All About Teej

For years, it has been seen how beautifully the traditional festivals and cultural sentiments in India are respected and celebrated with enthusiasm and strong belief related to them.

One of those festivals is Teej. This colourful festival is celebrated in various states, most lively in the city Jaipur. It is celebrated during the monsoon every year.

There are three Teej festivals celebrated across the country: Hariyali Teej, Kajari Teej, and Hartalika Teej. Hariyali Teej is known as chhoti (smaller) while Kajari Teej is known as badi (bigger) Teej.

Teej is one of the most joyfully celebrated festivals of  Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Himachal Pradesh. It is also celebrated in Nepal. It is the 3rd day of the new moon (Amavasya) fortnight of Shravan, the month of Hindus that comes between July and August.

HISTORY 

The monsoon festival of Teej is dedicated to the Goddess Parvati and her union with Lord Shiva. As per the Hindu mythology, the Goddess Parvati took 108 rebirths until Lord Shiva accepted her as his wife.

Due to this belief, the festival is celebrated by married women. The ritual includes fasting because it is believed that it will bless women with happy married life and long life of her spouse.

SIGNIFICANCE AND THE WAY OF CELEBRATION

The 3-day celebration is filled with joy and rituals that include married women or women who are about to get married. Each day has its own significance. On the first day, ladies enjoy a feast offered by men, also called Dar Khane Din. The second day is fasting and the third day is for offering the prayers.

Women dress up with colourful clothes, like a newly-wed bride. They try to look their best during the entire festival. In the evening, women gather to hear the 'Teej Katha' that includes stories of Gods associated with the festival and pray for the better health of their spouse with a happy married life.

In some states, women bath with red mud to purify themselves. Along with pooja ceremonies, there is another tradition associated with this festival in which swings are set up under tree branches. Jaipur is famous for the Teej procession, where a large number of people gather to see that.

Joyful celebration of Teej.

Teej is known as teeyan in Punjab. Along with the usual rituals, it also includes women gathering and performing Gidda, a traditional dance in Punjab.

Teeyan celebration in Amritsar, Punjab.

In other parts of our country, the festival is celebrated with other names and rituals. The Akha Teej or Akshaya Tritiya, the auspicious day of Lord Parasurama's birthday. Jains celebrate this festival, mostly in South Asia.

Hariyali Teej of Gujarat celebrated in the same way as that in Rajasthan. Awra Teej, celebrated in MP and Chhattisgarh, comes during the month of Vaisakh, which is the time of spring season.

Other similar festivals like Kevada Teej, Kajal Teej in Telangana, Tayi in some parts of Kerela and Karnataka, are celebrated with the same manner as the actual Teej festival is celebrated. 

Hindus in Nepal also celebrate it, Sindhi community in India and Pakistan celebrates the festival named 'Teejri'.