Teej, observed by Hindu women folk, is celebrated on the third day of the waxing moon of Bhadra, Hasta Nachhatra, according to the lunar calendar.

Women in red attire, red bangles and red tika on the forehead are seen visiting the various Shiva temples in their locality. The most popular among them is the Pashupati Nath temple.

Hindu scriptures has it that those married women who fast on this day will be blessed for their husband’s longevity, good health and the strong marital bond where as unmarried will find suitable husband. According to Purana, Hindu scripture, Goddess Parvita fasted and kept vigil throughout this night and worshipped the Lord to have him as her husband and she was blessed accordingly.

Thenceforth, the celebration of Teej started. Nepali women due to the geographical inaccessibility in past times could not visit their parents frequently. Thus, this is a day for the marrieds in year when they visit their parents and reunite with their other siblings and friends. The reunion is marked with songs and dances.

The night before Teej is widely known as Dar khane Din in local term. The womenfolk prepare various delicacies and eat the whole night because on the Teej day they won’t take a morsel. The legend has it that on this day one who fast should not drink a drop of water either. But with changing times such unpractical traditions are changing slowly. Singing and dancing ladies then visit Shiva temples in their localities in groups.

Kathmanduites specially visit Pashupatinath temple on this day. Teej or Haritalika, is considered a necessary ritual in Hindu society, especially Shaibaities (women) must observe this. There is no such obligation for the sick, old and pregnant. If a wife cannot fast and worship the Lord then the husband has to do so, the Hindu scriptures say. Our traditions are falsified in the passing of times and given wrong interpretation by some pundits. Thus today they may seem discriminatory. But accoeding to the Hindu scriptures, men and women share equal responsibility in a family.

The fourth day of Bhadra is called Ganesh Chauthi. According to the Skanda Puran, on this day Lord Ganesh was born. “Those, men and women, who fast and worship Lord Ganesh on this day are blessed with the uninterrupted from all the chaos of life.”

The fifth day is called Rishi Panchami. On the Rishi panchami day women folk pay homage to the Sapta Rishis - the seven sagas.

Hindus celebrate the new moon day of Bhadra as Father’s Day in the honour of living as well as deceased fathers. Vedic philosophy has long idolised father, mother and teacher as living deity.

Mother — Prakriti is the universal icon for feminine energy and father —Purusha is the eternal male principle.

The day is also celebrated for the holy grass Kush — important for every Hindu ritual. On this day Brahmin priests distribute Kush . So the day is also observed as Kushe Aunsi.

Hindu rituals are considered incomplete without Kush grass, state the scriptures. Only on this day Brahmins distribute Kush as on the other days it is prohibited to do so.  The family priests in return get Dakshin — fees and Sida — some grains

The origin of Kush is related to a demon King, Jalandar who defeated the Gods to rule over the whole universe. Brinda, his faithful wife was the source of his strength and it was because of her he was undefeatable. Lord Vishnu laid a trick for Brinda to defeat Jalandhar. She, when found that Vishnu cheated her cursed him to become a stone, a tree, a grass and shrub. Thus Saligram - a holy stone, Pipal - a holy tree, Kush - a holy grass and Tulsi - a holy shrub is considered as Lord Vishnu and worshipped. On Father’s day, Babuko Mukh Herne Din, as it is literally known in Nepali, children offer their father sweets and present to show their gratitude.

Those who have lost their father pay tribute to the deceased on this Aunshi -the new moon by taking holy bath in the Bagmati River and performing purification rites at Gokarneshwor Mahadav, a shrine near Kathmandu, on the banks of river Bagmati.

Nepal Mahatmya describes Gokarneshwor Mahadav as one of the shrine of Lord Mahadev. Nepal Mahatmya also states that once when Lord Shiva was bored in Kailash – his holy abode in the Himalayas , he wanted to roam around freely.  He came to Mrigasthali in Shleshmantak Ban – a forest near Pashupatinath Temple. There he started to enjoy his life freely as a deer.

For a long time, when Gods could not find the Lord, they were worried and started his search. Brahma, Vishnu and Indra were sent to search for the Lord by the gods.

