Teej Festival

Fast Facts:
Occasion: Teej Festival
Location: All over India
Festival Time: July- August
Famous Attraction: First Teej, Swings, Fair, Sringar, Mehandi and Heena pattern.
Things to do: Puja, preparing the special dishes for Teej, Putting Heena.
Shopping: Jewelery, Sarees/ Salwar Suits, Bangles, Accessories, Beauty Accessories and Puja Accessories.

What to Eat: Ghevar, Vermicelli, Dal Baati, Malpua, Kheer-Puri.

Teej Festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and thrill. Since the festival falls in the outbreak of monsoon therefore, it is popularly known as the "Sawan Festival". The festival is dedicated to the divine couple of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Though Teej is celebrated in all over the country and abroad but it highly popular in Jaipur. The day long procession and celebration create a vivid atmosphere. Primarily, in the state of Rajasthan, Punjab, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh celebrates this festival as the arrival of monsoon after the long drawn out summer season. It is said that Teej festival is dedicated to the re-union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. On the day of Teej the married women pray to the Goddess Parvati for the well being of their husbands. Colorful costumes, fasting for the whole day long, religious procession, song and dance are the most striking feature of the Teej festival. The religious procession is associated with the festival of Teej and it is the colorful and vibrant demonstration of the festival in India.

There are three types of Teej Festival:

Hariyali Teej: Hariyali Teej falls in the Shukla Paksha of Shravan. It is celebrated for the beginning of the monsoon. It is associated with the good harvest and prosperity. On this day women wears the green colored clothes. They worship moon, Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha.

Kajari Teej: Kajari Teej is celebrated on the third day of the of the dark half (Krishna Paksha) of the Shravan month in the Hindu calendar. On the day of the celebration devotional songs are sung by the women who gathers near the Neem tree and worships it. Special procession is also organized to worship the beautifully decorated idol of Goddess Parvati.

Hartalika Teej: This is the most important occasion during the entire Teej festival. Hartalika Teej festival lasts for three days and married women observes fast on the second day that is Nirjara Fast meaning 'fast without water' for the great devotion and long life and prosperity of their husbands.

Significance of Teej:

Teej plays an important and significant role in defining the true nature of the married couple. It is rooted deep in the Indian religious and cultural ethics. Teej has many types of significance in the Hindu religion.

Religious Significance of Teej Festival: Religious significance of the Teej festival lies in the devotion of Goddess Parvati for her husband Lord Shiva. Even today the womenfolk celebrates the day by observing the 'Nirjara Vrat' which means fast without water for the well being and long life of their husband.

Climatic Significance of the Teej Festival: Teej festival is celebrated on the advent of monsoon season. The womenfolk takes the full advantage of the season and they enjoy themselves by swinging, singing and dancing in the rain.

Strengthening Relationships: The foremost significance of the Teej Festival helps in strengthening the relationship between married couples. Women observes the fast for whole day long for their husband for their long life, prosperity and devotion. To feel more closer and more committed to her husband women observes fast for their husbands in the festival.

Customs and Rituals of the Teej Festival:

As in the case of the other Hindu festivals Teej also have many Rituals and customs. Women observes fast and perform other customs for long and healthy life of their husbands. Every ritual have their own significance and therefore ladies perform all the Teej customs with the extreme devotion. Women starts preparing for the Teej festival in advance and go out for shopping to bring the items that are required to perform the Teej rituals. Teej Customs and rituals make the festival more interesting and full of colors. Shrinjhara is the auspicious occasion of Teej that is performed by most of the married women and the engaged girls.
The traditional gift package that is called as Shrinjhara is gifted to the daughter-in-law. Baya is the another traditional package that is gifted to their daughter-in-law which includes dry fruits, mathris, new clothes, bangles and jewelery. Putting Mehndi and Alta is also the important ritual to beautify the hand and special Mehandi designs are put in the hands and feet. The most important ritual of the Teej festival is the fast which is observed by both the married women and unmarried girls for the long life of their husbands.

Attraction and Celebration:

Teej is the most awaited festival for the womenfolk which is as always the most colorful, attractive and vibrant. Both married and unmarried women perform the many joys and rituals of the Teej Festival to make it colorful and vibrant. Teej is the time to adorn oneself like a newly dressed bride. Therefore women shop for new clothes, jewelery and accessories. Mehandi is another attraction for the women who keep fast for their husband and to be husband. During the Teej festival the magnificent collection of Heena comes in the market. Teej is also known as the 'festival of swings' which marks the advent of the monsoon season. Sawan Teej festival is the time for the fun and jollity while performing the rituals and traditions.

Teej Festival
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