Teej is a traditional Hindu festival celebrated primarily by women in India and Nepal. It holds immense cultural and religious significance, symbolizing the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and celebrating the monsoon season’s arrival. Teej is observed on various dates, with Hariyali Teej and Hartalika Teej being the most prominent.
1. Hariyali Teej:
- Hariyali Teej is celebrated during the bright half of the Hindu lunar month of Shravana, which typically falls in July or August.
- The festival marks the arrival of the monsoon season when the earth becomes lush and green.
- Women dress in green attire, wear bangles, apply mehndi (henna), and adorn themselves with traditional jewelry.
- Special prayers and rituals are performed, including the worship of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
- Women gather in groups to sing songs, dance, and swing on decorated swings, often under neem trees.
- Fasting is a common practice on Hariyali Teej, where married women fast for the well-being and longevity of their husbands, while unmarried women fast with the hope of finding an ideal husband.
- The fasting ends with the consumption of a special meal that includes sweets like ghewar and other traditional dishes.
2. Hartalika Teej:
- Hartalika Teej is celebrated on the third day of the bright half of the lunar month of Bhadrapada, which usually falls in August or September.
- This festival is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Parvati.
- The word “Hartalika” is derived from “Harat” (abduction) and “Aalika” (female friend). It refers to the story of how Parvati’s female friend helped her elope with Lord Shiva to avoid an arranged marriage.
- On this day, women fast, visit temples and offer prayers to seek the blessings of Goddess Parvati for marital happiness and well-being.
- Married women also fast for their husbands’ long life.
- The rituals may include the recitation of the Hartalika Vrat Katha, a narrative that narrates the story of the festival.
- In some regions, women create clay idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and immerse them in water on the following day.
3. Kajari Teej:
- Kajari Teej, also known as Badi Teej, falls on the third day of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) of the lunar month of Bhadrapada.
- It is primarily celebrated in the northern and western regions of India, especially in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
- This Teej is associated with the agricultural season and the sowing of crops.
- Women worship the neem tree, apply mehndi (henna), and sing folk songs about the monsoon and sowing.
- The festival is marked by various customs and rituals, and women come together to celebrate and pray for the well-being of their families.
Teej festivals are characterized by their vibrant and joyful celebrations. They provide an opportunity for women to bond, showcase their traditional attire and jewelry, and partake in cultural activities. These festivals not only hold religious significance but also serve as a reflection of the close relationship between nature and human life, particularly in the context of agriculture and the monsoon season.