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|---|---|
 Women celebrating Teej inNepal | |
| Observed by | Hindu women |
| Liturgical color | Red |
| Type | Hindu |
| Significance | Signifies the penance made by goddessParvati to receiveShiva as her husband |
| Celebrations | Fasting, worshipping Shiva, gathering, dancing, singing |
| Date | July–September |
| Frequency | Annual |
Tīja,Sanskrit:तीज, literally meaning "third"—denoting the third day after thenew moon when themonsoon begins per theHindu calendar—is a collective term for threeHindufestivals primarily dedicated to the mother goddessPārvatī and her consortŚiva. It is mainly celebrated by married women and unmarried girls, especially inNepal andNorth India, to pray for the long life of their husband or future husband and to welcome the arrival of the monsoon through singing, swinging, dancing, joyous celebration,pūjā, and oftenfasting.
Tīja collectively refers to three festivals: Haryālī Tīja, Kajari Tīja, and Hartālikā Tīja. Haryālī Tīja (literally, "green Tīja"), also known as Sindhārā Tīja, Chhoṭī Tīja, Śrāvaṇa Tīja, or Sāvana Tīja, falls on the third day after the new moon in the month ofŚrāvaṇa. It marks the day when Śiva consented to Pārvatī’s wish to marry him. Women visit their parental homes, prepare swings, and celebrate with song and dance.
Kajari Tīja (literally, "dark Tīja"), also known as Baṛī Tīja, is celebrated 15 days after Haryālī Tīja during the dark (waning) phase of the moon.
Hartālikā Tīja (fromHarat meaning "abduction" andĀlikā meaning "female friend") falls one lunar month after Haryālī Tīja on the third day after the new moon in the month ofBhādrapada. It commemorates the occasion when Pārvatī encouraged her friends to abduct her to avoid marriage withViṣṇu, which her fatherHimālaya had arranged. Married women observenirjala vrata (a fast without water) on this day for the well-being of their husbands.[1][2]
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Teej refers to the third day that falls every month after the new moon (amavasya), and the third day after the full moon night of every lunar month.[4] According to Kumar (1988),Kajari Teej andHartalika Teej fall inBhadrapada.[5]
The festivals celebrate the bounty of nature, arrival of clouds and rain, greenery and birds with social activity, rituals, and customs.[6] The festivals for women, include dancing, singing, getting together with friends and telling stories, dressing up withhenna-coloured hands and feet, wearing red, green or orange clothes, sharing festive foods,[6] and playing under trees on swings onHaryali Teej.[7] The monsoon festival in Rajasthan is dedicated to Parvati.[6]
Haryali Teej (lit. GreenTeej) is celebrated on the third day after the new moon in the month ofShraavana/Sawan (of theHindu calendar).[8] As Shraavana falls during the monsoon or rainy season when the surroundings become green, theShraavana Teej is also calledHariyali Teej.
TheHariyali Teej festival is also celebrated to remember the reunion of Shiva and Parvati, the day when Shiva accepted Parvati as his wife. Parvati fasted and was austere for many years and was accepted by Shiva as his wife in her 108th birth. Parvati is also known asTeej mata (lit.Teejmother).[9]
OnTeej married daughters receive the gifts by her mother such clothes, bangles,bindi,mehandi, etc.Ghevar, a special sweet, are given to them on this day. These gifts are known asSindhara. According to Bhatnager (1988),Sindhara is derived from the Sanskrit wordsringar which means "decoration of women and their charming beauty".[10]
Haryali teej is celebrated inPunjab,Haryana,Western UP andRajasthan.[11] The festival is also celebrated inChandigarh.[12]
Chandigarh administration makes special arrangements forTeej celebration in the Rock Garden in the city. School children present plays and other cultural programs on this day. The female members of the family, especially daughters, are given gifts and dresses.[13][additional citation(s) needed]
Haryali Teej is one of the famous festivals ofHaryana, and is celebrated as an official holiday. Many functions are organised by theGovernment of Haryana to celebrate this festival, which welcomes the rainy season. Boys traditionally flew kites from morning to evening, though this tradition is losing its charm in big cities due to high rise buildings and lack of terrace space.[14]
Swings are set up in open courtyards, under trees for the season. Girls applyhenna to their hands and feet and are excused from household chores on this day. OnTeej, girls often receive new clothes from their parents.[15]
OnTeej, just as onKarva Chauth, the mother sends abaya or gift. The puja is performed in the morning. Thebaya, which consists of a variety of foodstuffs, is placed on athaali at a place of worship where achowk (square) has been decorated, and an idol or picture of Parvati has been installed. The evenings are set aside forfolk singing and dancing, including the women's prayers for their husbands' longevity and their families.[6]
Teej is known asTeeyan inPunjab and is seen as a seasonal festival which is dedicated to the onset of the monsoon.[16][8] The festival is celebrated by women of all faiths, and lasts from the third day of the bright half of the lunar month of Sawan as per theBikrami calendar (Punjabi calendar) to the full moon of Sawan (about 13 days). Teeyan involves women getting together and performingGidda, married women visiting their families and receiving gifts. It is also traditional for women to ride on swings.
