Teej festival observed with fanfare

The Hindu women across the country observed the Rishipanchami festival today as per the rituals. The festival, the concluding day of the Teej, was observed on the fifth day of bright half moon of the month of Bhadra.

The women observe this festival with due respect and importance by fasting and paying homage to the Saptarshis (seven powerful saints as per the Hindu mythology) with a belief that they will be blessed and forgiven for all sins.

On the day, those observing the festival woke up early in the morning, went to the nearby river, stream, pond and lake and took bath with established rituals. They cleaned their body with 365 stems of Apamarga, a medicinal plant; took bath with cow dung and soil collected from sacred places and ash.

The fasting ritual requires the devotee to take bath in the morning and carryout prayers after which the person is required to eat grains, vegetables, wild fruits, Kandamul, guava for a single meal and fast again.

On this day, woman devotees thronged the Shrisheshwar Temple in Teku of the capital city, Kathmandu, and other Rishi Temples across the nation for homage and worship.