Haritalika Teej 2026 falls on Wednesday 19 August. For Nepali women across Australia, it's one of the most anticipated festivals of the year — a day of fasting, prayer, red sarees, Teej songs, and sisterhood. Whether you're in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Adelaide, here's everything you need to celebrate Teej far from home.
What Is Haritalika Teej?
Haritalika Teej is a Hindu festival celebrated by Nepali and Indian women on the third day (tritiya) of the bright fortnight of Bhadra (August–September). Women fast — many observe a strict nirjala fast (no food or water) for 24 hours — and pray to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati for the well-being of their husbands and family. Unmarried women pray for a good husband. The festival is as much about celebration and sisterhood as it is about devotion — Teej songs, dancing, and gathering with friends and family are central to the day.
Teej 2026 Date
- →Haritalika Teej: Wednesday 19 August 2026
- →Dar (pre-fast feast): evening of Tuesday 18 August
- →The fast begins after Dar on 18 August and breaks after puja on 19 August
- →In Australia, community celebrations are usually held on the nearest weekend — Saturday 22 or Sunday 23 August
Community Celebrations by City
Every major Australian city with a Nepali community holds a Teej gathering. Dates and venues vary — follow your local Nepali community Facebook group for confirmed details.
- →🌅 Perth — community event usually held mid-to-late August or early September. Watch the WA Nepali community Facebook group for confirmed date and venue.
- →🌆 Melbourne — Dandenong and Footscray communities typically organise separate events. Check Melbourne Nepali Community Facebook group.
- →🌉 Sydney — Blacktown Nepali community holds one of the largest Teej celebrations in Australia. Check Sydney Nepali Community Facebook group.
- →☀️ Brisbane — Logan community gathering, usually at a community hall in the Logan area.
- →🍷 Adelaide — Nepali Association of South Australia organises the Salisbury area event.
Search 'Teej 2026 [your city]' on Facebook to find local event pages. Community events often have live Teej song competitions, dancing, and a shared feast — they're very welcoming to newcomers.
What to Wear
Red is the colour of Teej. Most women wear a red saree — typically a red and green combination is traditional, but any shade of red is perfectly appropriate. Jewellery, bangles (particularly green glass bangles), mehndi (henna on hands), and sindoor complete the look.
- →Traditional: Red and green saree with blouse (cholo)
- →Lehenga or salwar kameez in red are also widely worn
- →Green glass bangles (hara chura) — a Teej essential
- →Mehndi on hands — many women get henna done in the days before Teej
- →Pote (red and green bead necklace) and traditional gold jewellery
- →Sindoor (vermilion) in the parting of the hair for married women
Where to Buy Saree and Accessories in Australia
- →Perth: Nepali and Indian grocery shops in Cannington and St James often stock sarees and accessories before festivals. Check Facebook marketplace for pre-owned sarees.
- →Melbourne: Dandenong and Footscray have several Indian clothing stores with good saree selections. Springvale market area also has options.
- →Sydney: Harris Park (Parramatta) is the best place in Sydney for Indian and Nepali clothing, accessories, and bangles.
- →Brisbane: Sunnybank and Woodridge have Indian stores stocking sarees and bangles.
- →All cities: Online via ethnic wear websites that ship within Australia — search 'red saree Australia delivery'.
- →Mehndi: Many Nepali and Indian women offer mehndi services around festival time — check community Facebook groups for local artists.
The Teej Fast — Nirjala vs Partial Fast
Observing the fast is personal — there is no single right way. Many women in Australia adapt the fast to their work and lifestyle.
- →Nirjala fast: No food or water from after Dar until puja is complete the next day. The strictest form of the fast.
- →Partial fast (phalahar): Fruits, milk, yoghurt, and specific sweets are permitted. No grains or cooked savoury food.
- →If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, unwell, or on medication — consult your doctor. The fast is a devotional choice, not a health obligation.
- →The fast is traditionally broken after completing puja and offering water to the Shivalinga.
Teej Foods — Dar and the Feast
The evening before Teej (Dar) is a feast — women eat well before the fast begins. Traditional Teej foods include:
- →Sel roti — ring-shaped sweet rice bread, fried golden. The centrepiece of the Teej feast.
- →Puri — deep-fried wheat bread, eaten with curries
- →Aloo tarkari — spiced potato curry
- →Kheer — sweet rice pudding with milk and cardamom
- →Fruits — bananas, apples, pears and seasonal fruits for the fast
- →Dahi chiura — beaten rice with yoghurt, a light Teej staple
Teej Songs — Teej Ko Geet
Teej is incomplete without Teej ko geet — traditional Teej songs sung by groups of women. In Australia, community events usually feature live singing and dancing. Popular Teej songs include classic numbers by artists like Pashupati Sharma, Rामकृष्ण ढकाल, and contemporary artists who release new Teej songs every year. Search 'Teej ko geet 2082' on YouTube for the latest.
How to Celebrate Teej If You Live Far From Community
- →Cook a Dar feast at home — sel roti, puri, kheer — and invite Nepali friends over
- →Set up a small puja space at home with a Shivalinga image and offer flowers, fruits, and incense
- →Video call family in Nepal during the puja — many families do this together
- →Join an online Teej programme — many Nepali YouTubers and community groups run live streams
- →Wear your red saree even at home — it makes the day feel special
- →Share a Teej photo in your local Nepali community Facebook group — you'll be surprised how many others are celebrating quietly too
Find Nepali grocery shops near you for Teej ingredients
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