Hariyali Teej: A Celebration of Joy and Prosperity

Celebration, Rituals, Story, Vrat, Traditions, Beliefs, Ideas

Festivities are an integral part of our social fabric. These encompass joy, merriment, beliefs, and traditions. Such celebrations help us to stay close to our roots. Especially, in a vast country like India festivals stand as a rendezvous of emotions and celebrations. 

Let us know about one of such celebrations called Hariyali Teej. The festival encircles two motives. It celebrates divine love in the first place. Secondly, it connects with the greenery and prosperity of nature. Isn’t it beautiful to cherish love and prosperity together? The article will let us know more about the festival with significant details.

What is Hariyali Teej?

Women celebrate the festival of Hariyali Teej at the onset of the monsoon. The soothing month of Sawan or Shravan marks the festivity. Women pray to Goddess Parvati for a prosperous married life. Hariyali Teej is one of the three Teej in India. It is also known as Sindhara or Savan Teej.

People mostly celebrate Teej in northern states of India like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand.

When is Hariyali Teej?

Women celebrate Hariyali Teej on Tritiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Sawan. Hariyali Teej 2021, is on 11 August 2021. It will come three days after the Hariyali Amavasya and two days before Nag Panchami. 

Muhurat for Hariyali Teej Puja 2021

Start of Tritiya Tithi10th August, Tuesday, 6:11 pm 
End of Tritiya Tithi11th August, Wednesday, 4:56 pm

Calendar for Teej Festivals 2021

Hariyali Teej11 August 2021
Kajari Teej25 August 2021
Hartalika Teej9 September 2021

Why do we celebrate Hariyali Teej?

The day of Hariyali Teej holds great significance. It celebrates the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. On this day, Shiva accepted Parvati as his wife. The festival celebrates their eternal love. Devotees call Goddess Parvati “Teej Mata”.

Married women observe the Teej Vrat with the intent of having a prosperous married life. For the longevity and well-being of husbands, women keep fast.

Importance of Hariyali Teej

Hariyali Teej is a celebration of love and affection towards the spouse. Women also call it ‘Choti Teej’ or ‘Madhu Shravan Teej’. 

People believe that:

  • Unmarried girls should observe the fast for the husbands of their choice.
  • Married women observe fast for a long and happy life for their husbands.

Rituals of Hariyali Teej

  • On the day of Teej, married women get ‘Shringara’ items.
  • ‘Shringara’ items contain sindoor, traditional clothes, bangles, henna, sweets and so on.
  • Women wear green lehengas or sarees.
  • ‘Shringara’ items symbolise prosperity in married life.
  • 16 adornments of Shringara ward off the evils on husbands. (belief)
  • Newly weds get ‘Sindhara’.
  • Women apply henna on hands and feet. 
  • At some places women swing. Swings are attached to Banyan
    Trees.
  • Women sing and dance.
  • They observe ‘Nirjala Vrat’ ( fast even without a drop of water).
  • Prime Dishes: Ghewar, coconut laddoos, sabudana kheer, aloo halwa.
  • Women pray to Lord Shiva for a blissful married life.
  • They recite Bhajans and mantras of Lord Shiva.

How to celebrate Hariyali Teej at home?

Here are some common steps for a home-based celebration:

  • Women take an early bath.
  • They wear red or green clothes.
  • People use gangajal to purify the house.
  • Women place idols of Lord Shiva-Parvati on the cloth to worship.
  • They lit diyas at the place of puja.
  • Hariyali Teej Katha is recited.
  • They recite arti. 

Hariyali Teej Celebration Ideas

Women love to experiment. From their looks to the decoration, everything is planned. Let us know some exciting notions about the celebration which may add freshness to this.

  • Beautiful flower based hairdos are in vogue. Ladies can team these up with traditional wears.
  • Married women can decorate swings with lights or flowers.
  • Women can try experimental mehndi designs.
  • Married women can wear bangles engraved with their husbands’ names. It would appear sassy yet traditional.
  • They can also organize a small get together focusing on singing and dancing.
  • Creativity knows no boundary. Women can use pom poms, bangles, and flowers for the decoration.

