Teej Festival 2023: Date, History, Traditional Stories and Legends

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Introduction Of Teej Festival

In India many festivals are celebrated by Hindus such as Maha Shivratri, Krishna Janamashtami, Raksha Bandhan, Karwa Chauth, Ahoi Ashtami, Dussehra, Diwali, Bhai Dooj, Sakat Chauth, Holi etc.

Teej Is also one of the famous festival among Indians. Majorly Teej festival celebrated in North India such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat etc, and also in Western India like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal. on this day women and girls do fast to celebrate this festival.

Celebration On Teej Festival

On Teej day females do fast for their husband and also perform some rituals for their husband’s long and healthy life. On Teej day women and girls enjoy the Teej together by dancing, singing and playing.

One of the major attractions of this festival is Swings, you’ll often find swings get decorated in villages and homes.

Women do shopping for Teej and wear dresses, suits, sarees, lehangas of bright colors like red, green and yellow. On the day married women pray to God Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati to bless them with happy and long married life.



Girls and females apply beautiful designs of mehandi on their hands and feet.

Types Of Teej Festival

There are 3 types of Teej Festival celebrated in India during the monsoon season (Shravana and Bhadrapada months) These festivals known as Haryali Teej, Kajari Teej and Hartalika Teej. Though, there is no major difference in celebration of this festival. but all 3 falls at different time and month.

Hariyali Teej

Hariyali Teej comes during Shukla Paksha Tritiya or the third day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu monsoon month of Shravana. Saawan (Shravana) month falls during rainy / monsoon season when everywhere there is greenery. Hariyali Teej also known as a Chhoti Teej comes in Shravana month.

Hariyali Teej is connected to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Haryali Teej festival symbolizes the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, Goddess Parvati prayed Lord Shiva to show her devotion for many years and on this day Lord Shiva accepted Goddess Parvati as his wife.

Hariyali Teej Customs and Rituals in Different Culture

Sindhara:- On Teej day married daughters receive gifts by her mothers such clothes, bangles, bindi, mehandi etc. Ghewar as a sweet has been given to her on this day.

Hariyali Teej in Punjab:- In Punjab females wear new clothes and enjoy the day by shopping, dance geeda, sing traditional songs and make traditional sweets and recipes.

Hariyali Teej in Haryana:- the Haryana government has declared Teej Festival gazetted state holiday in Haryana. Government organizations and schools are closed on this day.

People go to fairs with their family, Women do get together and sing folk song and dance in groups. Ladies enjoys swings in courtyard, fairs and parks.

Girls apply henna on their hands. Newly weds girls receive gifts such as clothes, bangles, mehandi and sweets from her parental home. Kids enjoys flying Kites and welcome the day with full of enthusiasm.

Hariyali Teej in Chandigarh :- In Chandigarh females enjoy their day in Rock Garden. There are special arrangements done on to enjoy the festival. School children present cultural programs etc. Girls and women perform dance and folk song and take rides on camels and swings.

Hariyali Teej in Rajasthan:- Teej fairs are held in most of cities in Rajasthan, but most attractive and famous fair is Jaipur Teej festival fair organized by state government of Rajasthan, in this junk jewelry, traditional art work and handicrafts are the major attraction for tourists.

People in Rajasthan starts their day by worshipping the lord Shiva and Parvati. Women wears the new clothes, jewelry and sing a local songs to welcome monsoon. People enjoy the day in cultural programs by seeing special dance Ghoomar and folk songs.

Hariyali Teej in Gujrat:- Here Women celebrate by doing Garba dance on Teej to welcome the new season and worship Lord Shiva and Parvati, Females wear new clothes and make special recipes and sweets to distribute and perform their customs and rituals.

Hariyali Teej in Maharashtra:- In Maharashtra women wear green sarees, bangles and jewellery. They distribute coconuts sweets to their friends, relatives and their known.

Kajari Teej

According to hindu calendar Kajari Teej also celebrated during the Krishan Paksh of Bhadrapada month. Kajari teej occur after Raksha Bandhan Festival and before Krishan Janmashtami. Kajari teej known as a badi teej. Women and girls wear new clothes and enjoy the day with folk song and dance. In Uttar Pardesh, Bihar and Rajasthan women celebrate this day by preparing sweets and traditional recipes and greet Lord Shiva and Parvati by singing the traditional folk songs dance and prayers.

Hartalika Teej

Hartalika Teej is celebrated during Shukla Paksha Tritiya of Bhadrapada month according to Hindu calendar. Hartalika Teej occur after one month of Hariyali Teej. Hartalika word made with two words “Harat” and “Aalika” that means “abduction” and “female friends”.

The legend says, that on this day Goddess Parvati was drawn away by her female friends when she was forcefully asked to marriage Lord Vishnu by her father. Her friends took her away from her home in forest where she prayed Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva accepted her prayers and agreed to marry Parvati on this day.

This festival is celebrate in various parts of North India: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Bihar. People enjoy going in fairs temples and worship Lord Shiva and Parvati by singing traditional songs, dance and perform traditional rituals and customs.

On Hartalika teej females do fast and stay without eating any food and drinking water for their husband’s long and healthy life. They sing their folksong and perform traditional rituals and customs.

Add your views in comments on “how do you celebrate Teej festival”

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