Teej songs losing their traditional essence

In the past, Teej songs carried the real spirit of the festival. They spoke of women’s struggles, yearly hardships, personal experiences, and important events. Jewelry and ornaments were mentioned, yes, but the songs were more than decoration—they reflected the social and cultural life of the time. Listening to them brought the true feeling of Teej into homes.

Today, however, many feel that this tradition is fading. “Ratyauli” songs—a lighter, sometimes suggestive style usually sung during men’s weddings—have increasingly replaced the serious, meaningful Teej songs.

Senior folk artists say the original style of Teej music is being lost. Some modern songs are considered too casual or indecent for family listening. Instead of focusing on women’s issues or social themes, many songs now center on love and romance. Artists stress that Teej should remain creative and meaningful, not just a display of ornaments and glamour.

Folk music researcher Dr. Tulsi Pravas shared on social media, “Teej is almost here, but I haven’t heard a proper Teej song yet.” He explained that most songs released during the festival season are ordinary folk tracks, not real Teej songs. “This is a distortion of the tradition,” he said. “Artists are the guardians of culture. If they cannot distinguish between culture and distortion, the art itself suffers. Artists must hold each other accountable.”

Prajapati Parajuli, former president of the National Folk and Duet Song Academy, also expressed concern. He said male-led ratyauli-style songs have dominated Teej, overshadowing the festival’s essence. While men singing in studios may add energy to dancing, it doesn’t fit the tradition—except for songs that reflect father-daughter conversations or interactions between married women and their maternal families, which he calls the festival’s beautiful moments. Love stories, he believes, don’t belong in Teej songs.

The Academy has even warned studios to avoid controversial tracks, and this year’s releases are reportedly cleaner compared to last year. Parajuli emphasized that Teej songs should retain their religious and historical significance rather than focusing solely on flashy videos.

Recording a Teej song is expensive. The cost to produce a track is around Rs. 100,000–150,000, with similar expenses for promotion. Despite their short shelf life—usually just a month—some artists continue to record these songs to preserve the tradition.

Singer Jeevan Dahal said, “It’s hard to recover the investment, and songs mostly earn through stage performances. Yet we keep recording Teej songs because they are part of our culture, and traditions must be kept alive.”

For many artists, the message is clear: Teej is more than music—it’s a celebration of culture, heritage, and women’s stories. Preserving the soul of Teej songs is a challenge, but one worth keeping alive.