According to Hindu mythology, on the 3rd day (teej) after the new moon in the month of Shravan Goddess Parvati went to the house of lord Shiva, her husband and was united with him. Teej is celebrated in India especially by women in the months of July-August marking the advent of monsoons. It has great significance in Rajasthan as it is observed to provide relief from the scorching heat of summer. Thus, it is popularly called the Sawan Festival.

History of Teej
The festival of Teej symbolizes reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Teej teaches us the sacrifice of wife to win the heart of husband. It is said that Parvati reborn and went through stringent fasting for 108 long years to prove her dedication, devotion and unconditional love towards Lord Shiva. Finally, 108 years of long sacrifice paid off and Lord Shiva accepted her as his wife. Till today, the festival of Teej is celebrated to honor the devotion of Goddess Parvati – popularly known as TEEJ MATA. On this day, both married and unmarried women seek her blessings for their happy marital life.

Types of Teej
In the state of Rajasthan three kinds of Teej are celebrated and worshiped by the local public in the region. Broadly,
» On Haryali Teej : The moon is prayed to.
» On Kajari Teej : women gather to sing songs and a pooja of neem is performed.
» On Hartalika Teej : Fast for 3 days without any water on the second day.

This festival is more famous amongst the people of Rajasthan and thus the celebration of Teej remains exclusive to the Jaipur region. Teej holds a special place in the heart of the people of Jaipur as a time for rejuvenation and revival of spirits after the punishing summers. The festival is made into an even more memorable experience if it rains on this day.

Legend
The legend behind the celebrations is Goddess Parvati’s hard-core Tapasya, before her union with Lord Shiva, for which she took 108 births on the Earth. The Myth goes that she failed to have Lord Shiva as her Life Partner till 107th Birth. But this divine union happened, when she again took birth for 108th time.

Celebrations
Marking the start of monsoons and happiness, this festival is celebrated with great joy and colorful customaries throughout northern India. Jaipur in Rajasthan especially organizes a fair for tourists and people coming from all over country to get a glimpse of all the customs and traditions associated with it. Women buy beautiful sarees and jewellary, apply mehndi, offer prayers to goddess Parvati and enjoy the monsoons with swings and songs.

There are also processions running throughout many cities that become a means of dance and fun for children and other people. On the occasion of Teej, Dandia dances are arranged by professionals and performed in courtyards at home and in public places. The young girls of the house who dress up in colourful saris, lehangas and chunris, also perform these dances.

The colourful dandas (sticks) moving in rhythmic beats, with each swing of the hands and feet, hitting either at one's own danda held in the other hand, or at the one held by the other dancers, are really beautiful to watch. Girls with Henna on their hands and feet run about joyously and are excused from household chores on this day. Special Mehndi motifs also called laheria and ghewar are applied to match the mood of Teej.

On Teej, it is a must for the girls to receive clothes from their parents. Gifts comprising of set of heavy clothes, eatables, dry fruits, bangles, which is called as baya, for the first year after marriage is given to the newly weds. Girls engaged to be married, receive gifts from their future in-laws a day before the festival. The gift, called Shrinjhara derived from the word shringar (adornment), consists of henna, lac bangles, a special dress of laheria (tie and dye fabric) and a sweet called ghewar. The pooja is performed in the morning. The baya which consists of a variety of foodstuff is placed on a thaali (plate) at the place of worship where a chowk (square) has been decorated, an idol or a picture of Parvati is installed. The evenings are set aside for singing and dancing.

Teej shopping
Teej is one festival where women like to pamper and beautify themselves, and hence shopping becomes an integral part of all its preparation. Women shop for sarees, jewellary, cosmetics, footwears and other varieties of attractive accessories.

Teej Dance
Dance, music is an important part of teej celebrations. There are different forms of dance associated with different states and communities. Ladies generally assemble at a common place to celebrate this festival, they sing songs, specially related to brides and marriages, they dance to their traditional tunes, enjoy swings , indeed there is an atmosphere of joy all around.

Across Rajasthan:
Being the state of colour, artists personify different mythological stories, tales, folk tales associated with the festival. Ladies can be seen wearing colorful costumes and jewellery.

Across UP:
Women gather in gardens and courtyards and perform dandiya. Its an extremely colorful and joyous moment to watch them perform.

Across Gujarat:
Being closer to the state of Rajasthan, Gujarat has a common tradition for the festival of teej , with folk music rich in atmosphere.