven sages (rishis), seeking purification and forgiveness. Offerings are made, and with this final act, the Teej festival concludes, leaving women spiritually renewed and emotionally connected.

Throughout these days, the color red is everywhere – red saris, red bangles, red tika on the forehead – because red is considered auspicious for married women in Hindu culture (symbolizing fertility and good fortune). Nepali women also adorn themselves with henna (mehndi) on their hands and wear ornate pote necklaces of red and green beads, especially if they are married. The folk songs sung during Teej, known as Teej songs, often recount women’s stories, joys, and sorrows, and even carry social messages. It’s not uncommon to hear songs teasing in-laws or commenting on societal issues, as Teej has traditionally also been a forum for women’s voices to be expressed freely in a fun way. The dances, too, are full of energy – groups form circles or lines and perform steps to rhythmic clapping or the beat of the madal drum, celebrating the monsoon rains and their time together.

Teej 2025 in Nepal and Its Global Reach

Teej follows the lunar calendar, so its Gregorian date varies each year. When is Teej in Nepal in 2025? The main day of Hartalika Teej in 2025 is Tuesday, August 26, 2025. This is the day Nepali women will be seen flocking to temples, dressed in red and beginning their nirjala fast. The Teej festivities will begin on August 25 with the Dar feasts and conclude on August 27 with Rishi Panchami’s cleansing rituals. For Nepali Hindus, these dates have likely been marked on calendars well in advance, as Teej is one of the most anticipated festivals of the year. Even though it’s a religious occasion, the atmosphere is much like a cultural holiday – offices and schools may grant a holiday (at least for women), radio and TV broadcast Teej music and special programs, and markets fill with red saris and bangles for weeks prior as women prepare their outfits.

What’s remarkable in recent years is how Teej has expanded far beyond Nepal’s borders. With the Nepali diaspora spread across the globe, Teej has truly become a global celebration of Nepali culture. The festival has found a home in the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, Bhutan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and many other nations, wherever Nepali-speaking communities reside. Over the past decade, as Nepali communities abroad have grown, they have carried their beloved Teej traditions with them. Teej serves as a powerful bond connecting people to their roots and cultural heritage, no matter where they live. For many, celebrating Teej abroad is a way to stay connected to Nepal and to pass on their heritage to the younger generation born or raised outside Nepal.

Diaspora Nepali organizations and community groups often coordinate Teej events in different cities around the world, timing them close to the actual festival date. Because Teej 2025’s main day is a Tuesday (a working day in most countries), some diaspora communities might hold their big celebrations on the preceding or following weekend to ensure maximum attendance. These events can be quite large and festive. 

What makes Teej abroad truly special is the way it helps Nepali diaspora women recreate a sense of home and belonging. Many Nepali women living overseas look forward to Teej as the time of year they can connect with fellow Nepalis, speak their language, dance to the familiar tunes from back home, and simply feel Nepali again. For recent immigrants or students away from home, this can be very emotional – some describe it as the day they feel closest to their family and culture despite the distance. And it’s not just about nostalgia; it’s also about sharing the culture with the next generation and the wider community. Children of Nepali origin get to experience their mother’s or grandmother’s culture first-hand by watching the fasting rituals and joining the dances. Often, non-Nepali friends or spouses are invited to Teej events too, offering a window into Nepal’s rich traditions. This cultural exchange fosters greater understanding and pride.

The experience of celebrating Teej as a Nepali woman abroad can be both challenging and rewarding. On one hand, being away from Nepal means missing the authentic atmosphere – the public holiday, the throngs of devotees at temples, and the presence of one’s extended family. On the other hand, Nepali women in the diaspora have shown incredible initiative and dedication in keeping the Teej traditions alive wherever they are. This has led to a beautiful blend of the traditional and the modern.

To sum up, Nepali women abroad have proven that you can take the woman out of Nepal, but you can’t take Teej out of the woman! They carry the festival in their hearts and recreate it with devotion and creativity wherever they settle. And in doing so, they not only keep a connection to their own cultural identity but also enrich the multicultural tapestries of their adopted countries.

