How Teej songs have evolved and what they mean for women

From bitter-sweet lyrics with which women vent their emotions to notes of resilience against patriarchy, Teej songs have for years been used as a means to reflect women’s position in Nepali society.

On July 19, singer Sophia Thapa released a Teej song ‘No Barta Please’ on YouTube. Through the song, Thapa urges women who are pressured to fast on Teej to not succumb to external forces. “If one wants to fast, it should be their personal choice,” says Thapa, who wrote the song during the lockdown days within two days.