When is Kajari Teej Celebrated?

The Kajari Teej festival is followed meticulously in a festive mood. According to Hindu Calendar, Kajari Teej is celebrated every year on the third day in the month of Bhadrapada of Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight), which signifies the third day after Raksha Bandhan. Also known by names “Badi Teej“, “Satudi Teej.”

Women across the Northern part of India (usually Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar) associate the festival with their husbands’ safety and long lives. Spinsters worship Lord Shiva to attain their desired life partners.

What is Kajari Teej?

Kajari Teej is a festival dedicated to the devotion of a wife towards her husband. Out of three Teej, Kajari Teej is one of the most prominent Teej celebrated in India, namely “Hariyali Teej“, “Hartalika Teej“, and “Kajari Teej“. In some states of India, Kajari Teej is also known as ‘Badi Teej,’ as it comes after Hartalika Teej, also known as ‘Choti Teej.’

Have you ever seen in India, a women swinging on swings hung on trees, rejoicing, singing traditional songs,’ Kajris‘, in small and large groups? The aroma of sweets made from purest of all ghee, tempting us all? From “sattu” to “Ghewar” being the ‘most wanted’ amongst people?

Well, it’s nothing but the joyous festival marked as ‘Kajari Teej‘ around the corner. Not only sweets but various other rituals mark the festival of love. The festival is about rejoicing and welcoming the monsoon and celebrating the union of lord Parvati to Lord Shiva.

You may also like to check other North Indian Festivals.

Why is Kajari Teej Celebrated?

There are two famous legends behind the celebration of Kajari Teej are:-

First Legend behind Kajari Teej

Kajari Teej marks the united divinity of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Goddess Parvati, to prove her love and dedication for Lord Shiva, had to endure penance. It is believed that Goddess took 108 births on Earth to be accepted by the lord, and it is on this day, Lord Shiva accepted her.

Seeking goddess Parvati’s blessings and keeping “Nirjala fast” on the day will bless the married couple with contempt with their marriage life and long lives to the husbands. It is known for strengthening ties between the married couple.

Second Legend behind Kajari Teej

As per the beliefs, there was a forest called ‘Kjalai‘ ruled by King Dadurai. On the king’s death, his wife named “Nagamati” performed Sati. Due to this, the people of the kingdom were utterly saddened and composed songs by improvising Kajari. These songs marked the longing of the lover and the separation suffered due to death. These songs are still sung on this day and mark an inevitable part of the festival.

How is Kajari Teej Celebrated?

As this festival is celebrated in different regions, there comes a small interplay of different rituals at different places. But the inference of the festival remains common in all.

Women across the country get up early, adorn themselves with new clothes, bangles, bindis, sindoor etc. Applying Mehndi onto hands becomes symbolic of dressing as newlyweds on this auspicious day and worshipping Goddess Parvati.

Generally, women keep fast on this day, at dawn, get up, and eat something. After that, set the intention (Sankalp) to keep a fast for the whole day without eating or drinking. Henceforth, reciting the “Kajari Vrat Katha “with all the neighbourhood women and family members in the evening and praying to ‘Neemdi Mata‘ and after that breaking their fast, by eating “Sattu“.

In some regions, women make pind of Sattu (which usually comes from woman’s maternal house), mixing it with ghee and sugar, dry mava, cardamom seeds worship it and recite the ‘Vrat Katha‘, spinsters feed the ‘Sattu ka Lado‘ (a sweet made at the time of worship) to their brothers, from here it gets its name “Sattudi Teej“.

Many women choose to keep dry fast (‘Nirjala Vrat‘) which signifies that they abstain from drinking water throughout the day.

Whereas, in some regions, women worship neem trees with “Kumkum“, “Chawal“, “Haldi“, “Mehndi“, and also offers fruits and sweets. It holds great significance in the Hindu religion as encircling around the tree (Phere) is recreating the ritual done by any married couple on their wedding day, seeking togetherness for seven afterlives.

Married women dress up in shades of reds, greens, and oranges. Beautify themselves by applying Mehndi, and initiate the festivities. Swings all around are hung for women to have fun and enjoy. Dancing, singing is most seen on the day.

Bundi, Rajasthan, holds the most magnificent fairs all over India to celebrate Teej with great enthusiasm, zeal and pompousness. The fair is celebrated for a month, including possession of Teej Mata is carried out throughout the city. Elephants, camels and thousands of people showcasing their talents and skills. The fair is a hub of local handicraft shops, small shops and many food shops.

From mythological to modernist reach, Teej proves its vast celebration throughout Northern India. Thousands of smiling faces are ready to seek the blessings of the almighty.

Festivals like these make India outshine others and top the charts for cultural and traditional domains in the world. Coming together in goods and bads are nothing but examples of how culture and religious unity binds India and is the most integral part of national unity.