Teej begins today: How Nepal’s women are celebrating the festival in 2026

Kathmandu, September 13, 2026 — Nepal’s Teej festivities begin today with Dar Khane Din, when women gather with relatives, friends and women’s groups for a celebratory feast before the main fasting day of Haritalika Teej on Monday.

Although the festival is commonly referred to simply as Teej, its observance unfolds over several days. This year, Dar Khane Din falls on Sunday, September 13, while the principal Haritalika Teej fasting and worship will take place on Monday, September 14. Rishi Panchami follows on September 16.

Dar is traditionally the last substantial meal before women begin the Teej fast. Families and groups gather for food, music, dancing and conversation, turning what was once primarily a household tradition into a much broader social celebration.

Across Kathmandu and other parts of Nepal, Teej programmes have become increasingly visible in the days leading up to the festival. Women’s groups, workplaces, community organisations, restaurants and event venues organise Dar gatherings featuring traditional and contemporary Teej songs, dancing and elaborate meals.

Red clothing remains one of the most recognisable features of Teej. Women traditionally wear red saris, kurtas and other festive clothing, often complemented by jewellery, bangles, tika and mehendi. The colour has become so closely associated with the festival that Teej celebrations frequently transform temples, courtyards and public spaces into gatherings dominated by red attire.

But the meaning of Teej extends beyond clothing and celebration.

For Hindu women, the festival is traditionally associated with Goddess Parvati and her union with Lord Shiva. Religious tradition holds that Parvati undertook severe penance to obtain Shiva as her husband. Haritalika Teej commemorates this devotion and is particularly associated with marital well-being and the wishes of married and unmarried women.

On the main day, many women observe a fast, with some choosing a nirjala fast in which they abstain from both food and water. Women visit Shiva temples, offer prayers and participate in rituals dedicated to Shiva and Parvati.

Historically, Teej provided married women with an important opportunity to return to their maternal homes, reconnect with sisters and childhood friends, and spend time away from their marital households. The festival created a social space in which women could share experiences through songs, conversations and communal gatherings. Nepal Tourism Board also identifies the invitation to a woman’s maternal home and the associated feast as an important feature of the tradition.

Teej songs have traditionally been particularly significant because they provide a way to express emotions and experiences that might otherwise remain private. Over time, the songs have expanded beyond religious themes to address marriage, family relationships, social expectations and women's everyday lives.

That expressive dimension has helped Teej evolve from a primarily religious observance into a broader cultural occasion.

Modern Teej is also increasingly shaped by urban life and social media. Women who live away from their ancestral villages can participate in organised celebrations in Kathmandu and other cities. Workplace programmes and community events have created new spaces for women to celebrate together, while photographs and videos of Teej gatherings circulate widely online.

At the same time, the festival has attracted discussion about changing social expectations.

For some women, fasting remains an important religious practice and an expression of devotion. For others, Teej is increasingly about friendship, family, cultural identity and social participation rather than strictly observing every traditional practice.

There is also growing discussion about whether women should be expected to undertake physically demanding fasts, particularly those who avoid water throughout the day. The tradition remains a matter of personal religious practice, and women observe it in different ways.

This diversity is part of what makes contemporary Teej different from the festival experienced by earlier generations.

The feast of Dar has also grown beyond the traditional family setting. Large gatherings organised by women’s groups and institutions can resemble social events, with coordinated dress, music, dance performances and large communal meals. In Kathmandu, such programmes have become an established feature of the weeks and days surrounding Teej.

Yet the older elements remain visible.

Women still return to their maternal homes. Red remains the dominant colour. Traditional songs continue to be performed. Shiva and Parvati remain at the centre of the religious narrative, and temples become gathering places for prayer and celebration.

For many women, Teej therefore brings several aspects of life together at once: faith, family, friendship, memory, cultural identity and self-expression.

Today’s Dar marks the beginning of that annual cycle. Women will gather around food and music before the atmosphere changes tomorrow, when many will begin the main fast and head to Shiva temples for worship.

The festival will then continue through its remaining rituals before Rishi Panchami brings another important religious observance on September 16.

Teej in 2026 is consequently both an old tradition and a changing cultural practice. Its religious foundation remains rooted in the story of Parvati and Shiva, while the ways Nepali women celebrate it continue to evolve with urbanisation, migration, employment, technology and changing ideas about women's lives.

For one generation, Teej may be remembered through songs sung at a maternal home. For another, it may be a workplace gathering, a temple visit, a social-media post or an evening spent dancing with friends.

The forms may change, but the festival continues to create a space where Nepali women come together to celebrate, worship, remember their traditions and, increasingly, define what Teej means to them.

Teej begins today: How Nepal’s women are celebrating the festival in 2026

Nepal’s Teej festivities begin with Dar Khane Din on September 13, followed by Haritalika Teej fasting on September 14, as women gather for food, worship, music and cultural celebration.

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