Today marks a unique confluence of two significant festivals in Nepal—Teej and Chaurachhan. This year, the festivals coincide as both fall on the same day, Bhadra Shukla Tritiya for Teej and Bhadra Shukla Chaturthi for Chaurachhan, according to local sources.
Teej, celebrated by women with fasting and rituals, sees participants breaking their fast with a feast known as ‘dar’ on the night before. Today, however, they observe a day of fasting, refraining from eating. At the same time, the Chaurachhan festival, which involves the sighting of the moon on Chaturthi, is also being observed in Mithila.
Mahesh Kumar Jha from Bardibas-2 explains that Chaurachhan, traditionally observed with moon sighting and worship on Chaturthi, aligns with today’s Teej festivities. “Since the moon sighting for Chaurachhan is also happening today, both Teej and Chaurachhan are observed together this year,” Jha said.
During Chaurachhan, worshippers create a ceremonial area called ‘Aripan’ by applying cow dung and rice flour in a square pattern. A lamp is lit, and offerings of fruits, sweets, and other delicacies are presented to the moon. The fast is broken after the moon sighting, with food and fruits being shared with family and friends.
In Mithila, it is customary to fast and present offerings of kheer (rice pudding), puri, yogurt, and other sweet dishes to the moon. The belief is that observing this fast purifies one from sins and brings prosperity, growth in friendships, and peace. This practice is rooted in the belief that the sighting of the moon on Bhado Shukla Chaturthi brings these benefits, a tradition said to originate from a story in the Srimad Bhagavatam involving Lord Krishna and the Shyamantaka Mani.
Both festivals are deeply rooted in local traditions, and their simultaneous occurrence today is seen as a special event, blending the rituals and cultural significance of both celebrations.
