Teej 2027

What is Teej?

Teej is a set of monsoon festivals kept mainly by women in North India and Nepal, celebrating the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The best-known is Hariyali Teej (Shravani Teej), on the third day (Tritiya) of the bright half of Shravana, in July or August — the date shown on this page. Two more Teej festivals follow: Kajari Teej about two weeks later, and Hartalika Teej on Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya, the day before Ganesh Chaturthi, which is the main Teej in Nepal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The story of Teej

According to tradition, Goddess Parvati performed long and difficult penance to win Lord Shiva as her husband, and on Teej he accepted her. Women keep the Teej fast in her honour, praying for a happy married life; unmarried girls pray for a good husband.

How is Hariyali Teej celebrated?

"Hariyali" means greenery, and the festival celebrates the freshness of the monsoon. Women dress in green saris and lehariya dupattas, wear green bangles and apply mehndi on their hands. Married women often receive a sindhara from their parents — a gift of clothes, bangles, mehndi and sweets such as ghevar.

Swings (jhoolas) are hung from trees and decorated with flowers, and women swing and sing Teej songs together. Many keep a fast and perform a puja of Shiva and Parvati in the evening, listening to the Teej katha. In Jaipur, a traditional Teej procession of the Goddess is taken through the old city. In Punjab, the women's festival of Teeyan in Sawan brings giddha dancing and boliyan (folk couplets).

Keeping the fast

The Hariyali Teej fast is often lighter than Hartalika Teej, which many women keep without water (nirjala) for a full day and night. Women who are pregnant, unwell or on medication usually keep a lighter fast with fruit and water — health comes first.