Kajari Teej 2017: A Day To Replenish Love

Kajari Teej 2017 is on 10th of August. Kajari Teej is always celebrated on the 3rd day of Krishna Paksha. This Teej generally falls in the month of Bhadrapada after the glorious month of Shravan. Well, this is just in the case of the North Indian Hindu calendar (Purnimant). According to Amavasyant or South Indian Hindu calendar, Kajari Teej or Badi Teej falls in the month of Shravan. Karaji Teej is a major part of the Teej gala. Kajari Teej or Badi Teej is also known as the festival of swings. Through this article we will drive you into the rich culture and traditions of India and make you visualize the fun and frolic that Kajari Teej brings into the lives of people who celebrate this glorious festival.

Kajari Teej - A treat of the season

Kajari Teej 2017 is on 10th of August. After enduring the scorching heat of summer, monsoon comes to the rescue and is welcomed by all with complete adoration. The festival of Teej revolves around this period. Three Teej are celebrated in India. They are Hartalika Teej, Hariyali Teej and Kajari Teej (Badi Teej). All of them are celebrated within the holy months of Shravan and Bhadra. Teej is a festival celebrated by the women of India. All the Teej have their significance and are celebrated with equal fervor and excitement.

Coming back to Kajari/ Badi Teej, well, this festival is mostly celebrated in North India. Kajari Teej is popular in Rajasthan, Bihar, MP and Uttar Pradesh and in Gujarat as well. Kajari Teej is given tremendous importance in the district of Bundi, in Rajasthan. Goddess Parvati is worshipped on this day. Parvati is the goddess of Teej, hence all the ceremonies of the day are dedicated to her.

Grand Procession of Kajari Teej/ Badi Teej

The main event of Kajari Teej is the procession that takes place in Bundi. Rajasthan, as we know is a magnetic state of India that attracts lakhs of tourists from all over the world. On Kajari Teej as the procession of goddess Parvati moves around the city, pausing at various points, it is accompanied with lakhs and lakhs of tourists, who gather around, merely to catch a glimpse of the beautifully decorated deity. Lots of elephants and camels are decked with brightly colored clothes and ornaments. Goddess Parvati looks bewitching, as she is embellished with new clothes and jewelry. Her ornaments mainly consist of Gold, diamonds and precious stones. She is sheltered under a huge canopy. The devotees sing hymns of praise and chant slokas in her name. Then at a point called Azad park, the procession is given a halt. Rituals are performed by the Pandits and Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati are worshipped. Cows are worshipped on this day. The deities are offered pure water, chappati and milk.

Nowadays there are processions in other cities as well, that includes, Banaras and Mirzapur.

Tantalizing Gala Rounds of Kajari Teej

The procession is enticing enough but that is not all. Kajari Teej has a lot more in store for you. Indian folk have been able to boast of the admiration Kajari Teej gets on a global level. Kajari Teej, is a day when you could be fortunate enough, to be treated with the performance of the envied Rajasthani folk. Local artists perform rope dance, Indian trapeze and stunts that will leave you open mouthed and transfixed. Rajasthani folk dances like Ghoomar, Kalbelia and Bhavia are performed by the graceful young girls of Rajasthan. Well, while we talk about the dances, and stunts, we cannot ignore Rajasthani folk music that could captivate anyone. The other states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh celebrate Kajari Teej in the same traditional manner. What can be more wonderful than getting yourself hooked up to this enchanting mood on Kajari Teej?

Women's Day- Kajari Teej

Kajari Teej, like any other Teej every year, is a day for women. All over India, women fast for the well being of their husbands. It is popularly known as Kajari Teej Vrat. This is a very difficult fast as women do not even consume water, let alone fruits. They stay awake the entire night. Kajari Teej Vrat lasts for 24 hours. At night, women light a lamp for their husbands. They have to ensure that the light from the lamp does not disappear . If such a thing happens, then it is considered very inauspicious. As women observe the fast they prepare of the rituals that would take place during the day. At night all the women gather to hear the legend of Kajari Teej. After listening to the legend, women break their fast. In most cases husbands help their wives in breaking the fast by feeding them. As the husbands witness their beloved wives taking so much pain for them, they feel more attached to them. They give them gifts as a sign of love. That day, women can do whatever they want to do and husbands oblige to their demands. Kajari Teej, is a day on which the couples rejuvenate the vows that they had taken at time of marriage. Kajari Teej strengthens the bond between husbands and wives. They worship Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati and seek their blessings over their conjugal life. Unmarried girls also fast and pray to marry the man of their dreams.

Story of Goddess Parvati's devotion

Well a thought may come to your mind, as to why goddess Parvati is given so much importance on this day. Well, legend has it that goddess Parvati was deeply in love with Lord Shiva. She wanted to marry him. Her love for him was so divine and complete that she took birth on Earth one hundred and seven times, to make Lord Shiva realize her devotion for him. In her 108th birth, Lord Shiva finally agreed. Not only was touched by her dedication, but goddess Parvati's love was so powerful that even Lord Shiva couldn't refrain from it.

On Kajari Teej women worship Goddess Parvati and seek her blessings so that their love too would have the same magnetic power and purity. Women fast as a symbolic of the pain that Parvati went through. In this manner, they too try to share a bit of pain for their husbands.

Kajari Teej- An opportunity to fall in love with yourself

Every woman likes to look beautiful. They love to dress well and apply makeup, wear jewelry etc. On Kajari Teej, they get to do just that. They dress up in traditional clothes like sarees and lehengas that have vibrant colors. They deck themselves with gold and diamond. They wear bangles and apply mehndi to their feet and hands. In some regions women dress themselves as a newlywed bride.

Young girls and women generally prepare for this festival well in advance. During this season, husbands give them the liberty of shopping as much as they like.

It's all about trips, treats and gifts...

Married women visit their parental homes on Kajari Teej. This is what makes the festival even more exciting for them. Women get the opportunity to spend some merry time with their parents and siblings. The girl's in laws present her with a gift pack. It is called Shringar. This Shringar consists of bangles, dresses, sweets, fruits, dry fruits, etc. Later at night, the wives are taken back home by their husbands.

Swings and rain Dance on Kajari Teej

There is no line that a person can draw to the ways one can enjoy on Kajari Teej. Young girls and even children enjoy the appealing weather on this Teej. They have fun riding on swings and playing games. As we have mentioned in the beginning part of the article, Teej is also known as the festival of Swings. On Kajari Teej, swings are lavishly decorated and hung on trees. As a matter of fact, the festivities of Kajari Teej is incomplete without swings. While frolicking on the swings, girls sing songs that are traditionally sung during the month of Shravan and on Teej. Along with the swing rides, rain dance adds to the fun.

Mouthing Watering dishes of Kajari Teej

Kajari Teej is an occasions when you can indulge in eating all the exotic food and sweets, without worrying about hampering your diet. Sweetmeats are relished by the people. As tourists visit our nation from different corners of the world, India proudly tantalizes everyone with innumerable sweets that will melt in your mouth, leaving behind a rich flavor that would leave you craving for more. Ghewar an Indian delicacy made out of fresh honey is popularly relished by all in Kajari Teej.

Kajari Teej/ Badi Teej is a festival on which you can have a taste of Indian culture. The Shravan season romanticizes it even more. Even though Kajari Teej is celebrated for two days, it's essence lasts till Janmashtami. We hope that you have a wonderful Kajari Teej. May this festival add glory to your life. Happy Kajari Teej..!