Teej festival is held during monsoon season, July -August every year. This festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. During this time married women pray for a happy and long married life. The festival marks the beginning of rainy season. The swings are covered with flowers and hung from trees. The festivity involves singing and dancing in praise of Goddess Parvati, for her devotion to her husband Lord Shiva. Newly married girls return to their parents home for the festival. A fair is organized during this festival called Teej Mela where women dance and pamper themselves by buying bangles, bind is,bead necklaces and getting photographs taken. The women are dressed up in best of their clothes,finery and jewellery.
The mythology Reference – Historic perspective of Teej:
According to Hindu Mythology, it is a festival which celebrate the union of Mother Paravati with Lord Shiva. As per the mythology, Parvati, the daughter of Parvat, the king of Himalaya, reached the house of her husband on 3rd day of Saravan or Shukla Tritiya of Saravan that is third day of full moon (Rainy season, Shukal Paksha) after completing a long penance of one hundred years during which even Lord Shiva had also went into a deep meditation. It was during such separation, that Lord Shiva appeared in his incarnation of Lord Hanuman as per the Shiva Purana. On the day, Mata Parvati again united with Lord Shiva after a long period of separation. Therefore, it is also known as Madhursravani. Hence, it is considered an occasion for unmarried women to sing song and wish for an ideal husband. The married women thus wish long lasting union with their husbands. It is considered highly auspicious and essential that the women receive fresh bridal dress from their parents. The Songs are considered as symbol of future happiness. The swings are symbols of serenity and noble life of perfect union. Teej fast is widely popular in the northern region of
Teej Celebrations in Young women and men enthusiastically celebrate the occasion of Teej. At the time of Teej, many schools and colleges in
Teej celebrations in villages too, are full of joy and verve. Young girls and women get along to perform Teej rituals. Girls swing on decorated swings called peeng and adorn their hands and feet with intricate mehndi designs.
Girls who perform gidda on Teej dedicate it to their husband or to-be-husband. Some of these special Teej dance and songs symbolize that women are always ready to sacrifice their life for their lover. After the dance performance young ladies offer prayers and sing songs for good health of their love. Teej fairs called Teelan are organized which has stalls with collection of traditional items like colorful bangles, juttis, dresses and earrings. Main attraction of Teej fair are the mehndi stalls.
At homes, people prepare special Punjabi Teej dishes like Kheer Puri, Gulgale, Karah and Pakoras. Family members sit together and enjoy the lavish feast. Men give blessings to their wife and both pray for each others' long and cheerful life.
Special Teej Punjabi SongsDance and songs are an integral part of Teej celebrations in
"Sawan Da Mahina Din Giddha De Sabhe Sahalyan
Aiyan Nachan Kundan, Jhutan Pingan Piyan Vadiyan
Gharan Diya Jaiyan Bhij Gai Rooh Mitra Sham Ghatan
A very common song sung to welcome the sawan festival of Teej after a long year is given below:
“Teeyan Teej Diyan Bhadon De Muklave Teeyan Teej Diyan”.
In the sawan month, young girls gather and celebrate the auspicious occasion of Teej. They dance on cultural songs with a perfect mood to welcome the sawan. One of the famous songs sung is:
“Sase Teri Mahen Marh Jaye,
Mere Veer Nu Sukhi Khand Payee.”
In various households, a very beautiful song is sung on Teej which describes a woman's extreme love for her soul mate. She thinks that her lover's pain and sorrows are her own.
“Akh Mere Yaar Di Dukhe,
Lali Merian Akhan De Wich Aiyee”.
The song given below depicts a love scene in which women consider her man to be a face of God.
“Aya Sawan Da Maheena Aa,
Tun menu Rab Lagdha Naleh Naleh Makka Te Madina Aa”.
This song depicts a girl's desperation to meet her lover who is away for work.
“Teri Do Takyan Di Nokri
Mera Lakhan Da Sawan Jaye.
Chhuti Lai Ke Aja chann Ve".
First Teej
Teej is an occasion of utmost devotion and love for the newly wed brides. Celebration of First Teej festival is of great importance for the newly wed couple. It is a moment for wives to express deep love and affection for their husband. A newly wed bride begins her first Teej preparations well in advance. The craze of the festival enchants her to buy new clothes, new jewelry and other fine accessories. Teej gives a second chance to beautify oneself like a new bride after marriage. Women wear their wedding dress and also wear heavy gold and diamond jewelry. Many women buy new saree or lehnga and jewelry for their first Teej. Henna applied to hands and feet covers almost half of the hands and legs. Many women also book parlors to beautify themselves and to look like a newly wed bride.
First Teej also brings in lot of excitement for young brides as they return to their parents' home to celebrate the auspicious occasion. She receives a royal treatment by everybody at home as it is First Teej after marriage. She performs all rituals at her parent’s home only.
First Teej Activities
To keep up memories of First Teej alive, women get their photos clicked. Sometimes, family members and even husbands make a special video of their wife performing all the first Teej rituals. Women are very happy to see their husband taking so much interest in such activities. First Teej become more special for ladies when their husband takes them out for dinner. This makes them feel special of all.
