About Haritalika Teej
Haritalika Teej is a joyful and devotional festival celebrated chiefly by Hindu women in Nepal and parts of northern India. Dressed in vivid red and green saris and gold jewellery, women gather to sing, dance and feast, and to honour the goddess Parvati, who is said to have won Lord Shiva as her husband through devotion and fasting. Married women pray for the wellbeing and long life of their husbands, while unmarried women pray for a good partner and a happy future.
The festival unfolds over three days. It opens with Dar Khane Din, a rich pre-fast feast shared among family and friends. The central day is the Teej fast itself, when many women observe a strict nirjala fast — without food or even water — while worshipping Shiva at temples; the great gatherings at the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu are especially famous. The third day, Rishi Panchami, brings rituals of purification that close the celebration.
Teej falls in the lunar month of Bhadra, usually in late August or September, on dates set by the Bikram Sambat calendar — so the Gregorian day changes each year. The countdown above tracks the days until the next Haritalika Teej. Add it to your own page to follow the run-up to one of Nepal's most colourful women's festivals.
Upcoming dates
| 2026 | Monday, September 14, 2026next |
| 2027 | Friday, September 3, 2027 |
FAQ
When is Haritalika Teej?
Teej falls in the lunar month of Bhadra (late August to September) and shifts each year on the Bikram Sambat calendar. The live countdown above shows exactly how many days remain.
Why is Teej celebrated?
It honours the goddess Parvati and her union with Lord Shiva. Women fast and pray for the long life of their husbands, or, if unmarried, for a good future partner and family happiness.
How is Teej celebrated?
Women dress in red, gather to sing and dance, share the Dar feast, observe a day-long fast and worship Shiva at temples such as Kathmandu's Pashupatinath, ending with Rishi Panchami.
Do women really fast without water on Teej?
Many observe a strict nirjala fast — abstaining from both food and water for the day — though the strictness varies, and some keep a lighter fast for health reasons.