The Gods after searching the whole universe came to the Shlesmantak Ban where to there surprise they saw the Lord enjoying his freedom as a deer.

They prayed to the Lord and asked to return to Kailash. But the Lord, who was in no mood to return, did not pay any attention to them. So, they decided to catch the Lord – the deer and caught his horn. All of a sudden the Lord disappeared and only the three broken pieces of his deer horn remained in their hand.

Lord Shiva then told them to establish those three pieces of horn in his remembrance: in three places. Indra installed his piece in Swarge — the heaven, Lord Vishnu in Patal — the lower planets and Lord Brahma in Martya — the earth at Gokarna as Gokarneshwor Mahadav.

The people till today visit this temple, where according to the scriptures, once Ravana also prayed the almighty and pleased him.

Gokarneshwor Mahadav is one of the oldest and historical temple of Nepal.    

Krishna Janmastami is the birthday of one of the most versatile character of Hindu scripture; a saint, mystic, lover, statesman, diplomat and many more.  

According to Purana - on the eighth day of the New moon of Bhadra Rohini Nachhyatra - Lord Vishnu was incarnated as Lord Krishna, in the jail of Mathura as the seventh son of Basudev and Devaki.

Hindus celebrate Krishna Janmastami to commemorate this day observing the fast, and worshipping Lord Krishna and Radha visiting different Krishna temples in the locality. Three thousands years before Christ, in Yadukul of the western Indian subcontinent, Lord Krishan - the hero of the great Hindu epic Mahabharat, was born. In those days Kansa – the maternal uncle of Krishna was the King of Mathura. He had imprisoned his sister and the brother-in-law fearing that their child might kill him.

Fearing that Kansa may kill Krishna the seventh child, Vasudev took him to Gokul as directed by the Lord himself and changed him with a girl - child Yogmaya of Yashoda. So Lord Krishna grew up as a son of Yashoda with Balaram, Gopi and Gopinis in Gokul.

Lord Krishna spent 11 years 52 days of his childhood in Gokul, where he did many deeds of valour, killed the demons Putna and Bakasur sent to kill him by Kansa, fought with Kaliya- the serpent and saved the people of Gokul from the wrath of Indra - the God of rain. His mythical romance, the Rasha-leela with hundreds of Gopinis is more famous. And the divine love with Radha is widely is acclaimed.

He then returned to Mathura to kill Kansa and to free his parents. After that he was sent to Ujjain to study with Sandipani Rishi, the grate saga of that time.

Pandavas, the cousin brothers of Lord Krishna had problem with Kauravas for hierarchy to the throne of Hastinapur, which led to the great war of Mahabarata. Lord Krishna played the leading role in Mahabharat war.

Arjun - the third brother among Pandavas when saw own grandfather, uncles teacher and the relatives as the rival in the battlefield, he tried to avoid the battle. But Lord Krishna inspired him to fight the crusade by preaching him the Gita.

Gita is a great Hindu philosophy, where the Lord has preached Arjun about Karmayog, Gyanyog, Bhaktiyog and Dhyanayog.

Krishna Janmastami is celebrated with great devotion by visiting Krishna temples and displaying photos depleting stories from his life. Ballavs, Chaitanyas and Radha - Krishna cult celebrate this day by making special Jhulana.

There are many temples dedicated to the Lord Krishna and Radha in Kathmandu valley. The most famous one made of black stone in seventeenth century with 21 shrines, is situated at Darbar squar in Patan. Important and impressive scenes from Ramayan and Mahabharat are beautifully engraved there. Devotees gather around the temple to offer worship. Womenfolk from different places throng the temple singing, dancing, burning oil lamp and keeping vigil throughout the glorious night of Lord’s birth. The Janmastami celebration is much more colourful in Mathura Brindavan in India .

Lord Krishna, a great saint was incarnated to reestablished the Dharma - the true and defeat Paap - the sin and Paapis - the culprits in the world and he will do so again and again - so says Lord Krishna himself to Arjun in Gita.