Final day of Teej in Nepal

Hindu women of all castes celebrating the last day of the Teej festival. As part of the ritual, women take a bath in the Bagmati river. Kathmandu, Nepal. 24/08/2009.

Hindu women of all castes celebrate Teej every year to mark the devotion of goddess Parvati to her husband, Lord Shiva. Women don red saris and elaborate jewellery for this festive period and observe fasting to express how much devoted they are to their husbands. On the third day, a peculiar ritual called Rishi Panchami is performed to pay tribute to the seven Hindu sages - to cleanse away the ill effects of a woman's menstrual cycles. As part of the ritual, women take a special bath in the chilly Bagmati river using the Datiwan herb. It is believed that by observing the rituals, unmarried women believe will get a good spouse like Lord Shiva, and married women will be blessed with a good family life.

Hindu women of all castes celebrating the last day of the Teej festival. As part of the ritual, women take a bath in the Bagmati river. Kathmandu, Nepal. 24/08/2009.

Hindu women of all castes celebrate Teej every year to mark the devotion of goddess Parvati to her husband, Lord Shiva. Women don red saris and elaborate jewellery for this festive period and observe fasting to express how much devoted they are to their husbands. On the third day, a peculiar ritual called Rishi Panchami is performed to pay tribute to the seven Hindu sages - to cleanse away the ill effects of a woman's menstrual cycles. As part of the ritual, women take a special bath in the chilly Bagmati river using the Datiwan herb. It is believed that by observing the rituals, unmarried women believe will get a good spouse like Lord Shiva, and married women will be blessed with a good family life.

Hindu women of all castes celebrating the last day of the Teej festival. As part of the ritual, women take a bath in the Bagmati river. Kathmandu, Nepal. 24/08/2009.

Hindu women of all castes celebrate Teej every year to mark the devotion of goddess Parvati to her husband, Lord Shiva. Women don red saris and elaborate jewellery for this festive period and observe fasting to express how much devoted they are to their husbands. On the third day, a peculiar ritual called Rishi Panchami is performed to pay tribute to the seven Hindu sages - to cleanse away the ill effects of a woman's menstrual cycles. As part of the ritual, women take a special bath in the chilly Bagmati river using the Datiwan herb. It is believed that by observing the rituals, unmarried women believe will get a good spouse like Lord Shiva, and married women will be blessed with a good family life.