Fairs are organised in schools and colleges where dance competitions are held.[17][18]
Teeyan is a festival when girls play on swings that are set up under trees or open courtyards. DuringTeeyan, family members give gifts, typically new clothes and accessories, to girls and women. Sweets are prepared especiallyGhevar in some parts of Punjab.[8]
Teej welcomes the monsoon and observed in the month ofShravan (July/August). The monsoon rains fall on the parched land and the pleasing scent of the wet soil rises into the air. Swings are hung from trees and women dressed in green clothes sing songs in celebration of the advent of the monsoon.[6]
This festival is dedicated toParvati, commemorating her union with Shiva.[6] Parvati is worshipped by seekers of conjugal bliss and happiness. An elaborate procession is taken out inJaipur for two continuous days on the festive occasion which is watched by people in large numbers.[19] TheTeej idol is covered with a canopy whereas theGangaur idol is open. The traditionalGhevar sweet is also associated with the festival.
DuringTeej, Parvati is worshiped. The day beforeHaryali Teej, is celebrated asSinjara, wherein women putmehndi on their hands and feet.[20]
Kajari Teej is celebrated in the Bikrami lunar month of Bhadrapada: the third day of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapada.[21]Kajari Teej is also calledBoorhi Teej.[22][additional citation(s) needed] InRajasthan,Kajari Teej is calledBadi Teej (lit. BiggerTeej)[23][additional citation(s) needed] as it followsHaryali Teej, which is known asChhoti Teej (lit. SmallerTeej).
Women inBhojpuri region ofUttar Pradesh pray toShiva onKajari Teej.[24][additional citation(s) needed] It is also customary to sing folk songs known askajris. The focus of the lyrics is usually on separation expressing the pining of a woman for her beloved in her parents' home, where she has been sent to celebrateTeej,[17][additional citation(s) needed] or waiting in anticipation to be collected by brothers to celebrateTeej.[citation needed] The Kajari is a folk song composed and sung in the Bhojpuri region ofUttar Pradesh,Bihar,Jharkhand and the Terai region of Nepal.[25]
Women who observe theKajari Teej fast go without food and water.[21]Kajari Teej is associated closely withKajali Teej, which also involves praying to the moon. The fast is broken by eatingsattu.[23][self-published source?] The other focus of the day is to pray to theneem tree. A fair namedKajali Teej Mela is held in Bundi inRajasthan to celebrateKajari Teej.[24][page needed][additional citation(s) needed]
Hartalika is a combination of theSanskrit wordsharit andaalika which means "abduction" and "female friend" respectively. According to the legend ofHartalika Teej, Parvati, incarnated asShailaputri[26][27]
On the third day of the bright half of Bhadrapada, Parvati made ashiva lingam out ofsand andsilt ofGanga and prayed. Shiva was so impressed that he gave his word to marry Parvati. Eventually, Parvati was united with Shiva and was married to him with her father's blessing. Since then, the day is referred to asHartalika Teej as Parvati's female (aalika) friend had to abduct (harit) her in order for the goddess to achieve her goal of marrying Shiva.[citation needed]
