The Various Ways In Which Teej Is Celebrated

Monday, August 17, 2015, 10:15 [IST]

Teej is an important festival that is celebrated all over North india with great fervour. It falls on the third day of the first fortnight in the month of Shravan/ Savan. Teej is celebrated to honour Goddess Parvati.

The story behing Teej says that Goddess Parvati had to go through 108 cycles of birth and death to be blessed with Shiva as husband. Teej marks the occasion of their reunion. Shiva and Parvati are believed to be the perfect couple. The love and dedication of Parvati towards Shiva is thought to be the ideal that women wish to achive. Married and unmarried girls observe fasts during Teej and pray for the long and healthy lives for their husbands.

Why Is Teej Celebrated?

Teej is celebrated in three different forms.

Hariyali Teej- This form of Teej is celebrated in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. It is a celebration of greenery and the monsoons. Swings are an important part of the festivities. Swings are constructed on the trees and are decorated with flowers and ribbons. The women folk wear green coloured cloths and make merry, swinging in the rains. Women pray to Godess Parvati and offer her sweets and fruits.

Kajari Teej- It is observed in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan. Here, women gather to honour Lord Krishna. They also worship the neem tree. The women sing songs in the praise of Krishna and dance around. Swings are a part of this celebration too. The festival is named Kajari for the black clouds of the monsoon that bring in rain. It is also the colour of Lord Krishna.

Things To Know About Kajari Teej

Hartalika Teej- This is mainly celebrated in parts of Bihar, UP and Rajasthan. This form of teej is thought to be the most difficult to perform. The festival is celebrated over three days which also consists of one day fast during which the women are not supposed to drink even a drop of water. The festival celebrates the union of Shiva and Parvati. Sweets, fruits and vegetables are offered to the Goddess. Women paint on coconuts and offer it to Parvati too.

Read on to know more about this festival.

Cover Image Courtesy Ganesh Paudel

Nirjal Vrat

Teej, in its various forms of celebration, is dedicated to the wife's devotion to her husband. Women often observe 'Nirjal Vrat' during which they do not eat or drink anything.

The Monsoons

Teej marks the onset of monsoons. It gives the women folk a break from their daily routine and the heat of the summer.

Images Courtesy: Nataraja

Married Women Visit Their Parents

Married women go back to their parents homes. This is an important ritual in the first year of marriage. Parents gift the girls new cloths and adorned with them, the girls gather together with their friends and and have fun. They also pray to Goddess Parvati, thanking her for the marital bliss she has been blessd with.

Women Who Are Engaged

Women who are engaged to be married recive Shrinjhara (gifts) from their in-laws. The gifts include jwellery, clothed, mehendi and sweets.

Image Courtesy: Krish Dulal

Teej In Jaipur

In Jaipur, Rajasthan, Teej is a three day long festivity. Goddess Parvati's idol is decorated and is taken out in a procession through the streets. People throng the streets for a glimpse of the goddess. The streets come alive with dances, songs and other performances. The festival attracts many tourists who wish to experience the festivities.