Supporting Loved Ones During Teej

Teej is a time for love, connection, and thoughtful gestures — even across borders. While families in Nepal often gift red saris, sweets, or jewelry to daughters and sisters, Nepalis abroad now rely on digital tools to stay involved in the festival. With platforms like sendvalu, it’s easy to support loved ones back home:

Send Money as a Teej Gift: A small transfer can help your family buy a saree, sweets, or host a Dar party. sendvalu enables quick, secure transfers directly to bank accounts, cash pickup locations, or mobile wallets.

Recharge Phones: Staying connected during Teej is essential. You can send international mobile top-ups through sendvalu in just a few clicks, ensuring your loved ones never run out of credit on such a special day.

Digital Gift Cards: Give your sister the freedom to choose. Sendvalu offers digital vouchers for shops, clothing, or food delivery services in Nepal, ideal for last-minute surprises.

Surprise Deliveries: Pair your money transfer with a local gift delivery, like sweets, fruits, or flowers, to brighten someone’s Teej morning with a heartfelt message.

Celebrate Virtually: Even if you're far away, video calls let you join in. Singing, dancing, or praying together online makes the distance feel smaller.

Thanks to services like sendvalu, Nepalis around the world can share joy and support across borders, turning tradition into a truly global connection. Whether through a transfer, a top-up, or a warm message, these small acts make a big difference during Teej 2025.

Joining the Celebration: Togetherness in Teej 2025 and Beyond

As Teej 2025 approaches, Nepali women around the world are preparing their hearts and homes for this special festival. Whether one is fasting in Kathmandu or dancing at a community hall in New York, the spirit of Teej remains a unifying force that transcends borders. It’s a testament to the strength of Nepali culture and the bonds of family and friendship that Teej continues to thrive globally, linking everyone from the hills of Nepal to the diaspora across continents in a shared thread of joy and devotion.

At its core, Teej is about togetherness and support – values that are more important than ever in our interconnected world. We join in the celebration by recognizing and honoring this beautiful tradition. In today’s era, joining the celebration isn’t just a passive greeting; it can be active support. Platforms like sendvalu enable us to be part of our loved ones’ festivities no matter where we are, by helping us send our love in tangible ways. Whether it’s a few extra rupees sent for buying a festive saree, a phone recharge so you can spend an extra hour chatting with your mom while she waits in the temple line, or a surprise digital gift card that brings a smile – these gestures ensure that distance is no barrier to sharing happiness.

On this Teej, take a moment to appreciate the incredible network of Nepali women worldwide who will be singing, dancing, praying, and reminiscing together. Their laughter and chants – some in person, some over video calls – form a rich tapestry of sisterhood that truly circles the globe. And thanks to modern connectivity, each of us can weave into that tapestry.

In conclusion, Teej 2025 promises to be a memorable one. From the small villages in Nepal where the temple bells will ring out in the predawn light of August 26, to the bustling cities abroad where weekend cultural programs will echo with Teej songs, the message is consistent: celebrate together, support each other, and honor the legacy of those who kept these traditions alive. Here’s wishing all who observe it a Happy Teej filled with love, resilience, and the warm company of sisters, wherever in the world they may be. Let the festival of Teej remind us that no matter the distance, our hearts remain close when we share in each other’s joy.

We celebrate with you, and we’re here to help you share your love across any distance, because festivals like Teej truly show that “togetherness” knows no borders. Whether you're sending love through a money transfer, keeping in touch with a mobile top-up, or surprising someone with a gift card, sendvalu is here to help you stay close to Nepal, no matter the distance. Happy Teej 2025!

Sources:

Himalayan Recreation Adventure – Teej Festival in Nepal: When, Why and How It’s Celebrated in 2025

Queens Gazette (QNS) – Teej Festival in Elmhurst celebrates Nepalese culture with evening of fun and music (Sept 2023)

Sahityapost – Teej Festival: Embracing Tradition across Continents

Rugged Trails Nepal Blog – What is Hartalika Teej and How Nepalese Women Celebrate Teej Festival in Nepal (Sept 2024)