Teej Festival

Teej is also known as the festival of swing
Teej is celebrated by the Hindus
Teej is celebrated in the month of Shravan as per the Hindu calendar

Significance

Teej festival is a very important and popular festival celebrated by the Hindus in India. This festival is celebrated mainly in Punjab, Bihar, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. This festival is celebrated as to welcome the monsoon that arrives after long hot summer. Legends also say that this festival is celebrated as the re union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

This is actually devoted to married woman and young girls as they pray for their husband's welfare. Women fast, dressed colorfully, sing songs, have religious procession and dance. These are some of the remarkable features of this festival. This festival is marked as the beginning of the monsoon season. On this day the monsoon rains falls on the dry land and this rain cools the soil that is rising into the air. On this festival huge swings are hanged on the trees and woman enjoys this beginning of monsoon season.

Celebration of Teej festival

This festival has a very significant place in the religious, social and culture life of all the Indians. This festival also provides strong bond on marital life. This festival is celebrated in different manner in all states of India such as

Teej in Jaipur

This festival signifies the importance of the monsoon and re union of lord Shiva and Parvati. There is huge procession that is carried out in Jaipur for about 2 consecutive days. This is a very auspicious occasion for the women in Jaipur. Women get dressed up in a very colorful way, mehendi on hands and usually they wear green color dress. The main idol of Teej is covered with a canopy and the idol of Gangaur is kept open on this procession.

Teej in Punjab

In Punjab Teej is called as 'Teeyan'. This is considered as a seasonal festival that is celebrated to welcome monsoon season. There are huge swings that are hanged on the trees and women enjoy the first rain playing on the swing singing songs, dancing the Punjabi gidha. There is a tradition that woman should visit their parents house on this festival.

Teej in other cities

Teej is celebrated with great pomp in Haryana, Delhi, Bihar and Rajasthan. For this festival married women pray to Parvati and observe fast for their welfare of their consort. Idol of mata Parvati is decorated and there is a small procession carried on the streets that is accompanied by the woman singing and dancing in front of the procession. It is a custom that in Teej all the daughter-in-laws should go to their parent's houses and return back to Rakhi.

Traditional food

Traditional food that is prepared on this occasion is as follows Badam ka halwa, narkoler nadu, Besan ladoo, walnut maffin, coconut ladoo, kheer, moong dal halwa and phirni. Teej is a festival that is celebrated to welcome the monsoons and also is dedicated to goddess Parvati and his consort Lord Shiva.