Hariyali Teej Festival Story

The story of Hariyali Teej focuses on the love story, penance, reunion of Parvati with Shiva. According to beliefs, Goddess Parvati took 108 births before Lord Shiva agreed to marry her. On the Tritiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha Lord Shiva granted the wish of Goddess Parvati. Since then people celebrate the union of Shiva-Shakti. 

Women believe that by observing fast and following rituals their nuptial bond would get stronger. Through the story of Devi Parvati, followers learn the importance of commitment, perseverance, patience, and affection.

How is the Hariyali Teej Celebrated in different parts of the country?

Hariyali Teej has a great significance in the northern part of the country. The main motive behind the celebration is to offer prayers for a strong nuptial bond. Let us know how variations in the ritual may happen to keep the belief common:

Hariyali Teej in Vrindavan

Hariyali Teej is celebrated on the land of Vrindavan grandly. The golden swing of Lord Krishna is the focal attraction. The ceremony of ‘Jhulan Leela’ is conducted. Here devotees sing and swing. This joyous celebration attracts countless devotees to Vrindavan during Hariyali Teej.  

Hariyali Teej in Rajasthan

People follow a two-day procession especially in the city of Jaipur. Women wear red sarees and decorate their hands with henna. They pray to Goddess Parvati for marital bliss. Singing special songs and performing puja go hand in hand.

Hariyali Teej in Punjab

At the onset of the monsoon, the land of Punjab celebrates the festival. Here Teej is named ‘Teeyan’. Women perform Gidda and receive gifts from their families. Fairs are organized during the celebration.

Read about: Indian Festival Holi

Mehndi Designs for Hariyali Teej

Henna/mehndi has got a great significance on the day of the Teej. People believe that Goddess Parvati likes mehndi. So, it is a custom to apply mehndi on the hands and legs of married and unmarried women. Apart from the traditional patterns, we can try out some funky and trendy designs too.

  • A clean mehndi look is in the vogue. Women apply mehndi not on the complete hands.These days they choose to decorate a single finger and palm with light patterns.
  • Writing the name of a spouse with mehndi is not a new notion. Though patterns to write can be trendy.
  • Women can go for polka dot mehndi designs. These look beautiful and are simple too.

Bhajans for Hariyali Teej

 Without Bhajans, the celebration is incomplete. We can make a list of soulful hits during this festivity. Here are a few tracks we can sing or play :

  • Yehi Maya ho is a Nepali Superhit. Women can sing it.
  • Jai Jai Giriraj Kishori is beautiful praise for Goddess Parvati.
  • Aye Shambhu Baba Mere Bholenath is a famous bhajan for Lord Shiva.
  • Mera Bhola hai bhandari is a soulful song to sing.
  • The Aarti Collection of Goddess Parvati is also famous.

A festival like Hariyali Teej has a great cultural significance. The rituals may vary from place to place. But the thread of belief and emotions binds the devotees. It is a beautiful celebration where women get to feel special. They go through the stringent task of fast happily, just to celebrate the affection for their husbands. Here the charm lies with the dedication and commitment that are followed for ages. Moreover, it appears as celebrating nature’s prosperity too.

FAQs

What are the different types of the Teej?

There are different types of Teej celebrated in India. These are Hartalika, Hariyali, Satwani, Kajari and so on.

What is the basis of Teej Celebration?

The love story of Lord Shiva-Parvati and their union.

What kind of fast is observed in Hariyali Teej?

Nirajala Vrat ( Fast without water).

What is the difference between Hariyali and Hartalika Teej?

Hartalika Teej comes a day Before Ganesh Chaturthi and a month after Hariyali Teej.

What are the outfits to wear on the Hariyali Teej?

It can be a lehenga or saree. It depends on the region.

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