The festival Teej also known as ‘Sawan Festival’ is mainly celebrated in Rajasthan. It is also celebrated in Haryana, Punjab, parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The festival marks the advent of long awaited monsoon brining life to the barren lands. It is also dedicated to Goddess Parvati and commemorates the day when she was united with Lord Shiva after a penance of a hundred years, making it a symbol of a supreme marriage.

Teej is basically a women’s festival. It falls on the third day of moonlight fortnight in the month of Shravana. It is believed that worshipping Parvati and Lord Shiva on this day results in long life marital bliss and prosperity of husbands and children. For 2008, it falls on 4th and 5th August, Monday and Tuesday.

Teej Festival Celebrations
Teej is celebrated with lots of joy and devotion. Religious processions, tough fasting, long swings decorated with flowers, girls dressed colorfully with scintillating jewellery, delicious preparfations, songs and dance mark the joy of Teej festival.

During Teej newly married girls come to their parents’ house to celebrate the festival. The image of Teej Mata i.e. Goddess Parvati is decorated beautifully with jewellery and new clothes. After this women worship the Goddess. Then the images of Parvati are taken out for ceremonial processions. The processions are escorted by caparisoned camels, elephants and chariots drawn by horses. The dance and music that follow the procession adds life to the festival. This procession signifies Parvati’s marriage procession as she leaves her parental home to go to her husband’s home.

Long swings (Jhoolas) are made and hung from the trees. The swings are heavily decorated with various fragrant flowers. Women and young girls decorate their hands and feet with henna; wear colorful dresses and lots of jewelry. They swing on the swings and sing traditional songs in praise of Goddess Parvati and the monsoon. Engaged girls who are going to marry in near future receive gifts such as bangles, henna, dress and sweets from their future in-laws, parents and married women. Games such as bangle wearing and turban-tying add color to the festival. There are 3 kinds of Teej festivals. Here is a brief description about them.

Haryali Teej
This Teej is celebrated in the starting of monsoon season. The word ‘Haryali’ means ‘Greenery’, so Haryali Teej is linked with a bounty harvest and affluence. On Haryali Teej women and young girls wear green colored clothes and worship Lord Krishna, Goddess Radha and the Moon.

Kajari Teej
Kajari Teej is falls on the 3rd day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Shravana. On this day women and young girls sing traditional songs in praise of Goddess Parvati, worship neem tree and religious processions of the images of Parvati are taken out.

Hartalika Teej
Hartalika Teej is the most significant day in the entire festival of Teej. This Teej lasts for long 3 days and women observe Nirjara Fast i.e. fasting without water on the 2nd day. The fast is observed with devotion for the long life and prosperity of husbands.

Significance of Teej Festival
The festival Teej holds a significant role in the religious, cultural, social and climatic life of Indians providing strength to the conjugal bliss of marital life.