Accordingly,Hartalika Teej is seen as a major festival and is celebrated on the third day of the bright half of the Indian/North Nepali Lunar month of Bhadrapada. The festival women feasting during the evening ofHartalika Teej, praying to Parvati and Shiva, remembering their wedding and staying up all night listening to prayers.[28][additional citation(s) needed] The fast (also called nishivasar nirjala vrat) commences during the evening ofHartalika Teej and is broken the next day after a full day's observance which involves women not even drinking water.[citation needed] The focus is on praying to Parvati[29][page needed] whom Shiva desired should be worshipped under the name Hartalika.[citation needed][30] The main areas of celebration areBihar,eastern Uttar Pradesh,Jharkhand,Rajasthan,Uttarakhand andNepal. InRajasthan, an idol of Parvati is taken out in procession in the streets accompanied by singing, and music.Hartalika Teej has also spread to parts ofMadhya Pradesh,Chhattisgarh .[citation needed]
In Maharashtra Hartalika teej also known as Hartalika tritiya vrat, which is celebrated in similar manner like northern India. It is observed by married women for the welfare, health, and long life of their husbands and for a happy married life and unmarried girls for being blessed with a good husband. It is Nirjala Vrat, they fast for one and half day.Women do Sola shrungar, apply mehndi, wear new red or green sari, observe fast, make idol of Shiva, Gauri, Sakhi and Ganesha with clay or river sand, read katha.They do bhajan sangeet pooja in night as well and open vrat on the second day.It is very auspicious vrat for women in India to worship goddess Parvati in the form of Gauri along with Shiva parivar.
Ineastern Uttar Pradesh,Bihar andJharkhand, married women keep Nirjala Upvas for the whole day of Teej, & deck up with Shringaars likeAalta, Mehndi, e.t.c.. In the evening, the women get decked up in heavy sarees, gold jewellery,their wedding Chunris, & don the traditional orange Sindoor from the tip of their nose. In many homes, it is a tradition to wear their wedding Banarasi Saree, on the eve of Teej. They make & worship small clay idols of Shiva, Gauri, Ganesh & Kartikeya. They offer flowers, garlands, Fruits, sweets & items of 16 Shringaar to Maa parvati. Then they recite & listen to the Hartālikā Teej Katha,& offer reverence to the deities. Very early in the next morning,before sunrise, the women get ready & worship the idols again & finally conclude their fasts. The idols are later immersed in a holy water body. InBhojpuri region, traditional delicacies such as Thekua, Pidukia, e.t.c. are prepared for offering. Traditional folk songs are sung, & women adorn Sindoor from their wedding Sinhora.
Akha Teej (also called Akshaya Tritiya) falls on the third day after full moon in the month ofVaisakha.[31] It is an auspicious day of the birthday ofParashurama, the sixth incarnation ofVishnu. On this day,Vyasa andGanesha began to write theMahabharata. Jains celebrate this day to commemorateTirthankaraRishabha's ending of his fast by consuming sugarcane juice poured into his cupped hands. According to Gagne (2013),Akha Teej is an important festival in the Hindu calendar.[32]
Awra Teej is celebrated in the month ofVaisakh in parts ofMadhya Pradesh andChhattisgarh. This festival ofTeej falls in Spring. The month ofVaisakh occurs during spring.[33]
Haryali Teej coihojpudi regiones with the swing festival ofJhulan Leela also known usJhulan Utsav orHindola Utsav[34] which is associated withKrishna andRadha, and is celebrated atBanke Bihari Temple and other temples in theVrindavan area ofUttar Pradesh. The festival lasts untilKrishna Janmashtami for 13 days.[citation needed]
On the day ofTeej, idols of Krishna and Radha are placed on swings in the temples and the focus ofJhulan Leela is religious. The green theme, popular in neighbouringRajasthan andHaryana onHaryali Teej, can also be seen in theJhulan Utsav. Idols of Krishna and Radha are dressed in green clothes.
