Teej Festival in Rajasthan
Teej heralds the arrival of spring in
Rajasthan. While the festival is celebrated in many parts
of North India, as well as Nepal, Teej finds a poignant
echo in the hearts of Rajasthanis, in particular. This is
because the heat and aridity of Rajasthan, and the bitter
desert nights in the winter months, makes spring the cause
for celebration. And spring, as poets and bards have for
so long lamented, does not last long. And Rajasthanis do
the most they can to enjoy spring by earmarking a festival
for it.
Teej is more of a women’s festival, and has been celebrated since time immemorial by queens, princesses, their maids, seamstresses, women toiling in the heat and dust. Today, it remains a women’s festival still, with doctors, teachers, street sweepers, and housewives all joining the festivities. Women of all ages can be seen dressed in their finery, enjoying the colorful processions on the streets, singing, and dancing. Once upon a time, women used to set up a swing in their gardens and have a gala time with other women.
Teej is more of a women’s festival, and has been celebrated since time immemorial by queens, princesses, their maids, seamstresses, women toiling in the heat and dust. Today, it remains a women’s festival still, with doctors, teachers, street sweepers, and housewives all joining the festivities. Women of all ages can be seen dressed in their finery, enjoying the colorful processions on the streets, singing, and dancing. Once upon a time, women used to set up a swing in their gardens and have a gala time with other women.
This remains one of the enduring symbols of
Teej, though gardens in the gleaming, modern concrete jungles
of Rajasthan’s larger cities are hard to come by, and life is
no longer as laidback as it used to be once. Today, perhaps
only the women in rural Rajasthan celebrate Teej the
traditional way, swings, delectable lunches, elaborate prayers
et al.
Apart from the celebrating the arrival of spring, Teej also commemorates an important event in mythology. It marks the wedding of Goddess Parvati to Lord Shiva, after many trial and tribulations. When a woman in Rajasthan celebrates Teej, she also prays that her marriage would be as happy and long-lasting as that of Shiva and Parvati.
The grandest Teej celebrations are held in Jaipur, where a long procession of the Goddess Teej, accompanied by horses, elephants, and traditional dancers is taken out. The Goddess is dressed in her loveliest attire, with costly silks and jewels signifying her married status. The festival is celebrated in the months of July – August.
Apart from the celebrating the arrival of spring, Teej also commemorates an important event in mythology. It marks the wedding of Goddess Parvati to Lord Shiva, after many trial and tribulations. When a woman in Rajasthan celebrates Teej, she also prays that her marriage would be as happy and long-lasting as that of Shiva and Parvati.
The grandest Teej celebrations are held in Jaipur, where a long procession of the Goddess Teej, accompanied by horses, elephants, and traditional dancers is taken out. The Goddess is dressed in her loveliest attire, with costly silks and jewels signifying her married status. The festival is celebrated in the months of July – August.
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