KATHMANDU, Sept 14: Women devotees observing the Haritalika Teej fast have been lining up at the Pashupatinath Temple area since early morning to worship Lord Shiva.
Police said the security situation in the Pashupati area remained normal during the festival. Superintendent of Police Dan Bahadur Thapa, spokesperson and information officer for the Kathmandu District Police Range, said security arrangements had been strengthened to manage the large crowd.
According to Thapa, all four temple gates were opened at 3:15 am. By 7 am, around 9,000 devotees had already visited the temple, while about 3,000 people were waiting in line.
Police are providing services including assistance to devotees, information, search and rescue, family reunification, health camps and traffic management.
CCTV cameras, drones and communication technology are being used as part of the security arrangements. Plainclothes police, along with female and male personnel and disaster rescue teams, have also been deployed.
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More than 2,500 police personnel have been mobilised in two shifts to manage security during the festival. Each shift has 1,250 police personnel on duty.
The festival of Teej, also known as Haritalika Teej, is being celebrated by Nepali Hindus, particularly women, across the country today.
The festival falls on the third day of the bright half of the lunar month of Bhadra. Mostly women observe a fast on the occasion, praying for the longevity, health and prosperity of their husbands and families.
The three-day festival begins with 'Dar' on the second day of the fortnight in the month of Bhadra. Women gather at their maternal homes and enjoy various traditional delicacies known as 'Dar' a day before Teej, followed by fasting and cultural activities the next day.
On Teej, women take ritual baths in the morning and worship Lord Shiva in the evening. They light oil-fed lamps and spend the night awake.
The festival concludes on the fifth day of the fortnight after worshiping the Saptarishi, or seven sages.
Teej is also considered a celebration of sisterhood, as women gather at their natal homes and participate in singing and dancing.
According to legend, Parvati, the daughter of the Himalayas, observed a fast wishing for the health and well-being of her husband, Lord Shiva. The day has since been celebrated as Hartalika Teej.
Married women wear bangles, 'Pote'—a necklace made of glass beads—'Tilahari' and 'Sindur' (crimson powder), which are considered symbols of good fortune. They also dress in red saris or other red outfits and adorn themselves with various ornaments.
Both married and unmarried women perform puja and observe fasting, praying for the fulfillment of their wishes for a happy and prosperous married life.
Shiva temples, including the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, see an overwhelming number of women devotees on the occasion.
To mark the festival, the government has announced a public holiday today for women only.
