Teej is a sacred Hindu festival celebrated primarily by women in North India and Nepal, especially in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. It honors the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and is observed with devotion, fasting, and festive rituals. There are three main Teej festivals: Hariyali Teej, Kajari Teej, and Hartalika Teej.
🕉️ Spiritual Significance
Teej symbolizes marital devotion, love, and the well-being of the husband. It also represents the return of Goddess Parvati to her parental home and her eventual reunion with Lord Shiva, signifying love, patience, and dedication.
🙏 Teej Puja Rituals
- Fasting (Vrat):
- Women observe a strict or nirjala fast (without food and water) for the long life and prosperity of their husbands.
- Unmarried girls also observe the fast to be blessed with an ideal life partner.
- Dressing and Mehendi:
- Women dress in green sarees or suits, wear red bangles, apply mehendi (henna), and adorn themselves with traditional jewelry.
- Swing Ritual (Jhula):
- Decorated swings are hung from trees, and women enjoy swinging while singing traditional Teej songs that reflect the monsoon and divine love stories.
- Puja Setup:
- An idol or picture of Goddess Parvati (in some regions along with Lord Shiva) is placed on a decorated platform.
- Worship and Offerings:
- Offerings include flowers, fruits, sweets (especially ghewar), sindoor, bangles, and red cloth.
- Devotees listen to the Hartalika Teej Vrat Katha, which narrates the story of Parvati’s penance and devotion to win Shiva’s heart.
- Lighting the Lamp:
- A deep (lamp) is kept lit throughout the night as a symbol of unwavering devotion.
🌼 Message of Teej
Teej celebrates feminine devotion, strength, and purity. It honors the virtues of love, faith, sacrifice, and the divine feminine energy, inspiring women to draw inner strength from Parvati’s example.
