Hariyali Teej 2024: Know fasting date, time, rituals, significance and all about Teej festivals

Hariyali Teej is an important Hindu festival celebrated on the third day of the Shukla Paksha in the Sawan (Shravan) month. It marks the union of Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati.

This festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm, especially by women in states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, on Hariyali Teej, married women fast for the well-being of their husbands.

Hariyali Teej 2024 Date and Puja Timings

Hariyali Teej is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. According to Drik Panchang, it occurs on the Sukla Paksha Tritiya in the Sawan month, usually two days before Nag Panchami.

In 2024, Hariyali Teej will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 7.

Hariyali Teej Puja Timings

Significance of Hariyali Teej

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Hariyali Teej is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It falls during the Sawan month, a holy time for observing fasts in their honour. Also known as Shravana Teej or simply Teej, this festival is celebrated by women in various parts of India and Nepal. It typically takes place in the monsoon season, around July-August, and holds significant cultural and religious importance, especially for married women.

Rituals of Hariyali Teej

Here¡¯s what typically happens during Hariyali Teej:

Gathering and Celebrations:

Women come together, sing folk songs, and dance traditional dances like the Teej dance. They enjoy swinging on beautifully decorated swings and apply mehndi (henna) on their hands and feet.

Fasting and Worship:

Devotees observe a fast to honour Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, also known as Uma Maheshwar.

Gifts and Traditions:

Married women receive gifts from their in-laws, including traditional clothing, bangles, henna, sindoor (vermilion), and sweets. They usually wear green lehengas or saris, symbolizing marriage and auspiciousness.

Customs:

Women visit their parental homes to celebrate and enjoy delicious food. In Rajasthan, processions of Goddess Parvati or Teej Mata are taken out in the streets. In Haryana, it¡¯s an official holiday with various celebrations, while in Punjab, women perform Gidda. In Chandigarh, students present cultural events and plays.

Henna and Swings:

Applying henna is central to the celebration. Darker henna is believed to reflect the depth of affection from husbands. Some women write their beloved¡¯s names using henna. Swings are hung on Banyan tree branches or at homes, as the Banyan tree is considered sacred.

Nirjala Vrat:

Women observe a rigorous fast without food or water, which ends with moon worship and breaking the fast. They pray for their husband's prosperity and well-being.

Religious Activities:

Idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are worshipped with devotional songs. In Vrindavan, Krishna Mandirs celebrate with swings and water showers, marking the arrival of monsoons.

Difference Between Hariyali Teej and Hartalika Teej

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Hariyali Teej:

This festival celebrates the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It takes place on Shukla Paksha Tritiya or two days before Nag Panchami. Women wear new green clothes and bangles, fast, and observe a ¡°Nirjal Vrat¡± all day.

Hartalika Teej:

According to mythology, Goddess Parvati¡¯s father wanted her to marry Lord Vishnu. Parvati, however, wanted Lord Shiva. To avoid the marriage with Vishnu, she fled to a forest with the help of her friends. There, she prayed to Shiva, who eventually accepted her devotion and agreed to marry her. Hartalika Teej marks this event.

When is Kajari Teej?

Kajari Teej, also known as Badi Teej, will be observed on Thursday, August 22, 2024. This vibrant festival is celebrated in both the Southern and Northern regions of India, including states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh.

Celebrating Kajari Teej

Kajari Teej marks the arrival of the monsoon season and is a significant festival in these regions. The city of Bundi in Rajasthan is especially famous for its Kajari Teej celebrations. During the festival, Bundi is beautifully decorated, and Teej Mata processions are paraded through the streets, adding to the festive atmosphere.

This celebration not only welcomes the monsoon but also brings communities together to participate in various cultural activities and rituals.

When is Hartalika Teej?

Hartalika Teej will be observed on Friday, September 6, 2024. This festival spans three days in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada.

Celebrating Hartalika Teej

Hartalika Teej is a significant festival where both married women and unmarried girls pray to Teej Mata, who is Goddess Parvati. During these three days, participants observe a waterless fast and engage in worship to seek blessings for a good husband, much like Lord Shiva.

The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar. It is believed that Goddess Parvati fulfills the desires of those who fast and worship diligently during Hartalika Teej.

FAQs:

Q. When is Hariyali Teej in 2023?

In 2023, Hariyali Teej was celebrated on Wednesday, August 7.

Q. What is Hartalika Teej?

Hartalika Teej is rooted in Indian mythology, recounting the story of Goddess Parvati. Her father wished for her to marry Lord Vishnu, but she desired Lord Shiva as her husband. On the day of the proposed marriage, Parvati's friends help her escape to a dense forest to avoid the wedding with Vishnu. There, she prayed fervently to Lord Shiva, who was moved by her devotion and appeared before her. He accepted her plea, and they eventually married. This day, known as Hartalika Teej, marks the acceptance of Parvati by Shiva.

Q. What is Hariyali Teej?

Hariyali Teej is a significant Hindu festival that commemorates the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is observed on Shukla Paksha Tritiya, which falls two days before Naga Panchami.

Q. Why is Hariyali Teej Celebrated?

Hariyali Teej, also called Sindhara Teej, Chhoti Teej, or Shravana Teej, marks the divine union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This festival celebrates their reunion and the bond they share, highlighting the importance of their marriage in Hindu tradition.

Q. What is the Speciality of Hariyali Teej?

Hariyali Teej is celebrated to honor the reunion of Shiva and Parvati. The festival remembers the day when Shiva accepted Parvati as his wife after her years of devotion and austerity. Parvati, known as Teej Mata, underwent 108 births before being accepted by Shiva.

Q. Do Punjabis Celebrate Hariyali Teej?

Yes, Hariyali Teej is celebrated with great enthusiasm in North India, including Punjab and Rajasthan. In Punjab, it is known as Teeyan, while in Rajasthan, it is called Shingara Teej.

Q. Can Unmarried Girls Observe Teej?

While Hariyali Teej is traditionally observed by married women for the well-being of their husbands, unmarried girls also participate in the festival in some regions to pray for a desirable groom.

Q. Who is the God of the Teej Festival?

The Teej festival, including Hariyali Teej, Kajari Teej, and Hartalika Teej, is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Married women seek their blessings for a happy and prosperous married life during these celebrations.

Note: Dates/timings may be subject to change; details mentioned here are as per the information available.

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