Things To Know About Kajari Teej

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'Kajari Teej' or 'Badi Teej' is a popular Hindu festival in North India. It is generally celebrated on the third day after the full moon of the Shravan month. This festival is significant for married women. Kajari Teej is an important festival in the states of Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.

While celebrating Kajari Teej, it is extremely important to understand the significance of the festival. Teej is celebrated in order to welcome the monsoon season after the scorching summer. There are three kinds of Teej celebrated in India - Akha Teej, Hariyali Teej and Kajari Teej. All of these Teej have their own importance and are celebrated with equal fervour and enthusiasm.

Goddess Parvati is worshipped by married women on this day. The legend goes that Goddess Parvati took 108 births to get married to Lord Shiva. Finally the Lord agreed to get married to her, touched by her selfless devotion and pure love. So, on Kajari Teej women worship the Goddess and seek her blessing so that their love will also be as powerful and pure as Goddess Parvati. Women fast throughout the day on Kajari Teej for their husbands. They break the fast only the next day.

Here are a few things to know about the Kajari Teej festival:

Grand Procession

Kajari Teej is of great importance in the city of Bundi in Rajasthan. A huge procession is taken out on this day in the city. The idol of Goddess Parvati is taken all around the city, decorated with gold, diamonds and other precious stones. Tourists from all over the world gather to witness this huge celebration.

Gala Events

There is more to this colourful festival. If you visit Rajasthan during Kajari Teej, you may witness the delightful performance of the Rajasthani folk. The popular Rajasthani folk dances like Ghoomar, Kalbeliya and Bhavia are performed by young girls which is sure to mesmerize every spectator.

Women's Day

Teej is associated with womenfolk. All over India, women fast and pray for the well-being of their husband. They fast and stay awake the entire night. They are supposed to light a lamp for their husband and make sure that the lamp does not go off before the sun rises. In order to stay awake married women have their own celebrations. They sing through the night, dance and gather together to hear the legend of Kajari Teej.

An Opportunity To Dress Up

Kajari Teej is a great opportunity for the women to beautify themselves. Women are supposed to wear new sarees and deck themselves up with a lot of jewellery. They wear bangles and apply mehndi on their hands just like a newly wed bride.

Food Festival

Though women fast the whole day, men have a gala time relishing in a range of mouthwatering delicacies. Sattu, a form of mixed flour is use in preparing sweets. Apart from that there are innumerable sweets to relish in Kajari Teej like ghevar, malpua, laddoos etc.

A Festival Of Swings

Monsoons are associated with swings in India. On the festival of Kajari Teej, swings are decorated and put up on the trees. In fact, the festival remains incomplete without the swings. Young girls as well as married women enjoy the ride on swings alongside singing traditional folk songs.