TEEJ FESTIVAL
The festival of teej celebrate the abundance of the mother nature, chirruping of birds and other social activity, the coming of clouds and rain and Hindu rituals and customs. This festival is for women which include getting together with fellow friends and telling fun stories, getting dressed up singing, dancing, wearing red, green or orange dresses, eating and sharing festive foods, swinging by the tree and playing there. Teej is most widely celebrated in Jaipur, Rajasthan. It is also celebrated in Indian subcontinent, cities of Madhya Pradesh, Chattishgarh, Gujrat and Andhra Pradesh. It is also celebrated in Nepal. In India, women assemble together and celebrate this merry occasion. The Hindu festival of Teej is renowned by fasting of Hindu women who pray to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, endeavouring their blessings for marital ecstacy. The festival of Teej is celebrated in the Hindu month of Shravana and Bhadrapada, that is sometime in the months of July, August, and September in the Gregorian Calendar. These months coincide with the monsoon season. The festival is celebrated by women to celebrate love and the union of marriage. Fasting is the highlight of the festival, however, women also celebrate it by engaging in fun activities like singing, dancing and laying on swing rides. The swings are hung on trees and many people place them in their courtyards and decorating them with flowers.
The Hindus have named the festival based on the insect called “teej” which comes out from beneath the earth’s surface in the monsoon season. The Hindu Mythology that supports the festival states that on the day of Teej, Parvati and Shiva made their union of love by becoming husband and wife. Parvati kept a fast of 108 years to show her devotion and allegiance to Lord Shiva after which he accepted her as his wife. There is another legend that states Parvati was born 107 times before her rebirth as Parvati, the 108th time; because of this she was granted the blessing of being Shiva’s wife. This festival is dedicated to Parvati, commemorating her union with Shiva. Parvati is worshipped by seekers of conjugal bliss and happiness. An elaborate procession is taken out in Jaipur for two continuous days on the festive occasion which is watched by people in large numbers.The Teej Festival of Rajasthan is one of the most important and the most widely celebrated festivals in India. Teej Festival is also known as the "Festival of Swings" as women tie swings on the branches of trees and enjoy swinging on them. In Rajasthan, Teej Festival is celebrated by all women irrespective of their caste and creed. The Teej Festival is dedicated to Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. It is believed that Goddess Parvati was united with Lord Shiva after many years of tough penance on the auspicious day of Teej. Young women dress up beautifully and sing songs about their lovers and husbands while swinging on the swings. The Festival of Teej is basically a women's festival where women get decked up in their best attires and pray for the well being of their husbands. Rajasthan comes alive during the occasion of Teej Festival. The markets are crowded with young enthusiastic women who buy colorful bangles, jewellery and other knick-knacks. In the capital city of Jaipur, Teej is celebrated with much fanfare and enthusiasm. The whole of Jaipur is decorated with colorful festoons and streamers. The markets are forever abuzz with some activity or the other.
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