Haryali Teej andJhulan Utsav fall on the same day, but theTeej is a monsoon festival dedicated to Parvati whereas, Jhulan Utsav is dedicated to Krishna and Radha.
Teej inTelangana forms part of a wider celebration which is a forerunner to other festivals being celebrated and is known asKajal Teej.Kajal Teej is one of theBanjara tribe's biggest festivals.[35]
Kevada Teej, also known asKevda Trij, is a festival observed mainly inGujarat. The festival is celebrated on the third day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing of the moon) ofBhadra in Gujarat. This observance is similar to theHartalika Teej fast (vrat). Married and unmarried women observe a fast on the day and offer thekevada flower (pine screw) to Parvati and Shiva.[citation needed]
Dedicated to Parvati, commemorating her union with Shiva, the festival is celebrated for well-being of spouse and children and purification of one's body and soul. The festival is a three-day-long celebration that combines sumptuous feasts as well as rigid fasting.Teej (also romanisedTij) is celebrated by women, for the long life of her husband and long and firm relationship between them in this life and all the lives to come. It is particularly celebrated by women from various ethnicities and castes of Nepalese society, particularly theBhojpuriyas,Maithils (NativeMadheshis),Bahun, Chettri, Newairs and Kiratis, on the third day after the new moon of the month ofBhadra (mid-August to mid-September).[36][page needed][37][page needed]
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The first day of Teej is calledDar Khane Din. On this day the women assemble at one place in their finest attire and start dancing and singing devotional songs. Amidst all this, the grand feast takes place. The feast is hosted by men as usual. Women, who work hard throughout the year, do not have to do anything that day. That is the day for them to embellish themselves insorha singaar — dressing up and using make up to the full extent, indulge in good food, and dance. Oftentimes, because women are invited by multiple brothers for the feast, they try to dance off some food before they are ready to eat more. The food served is supposed to be rich and abundant.[citation needed]
This is probably the only day in a year that allows women full freedom of expression. Consequently, women have traditionally used this occasion to express their pains and pang in the songs they sing while dancing. With the advancement of communication and awareness, women these days use this occasion to voice their concerns about social issues and discrimination against women. The jollity often goes on until midnight, after which the 24-hour fast starts.[38]
The second day is the day of fasting. Some women don't eat or drink food and water while others drink liquids and eat fruit. The fasting is observed by married and unmarried women. Married women abstain strictly from food and drinks with a belief that their devotion to the gods will be blessed with longevity, peace and prosperity of their husband and family. Unmarried women observe the fast with a hope of being blessed with a good husband.[39][40]
They dress gaily and visit a nearby Shiva temple singing and dancing on the way. ThePashupatinath Temple gets the highest number of devotees. At the temple, women circumambulate theshiva lingam, which symbolizes Shiva. The main pooja (religious ceremony) takes place with offerings of flowers, fruits, etc., made to Shiva and his wife Parvati, beseeching them to grant their blessing upon the husband and family. The important part of the puja is the oil lamp which should be alight throughout the night. It is believed that by the light of an oil lamp all night will bring peace and prosperity to the husband and family.[41]
The third day of the festival isRishi Panchami.[42] After the completion of the previous day's puja, women pay homage to seven saints or sages, offer prayers to deities, and bathe with red mud found on the roots of the sacred datiwan bush, along with its leaves. The Rishi Panchami revolves around the purity of women. During this festival, which occurs two days after the Teej, the women participate inritual baths andpuja (worship). One of the defining characteristics of the Teej Festival is the songs the women sing.[43] Traditionally, these songs emphasized the subservient role of women in Nepalese society in addition to reinforcing traditional Hindu ideology of gender relations. Within the past few decades, as Nepal and the surrounding area experiences rapid development and modernization, the Teej songs have become more of a critical commentary on gender relations from women's perspectives. These songs "extend the women's thoughts and experiences of hardships from an intimate conversation to a public setting".[44] The Teej songs allow women to effect change in their respective societies by giving them a public voice.[45]
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