Festival · Nepal
Teej: Nepal's Women's Festival
Teej is Nepal's women's festival: fasting, red saris and joyful dancing for marital well-being in late summer.
Teej is Nepal's great women's festival — a vivid, joyful occasion when women dress in red, fast, sing and dance in celebration of womanhood, marriage and devotion to the goddess Parvati. Falling at the tail of the monsoon, it opens the country's busy autumn festival season and turns temple courtyards into a sea of red.
What Teej celebrates
Teej (formally Haritalika Teej) is dedicated to the goddess Parvati and her union with Shiva. Married women fast and pray for the long life and well-being of their husbands, while unmarried women pray for a good future partner. Beyond the rituals, it is a celebration of female solidarity, song and dance.
When it falls
Teej takes place in the lunar month of Bhadra, typically late August or early September, on the third day after the new moon. That holds for 2026 as well, but as a lunar festival the exact date moves each year — check the current dates in our festival calendar of Nepal, and see the best time to visit Nepal guide for the wider season.
The three days of Teej
Teej unfolds over three days:
- Dar khane din — the eve of the fast, when families gather for a lavish feast (the dar) to fortify women for the day ahead. Singing and dancing often start here and run late into the night.
- The fasting day (Haritalika Teej) — the main day. Women observe a strict fast — many without even water — dress in red and visit Shiva temples to worship, sing and dance. In Kathmandu, the Pashupatinath temple complex is the epicentre, where thousands of women in red saris gather.
- Rishi Panchami — the closing day, marked by ritual bathing and worship of the sapta rishi (seven sages), after which the fast is fully concluded.
What travellers will see
Expect a striking visual feast: women in red wedding saris, green and gold bangles, gathered in huge numbers at temples; circles of dancing and singing; and a celebratory, sisterly atmosphere. Around Pashupatinath the crowds are enormous and the energy infectious. It is one of the most photogenic and uplifting festivals to witness, though it is primarily a women's space.
Teej songs (Teej geet) are a tradition in themselves: women compose and sing about joy, hardship, love and the realities of married life, and the festival has long served as a rare outlet for expressing feelings that everyday life keeps quiet. In the weeks beforehand, markets fill with red saris, glass bangles and pote (beaded necklaces), and beauty parlours and mehndi (henna) artists do a roaring trade. Although it is rooted in prayers for husbands, modern Teej is increasingly a celebration of womanhood and friendship in its own right, and you will often see large groups of friends, colleagues and family gathering simply to dance and enjoy the day together.
For travellers, it is a vivid and welcoming spectacle — best appreciated as a respectful onlooker rather than a participant.
Tips for respectful observers
Tourists are welcome to watch Teej — it happens in open temple courtyards and public squares — but it is first and foremost a women's celebration, so the right posture is that of an appreciative guest.
- Go early to Pashupatinath on the main day to beat the biggest crowds.
- Watch from the edges — enjoy the dance circles and songs without inserting yourself into them uninvited.
- Dress modestly at the temple, and remember Pashupatinath's inner shrine is for Hindus only.
- Be respectful with photos — ask before close-ups of women at worship, and avoid photographing anyone mid-prayer without permission.
- Pack patience; the crowds are large and movement can be slow.
Teej kicks off the festival-packed autumn that builds to Dashain and Tihar, and it shares its devotional spirit with Janai Purnima earlier in the season. See the whole year in our festival calendar of Nepal, and read our Nepal culture and etiquette guide before you go.
Frequently asked questions
When is Teej in Nepal?+
Teej (Haritalika Teej) falls in the lunar month of Bhadra, usually late August or early September, on the third day after the new moon. In 2026 it lands in this window too, but as a lunar festival the exact date shifts each year — check our festival calendar of Nepal for the current dates.
What does Teej celebrate?+
Teej is dedicated to the goddess Parvati and her union with Shiva. Women fast and pray for the long life and well-being of their husbands, and unmarried women for a good future husband, while celebrating womanhood with dance and song.
What do women do on Teej?+
Over three days, women feast on dar khane din, then observe a strict fast on the main day — many without even water — while visiting Shiva temples in red saris to sing, dance and pray. The final day, Rishi Panchami, brings ritual bathing and worship of the seven sages to close the festival.
Why do women wear red during Teej?+
Red is the colour of marriage and auspiciousness in Nepal. During Teej women dress in red saris, often their wedding saris, along with green and gold bangles and jewellery, creating a striking sea of red at temples.
What is the Teej fast?+
Many women observe a strict 24-hour fast (some without even water) on the main day, praying for marital happiness. The day before, dar khane din, families gather for a rich feast to prepare for the fast.
Where can I see Teej in Kathmandu?+
The Pashupatinath temple complex in Kathmandu is the focal point, where thousands of women in red gather to worship Shiva, sing and dance. Expect huge, joyful crowds on the main day.
Can tourists watch Teej celebrations?+
Yes — Teej is celebrated openly at temples and in public squares, and respectful visitors are welcome to watch. It is primarily a women's festival, so observe from the edges rather than joining the dancing uninvited, dress modestly, and ask before taking close-up photos of women at worship.
