Why is Teej Celebrated: A Saavan Tradition

As the first drops of monsoon kiss the parched earth, a mystical transformation begins across the Indian subcontinent. The air fills with the sweet fragrance of wet soil, leaves shimmer in emerald splendor, and temple bells resonate with renewed devotion. This is Sawan, the sacred month when heaven and earth seem to dance in divine harmony, and every raindrop carries whispered prayers to Lord Shiva. It is during this enchanted season, when nature herself appears to be in worship, that one of India's most cherished festivals unfolds—Teej, a celebration that weaves together the threads of love, devotion, and the eternal bond between the divine and the devoted.

Teej Celebrations

It is said that on this very day, Lord Shiva welcomed Parvati as his permanent consort, his Ardhangini, touched by the years of penance that she offered to please him. And thus, Teej stands as a tribute to that sacred bond where love met perseverance, and the divine embraced the devoted. Teej is one of the very few festivals that is celebrated by both married and unmarried women, each with their own genuine wishes. For wedded women, it's a holy fast observed for the long and happy life of their husbands. And for those who are unmarried, it's a pious wish that they may be granted a spouse as loyal, wise, and kind-hearted as Lord Shiva. Based on devotion and love, Teej beautifully encompasses the wishes of the heart.

Moreover, Teej festivals erupt in all the nooks and corners of India, each with its own hues, and Teej especially colors the canvas of Northern India with love, loyalty, and heritage. In states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh, the festival comes alive through the much-revered Sindhara ritual, in which married daughters receive lovingly wrapped gifts from their maternal homes including scintillating sarees, perfume, mehendi, shining bangles, and packets of sweets, all emblems of a mother's love and blessings carried by the monsoon breeze. But Teej is also a homecoming.

Women wear green sarees to denote Hariyali Teej

In many families, married women return to their mayka, their childhood home, during this time. It's more than just a visit; it's a return to one's roots, a chance to relive the joy of girlhood, to laugh freely with siblings, and to be a daughter once again. This custom echoes the story of Goddess Parvati, who, during her penance to win Lord Shiva's love, returned to her father's home, seeking strength, solitude, and connection with the divine. And just like that, through rituals, reunions, and retold stories, Teej becomes a celebration of womanhood grounded in tradition and blooming with love.

What makes this festival even more enchanting is that Teej isn't just one celebration. It comes in three beautiful forms, each carrying its own story, symbolism, and sentiment, and these forms are celebrated across India in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan.

Hariyali Teej commemorates the joyous union of Shiva and Parvati, where women adorn themselves in green, sing age-old ballads, and swing under open skies, celebrating a festival of love that grows with each raindrop. Kajari Teej whispers of longing and devotion. In the quiet of the waning moon, women sing from their souls, especially those separated from their husbands, offering their love across time and space through heartfelt melodies and silent prayers. Hartalika Teej burns with unshakable resolve. It honors Goddess Parvati's intense tapasya to win Shiva's love. Women fast without water, meditate, and connect deeply with their inner strength, transforming faith into power. Together, these three forms of Teej mirror every shade of womanhood: joy, yearning, and strength.

You might think Teej is just an Indian tradition, but it's celebrated with even more grandeur in Nepal! In fact, Nepal has given Teej the official status of a national festival, and yes, it's even a public holiday there. That alone says a lot, doesn't it? Picture this: streets filled with women dressed in red and green, singing folk songs, dancing with joy, fasting with unwavering devotion, and congregating at revered sites, most notably the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, to offer heartfelt prayers. It's a sight that truly brings culture alive.

Moreover, the celebrations unfold over three symbolic days: Dar Khane Din (the day of indulgent feasting), the rigorous Fasting Day, and Rishi Panchami, a day of ritual purification.

At its core, Teej is not only a ritual of swings, songs, and fasting; it's a spiritual celebration of womanhood, worship, and timeless customs. It's a moment when the contemporary pauses for the mythical, and women across geography and generations unite in common spirit. Though the forms may vary, be it Hariyali in Rajasthan, Kajari in Uttar Pradesh, or Hartalika in Madhya Pradesh, the essence of Teej remains constant: a celebration of strength, love, and divine harmony. As customs evolve, Teej still provides a platform for contemplation, belonging, and cultural identity. Perhaps that's what makes it endure: not compulsion, but choice; not mere ritual, but remembrance.