A festival celebrated with great fervor and excitement and observed with great religious sanctity, Teej dedicated to the Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is a festival celebrated across India,. It is in the state of Rajasthan and Jaipur however that this festival can be best enjoyed.
A festival of swings and rain, Teej marks the dawn of the Shraawan and is usually celebrated in July-August, normally depending on the cycle of the moon. This year (2011), the festival falls on 2nd / 3rd August.
According to Indian mythology, it was on this day that Goddess Parvati was united with Lord Shiva after a penance of over a hundred years. Thus Teej is a day to invoke Goddess Parvati’s blessings for cleansing of one’s soul and body and for the well being of spouse and family.
Teej also heralds the beginning of the monsoon season, and is of special importance in Rajasthan as it transforms Rajasthan’s parched lands. The place has an after monsoon freshness and looks clean and green, also attracting beautiful peacocks who majestically take over the audiences with their dances.
Some of the rituals followed by both married and young unmarried women include observing a 24 hour fast, where not even a sip of water is drunk, as it is believed that by observing this fast Goddess Parvati’s blessings results in continued marital bliss.
While some married women return back to their parent’s houses to celebrate the festival, it is a celebration of sort where women receive gifts from their in-laws consisting of lac bangles, henna and more. A gift on Teej by future in-laws called ‘Shrinjhara’ (a gift pack) is considered very auspicious. From special Mehndi adorning their palms to colourful clothes and jewellery, the ladies are a vision of beauty dressed in their finery.
As per traditions, on return to the parents house, the ‘bahus’ stay here until Rakhi and return to celebrate Buddhi Teej i.e. Teej in their marital home which falls usually a week after Raksha Bandhan.
There are three types of Teej festivals - Hariyali Teej that falls on the Shukla Paksha of Shravana, Kajari Teej that falls on Krishna Paksh Tritiiya and Hartalika Teej that falls on the third day of the first fortnight of the month of ‘Bhadra’.
The Nyagrodha tree or Vat Vriksha, a tree considered highly auspicious with its hanging branches reflecting knowledge, is also worshipped. Special rope swings are tied to the branches and women enjoy the showers of rain.
Being one of the biggest celebrations of Rajasthan, tourists from many places flock here to be a part of it. Here images and idols of Goddess Parvati are beautifully adorned with ornaments and clothes. Devotees gather on the streets while the idol of Teej Mata is taken out for the Teej procession. While the idol is covered and sheltered with a canopy; the idol of Gangaur is kept open for the public. The festival is also important as it allows Rajasthan to showcase its artistic talents with folk singers and dancers also a part of the procession.
In Jaipur, a royal procession featuring an idol of the Goddess Parvati (Teej Mata) along with antique gilt palanquins, decorated elephants, camels, horses, bullock carts pulling cannons and chariots add to the glamour. The palanquin of the Goddess is carried by men dressed in bright red through the city, while devotees and tourists climb buildings and tree tops to view the procession.
In other places like Chandigarh celebrations include cultural programs and plays, while the Rock Garden here is decorated for the occasion.
Unlike other communities, Teej is a major celebration amongst the Baniya and Marwari community, where girls are gifted a variety of items such as bangles, bindis, clothes and more. A special lunch is also organized by the women of the house, while new ‘bahus’ customarily get a piece of jewellery on their first Teej.
In Nepal too the festival is celebrated with great fervor, the first day of the festivities is called Dar Khane Din, with celebrations including dancing and singing all dressed in finest attire. After midnight a 24 hour fast begins, with devotees visiting Temples and offerings to Lord Shiva, the third day is called Rishi Oanchami. The Pashupatinath Temple here receives the highest number of devotees.
Known by different names across India, It is celebrated as Haritalika in Maharashtra, while in the coastal Konkan areas of Karnataka and Goa it is referred to as Tay or Tayi, and down South in Taml Nadi, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala it is also known as Gowri Habba. For those visiting Jaipur especially, this is a wonderful time when the place is filled with laughter, young girls are merrily dancing and singing and the much anticipated monsoons refreshes one and all and brings about the much needed freshness to the dry parched earth.
