Teej, a special festival for women, was celebrated in a big way all over the country. Women wore pretty red saris and went to Lord Shiva’s temples, both big and small, on Monday. The government’s kind choice to give women a day off from work made the celebration even more special. Let’s talk about the happy moments we saw at Pashupati and Hanumandhoka Durbar Square. The streets were lively with women in red!
Teej Tradition:
Following the Hindu tradition, women fasted for a whole day on the third day of the dark part of the moon in the month of Bhadra. They did this with all their heart, hoping for their husbands to be healthy and live a long, happy life.
Symbolic Attire:
Women decorated themselves with bangles, necklaces made of glass beads, and red vermilion powder. These were all symbols of good fortune. This lively symbolism was reflected in their dancing and festivities at the temples in Pashupati and Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square.
International Flavor:
Haritalika Teej wasn’t only celebrated by locals; it also captured the excitement of foreign women. A bunch of visitors from different countries were seen happily dancing to Teej songs at the Pashupatinath temple complex.
Security Measures:
The safety of devotees was the top priority, with 2,966 police officers making sure they were safe in the Pashupatinath temple area.
Temple Access:
At the crack of dawn, precisely at 3:00 am, all four doors of Pashupatinath swung open. The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) considerately arranged four distinct lines for devotees, making it easier for them to enter the main temple.
Devotion and Celebration:
Once they had offered their heartfelt prayers to Lord Shiva, the women inside the temple complexes couldn’t help but express their joy, bursting into dances and songs. The whole Pashupati area was a beautiful sight with women devotees shining brightly in their red saris and blouses.
Beyond Pashupati:
The celebrations spread to other temples too, like Chittapol of Sanga in Bhaktapur, Doleswhor, Makhendreshwor Mahadev Temple in Makhan, and Gopaleshwor Mahadev Temple in Pharping. Many devotees came together in these places to celebrate Teej.
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