Hariyali Teej 2020

Celebrated on the third day of the Hindu month of Shravan, according to the Hindu Lunar calendar, the festival of Hariyali Teej is celebrated by married women all over the country in order to seek marital bliss from the deities. The festival of Hariyali Teej is also known as Shravan Teej and also Choti Teej.

The festival gets its name from all the greenery in the surroundings, in the month of Shraavana (or Saawan), which falls during the monsoon or rainy season in India. According to the Gregorian calendar, this falls in the months of July and August. This is often why Hariyali Teej is also called Green Teej.

It is commonly celebrated by married women, in the Northern states of India, primarily in Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana. Devotees pray to the Moon, and married women keep a fast during the festival, praying to Goddess Parvati to bless their husbands with a long and healthy life. This fast is called ‘Nirjala’, where the women do not drink water all day.

Even unmarried women keep the fast, praying to the Goddess to bless them with a good husband, and a blissful marriage.

Legend associated with the festival-

According to Hindu mythology, the festival of Hariyali Teej is celebrated to commemorate the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is believed that on this day, Lord Shiva finally accepted Goddess Parvati’s love and married her. Goddess Parvati took 108 rebirths and fasted for years, to prove her love and devotion to Lord Shiva. This is also why she is known as Teej Mata.

It is believed that Goddess Parvathi promised the women who fast and pray on this day, to be blessed to have a husband with a long and healthy life.

The celebrations occurring in the month of Shravan also has another significance. Apart from being symbolic of prosperity, happiness and growth for couples in their marital life, it also symbolises new life and the greenery around us.

Celebrations Galore

As part of the celebrations, women dress up in traditional attires, preferably in green, and put henna on their hands and feet. Bright green bangles are also worn on their wrists.

Mothers and in-laws send gifts to their daughter’s house. In some families, as part of the tradition, daughters visit their natal homes. This tradition of sending gifts is known as Sindhara.

Another unique custom of this festival is of women sitting on swings, imitating the deities who they pray to.

In the state of Gujarat, women, dress in their traditional attire, and carry pots on their heads while singing songs dedicated to Teej Mata.

Devotees in the city of Vrindavan, in Uttar Pradesh, celebrate the festival with great fervour. The people of U.P. also refer to Hariyali Teej as Jhulla Leela, as the deities that are worshipped are placed on swings. On this auspicious day, the idols of Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha are placed on a gold-ornamented swing and taken out of the temple in a colourful procession.