Teej: The Festival of Devotion, Divinity, Creation and Joy

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Every Sanatan festival and tradition has scientific reasons behind it. Teej is not just about fasting and singing; it is about energy, health, and happiness. But what is Teej? Why has it travelled from Nepal and India’s villages to the lights of New York, from Asia to Africa, from Europe to Latin America?

Teej began in ancient times, rooted in the story of Goddess Parvati. The Skanda Purana tells us how she performed intense penance to gain Bhagawan Shree Shiva as her husband. From then on, women fast on this day with love and devotion. But is fasting only about faith? Or is it also about fitness? The answer is both. Fasting cleanses the body, rests the digestive system, and renews inner energy.

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This is also the symbol of women's power- Shakti. This is the celebration of female divine energy, which is the source of creation.

Women wear red clothes on this day. Why red? Red is the colour of the Muladhar Chakra; the root of stability, strength, and survival. It represents power, passion, and prosperity. When women dress in red, they are not only honouring tradition but also activating inner energy.

Celebration takes many forms. Women dance, sing folk songs, share food called Dar, and laugh together. Isn’t joy itself the best medicine? Isn’t dance the purest form of health? Indeed, Teej is a festival of devotion, discipline, and delight.

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And how did Teej become global? Festivals travel with people. Nepali women and the diaspora carried it in their hearts, and soon the rhythm of Teej drums echoed in cities far away. Today, Teej is not just Nepal’s pride but an international festival of joy, celebrated in temples of India, community halls of Europe, streets of America, and cultural centres in Africa and Latin America.

Teej teaches us that tradition is timeless, science is hidden in rituals, and joy is universal. As actress Manisha Koirala once said, “Our festivals are not only about gods, they are about us, our energy, our harmony, our happiness.”

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