Kajari Teej

Kajari Teej is celebrated 15 days after Hariyali Teej in the month of Bhadrapada. Kajari Teej is observed on the ‘tritiya tithi’ of the Krishna Paksha Bhadrapada as per the North Indian calendar in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. ‘Bhadrapada’ is Shravana in the South Indian calendar. This festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvathi and is celebrated primarily by unmarried women; it has various names like Satudi Teej or Badi Teej or Kajali Teej.

Kajari Teej 2023

Significance

Kajari Teej celebrates the spirit of womanhood and marital bond. The festival of Kajari Teej welcomes the onset of monsoon season, after the scorching summer, people enjoy monsoon with festivities like Kajari Teej. Mega processions for Goddess Parvati are organized on this day in Rajasthan, especially in the small town of Bundi. The parade accompanies artists, folk dancers, traditional musicians, decorated camels and elephants. It is one of the beautiful and colorful processions that attracts tourists to Bundi from all over the word.

Rituals

The day of Kajari Teej is known to be very auspicious in the life of both unmarried and married women. Devotees wake up in the ‘Brahma Muhurtha’, the time between 4.30-6.30AM. After physical purification, the house is cleaned and pooja altar is sanctified. The pooja space is decorated along with setting up an idol of Parvathi Devi. Wear fresh or new clothes, perform hydration ceremony-Abishekam to the Parvathi idol in the pooja altar. Offer flowers, incense, light lamps and perform Aarti, followed by offering fruits, grains and special neivedhyam like Kheer’, ‘Puri’, ‘Badam ka Halwa’, ‘Gujiya’, ‘Ghevar’ and ‘Kaju Katli’ to the Goddess. Sattu a sweet made from chana dal is a special delicacy made on the eve of Kajari Teej. It is customary for women to dress up as newlywed brides for the eve of Kajari Teej. Women also worship the holy neem tree on this day.

Women gather in groups and perform pooja, offer ‘kumkum’, ‘chawal’, ‘haldi’, ‘henna’ and also offer fruits to the tree under the guidance of a knowledgeable priest and listen to Kajari Vrat katha. Some devotees observe a strict Nirjala fast (without consuming food and water). Devotees and married couples visit a Shivaparvathi temple in the evening. People donate generously on this day. They offer vastra to five or more married women on this day to strengthen the marital bond-mangalya bala.

Benefits

Kajari Teej festival dates between 2019 & 2029

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