Teej: Celebrating love, devotion, and monsoons

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An ode to love, fidelity, and new beginnings

Mainly celebrated by women, Teej is a festival that holds deep cultural meaning and is accompanied by colourful rituals, happy celebrations, and sincere expressions of devotion. Filling the air with endless joy, Teej celebrated womanhood by honouring their strength, resilience, and grace.

The celebrations of Teej mark the arrival of the monsoons and the celebration of love and fidelity. The days of Teej is abound with devotional songs and rhythmic beats fading into the night and the smell of incense filling the air. Teej leaves behind a legacy of love, devotion and spiritual renewal that is rejuvenates the hearts of devotees. It is really a congratulatory ceremony for man and woman considered eternally connected to each other, a time to take blessings from god to ward off the conflicts and be in harmony.

Come and join us on our journey to learn about the rich traditions, the sacred customs, and the colourful celebrations that give life to the spirit of Teej.

Ancient legends and folktales

Teej is believed to date back to ancient times when folktales of love and devotion formed the base of the tapestry. Myth asserts the celebration of Teej as the symbolic representation of the union of Goddess Parvati with Lord Shiva after a long period of separation.

Legend has it that Goddess Parvati did a series of austerities and penance to win the love and affection of Lord Shiva, and eventually, they were reunited on the sacred day of Teej.

In addition to the existing Teej folktales, another popular legend about Teej is the story of Teej Mata, a divine goddess who is worshipped for her blessings of marital happiness, fertility, and prosperity. These legendary tales still invoke sacredness and faith within devotees who accomplish Teej at a specific time to obtain blessings from the Gods and ensure sacred harmony and longevity in marriages.

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Essential information

Sacred rituals and customs

The main rituals and customs that women across states observe in the observance of Teej are carried out in a meaningful way. The married women adorn themselves in colourful clothes, mostly in green and red colours, which are the symbols of fertility, abundance, and marital happiness.

They do so at the temples that are dedicated to Goddess Parvati and Teej Mata to pray and seek blessings for the good health for their families. Conducting new special pujas (religious rituals) and offering sweets, fruits, and flowers to the goddess, in addition to the recitation of Vedic hymns and devotional songs, is also part of the tradition.

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Colourful celebrations and joyous festivities

Teej has gained great popularity, making the community members come together to take part in the numerous cultural parades, art performances and exciting fun. In Punjab and Haryana, women meet in great numbers to perform traditional folk dances like Gidda and Kikli, showing their skills and cheerfulness.

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In Bihar and Telangana, the Teej festivals are held at fairs, where there are colourful markets, amusement rides, and cultural shows, and families come together to celebrate the festive atmosphere. Teej, a popular festival associated with the grey city Chandigarh, brings out the proper essence of the city with drums, cymbals, and folk music sounds as devotees enthusiastically and joyfully celebrate the Teej festival. Rajasthan celebrated with royal processions comprising of camels, dancing folk artists, royal palanquins, chariots and bullock carts and enjoyment of the traditional sweets, Ghewar, heartily!

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