First Teej Gifts
Woman celebrating the first Teej receives a lot of gifts from their parents, parents-in-law and loved ones. Husbands especially make sure that they gift something beautiful and memorable to their sweet wife. Some even pamper their wife with a gift of diamond or gold jewelry.
Parents-in-law gift their daughter-in-law 'Shrinjhara' or 'Sindhare' which is a part of auspicious Teej rituals. The word 'shrinjhara' has a very literal meaning that is adornment. Parents-in-law gift it to their daughter-in-law so that they can adorn themselves the way they want to. It consists of traditional laheria dress, lac bangles, henna, sindhur and sweets like ghewar. Some daughters-in-law observing fast also receive money from their father-in-law to buy anything of their choice. Sometimes, mother-in-law create an everlasting impression on their bahu by gifting the most special and dear thing of hers.
Parents and relatives usually present clothes, jewelry, dry fruits and other Teej special gifts to the newly wed bride.
Teej and Swings 
Teej also known as 'Festival of Swings' marks the advent of monsoon season. The word Teej, in many minds conjure up the image of swings as people hang beautiful swings in gardens and outside their houses. People follow the age-old tradition of swinging in the rains and perform traditional dance. Not only women but small kids also enjoy the spirit of the festival by swinging. One cannot imagine the colorful festival without Teej swings.
Women who celebrate their first Teej are pampered by everybody. She is not allowed to do any household work on this day. Husband and other family members take extra care to make her feel extremely comfortable. Women keeping the fast for the first time are little apprehensive but as the time passes they totally indulge themselves in the festival celebrations. They perform all the Teej rituals very earnestly as it is their first Teej fast after marriage.
Some mother-in-law acts as a support system for their daughter-in-law. They take extra care of their beloved bahu and sometimes even encourage them to drink juice or a cold drink. She makes her take rest all day and advice her not to do any work.
The Swing Festival Sawan Teej festival is the time to have some fun and jollity while performing Teej rituals and customs. Teej is eagerly awaited as it brings the monsoon. As soon as the drop of rain falls on the ground, swings are hung from trees. The act of swinging is best enjoyed at the time of monsoon season only. So people find it the best opportunity to make merry and refresh themselves with the monsoon break.
Spirit of Swing Festival
Teej swings are decorated with colored and fragrant flowers. Some swings are also decorated with leharia print fabric to highlight the Rajasthani culture. These swings are either hung in the locality parks or at various gardens where special Teej celebrations take place.
Women are gaily dressed in green, yellow and red colored ghagra-choli and other traditional attires. A special arrangement of music is made. While swinging, women sing special traditional folk songs. The songs dedicated to the sawan month are called 'Sawan ke Geet'. Other songs are also sung in praise of Goddess Parvati to shower her blessings on married and unmarried women for happy and long life of their husband. The most famous song sung in
Excitement among Kids
Teej has also become an important festival for children. It gives them a chance to go naughty and wild. It's a break time from studies. It leaves the children excited about the idea of swinging on Teej swings. They even participate in decorating the swings. Some kids also install swings in their locality park. Kids along with their beautifully dressed mothers gather around the swings where the colorful ritual of swinging is performed. It's part of entertainment for these children. Even though the festival gets over, kids keep celebrating the festival in style.
Teej Fair
Highlights of Teej FairTeej fair is well organized by the natives of Rajasthan. Teej fair is popularly known as 'Saawan Mela'. These fairs lasts at least for four days. People join their hands with the Department of Tourism to organize the grand festival mela. At the time of Teej, large number of crafts bazaars and food courts mushroom in the city. Teej also marks the arrival of rains i.e. the time to renew and rejuvenate. There is singing, dancing, drama, devotional music and other traditional activities that engross the people in Teej celebrations. Many entertaining competitions like turban tying and mehndi design take place. On this day, young girls and married women are seen in graceful attires and ornaments. Major highlights of the fair are given below:
Swings: The main attraction of Teej fairs are beautifully decorated swings. Ladies and young girls swing on these swings singing traditional folk songs.
Mehndi: Another very beautiful and traditional part of Teej fair is a mehndi stall. Women adorn their hands with elegant mehndi designs. Different styles of mehndi is also applied. Mostly one can see Rajasthani colors in mehndi designs.
Performances of folk artists: Famous folk artists form Rajasthan perform and entertain the crowd. It becomes the main attraction of the day. Rajasthani performances engulfs tourists to enjoy every minute of it.
Handicrafts and other items: Teej fairs have varied stalls focusing on the culture and ethnicity of Rajasthan. There are variety of items of Rajasthani hanidicrafts which is bought in bulk by the tourists. Along with this, there are stalls which contain women items only. A large section is dedicated to women as it is a special day for them. Different things which are important for the married woman viz there are stalls of numerous 'shringar' items like bangles, ethnic dresses, sindhur etc.
Sweets and other eateries: Theme of fair is totally culture based and so the stalls set up have a special Rajasthani flavor to it. Mouthwatering Ghewar shops is the main attraction for tourists.
Kids Zone: There is a special kids zone in the fair. Number of rides and stalls are specially set up for young kids.
Puppet Show: Another most attractive part of the saawan fair is the puppet show. Being a colorful source of entertainment is liked by all. These shows depict the culture and some famous story related to the town or city.
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