teej

FESTIVALS OF JAIPUR

Teej Festival

Teej is one of the most important festivals celebrated in Rajasthan. it is celebrated during the monsoons in July-August .It is an important festival of the womenfolk of Rajasthan. Teej festival marks the onset of festive season in Rajasthan.

The images of Parvati or Teej Mata are bedecked in new clothes and jewellery and worshipped. Then the images are taken out in ceremonial processions escorted by caparisoned elephants, camels and horse drawn chariots, as the bride Parvati leaves her parents home for her husband's. The devotees surges to catch a glimpse of the deity and seek blessings.

This teej festival is also dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati and this time it is married women who pray for a happy and long married life. This festival is celebrated with all the gusto and fervour in Jaipur. If you are in Jaipur during Teej festival, you can see young girls and married women dressed in their best clothes. Teej is primarily women's festival and women pray to Goddess Paravati during this festival. There is a mythical legend attached to Teej festival and it is believed that after years of penance, Goddess Parvati was united with Lord Shiva on Teej. On the day of Teej festival, married women pray for the well being of their husbands and martial bliss. Though celebrations are held all over the state, it is particularly colorful in Jaipur where a procession winds its way for two days through the Old City. It is the festival of swings which are decorated with flowers and hung from trees. Young girls and women dressed in green clothes sing songs in celebration of the advent of the monsoon. The Teej idol is covered with a canopy whereas the Gangaur idol is open.

The popular belief is that darker the henna the more a man loves his woman. Girls engaged to be married receive gifts such as a dress, henna, lac bangles and sweets from their future in-laws and married women, from their parents more.....
Celebrations:

In Jaipur teej has its own celebrations yet it is celebrated all over Rajasthan but in jaipur teej holds a holds different taste of celebration.

In remote villages

Jhoolas (swings) are hung from trees and decorated with leaves and flowers. Ladies and girls can be seen enjoying on these swings, playing games, singing folk songs and applying Mehandi (henna) on their palms.
In Jaipur an murti (idol) of Goddess Parvati (Teej Mata) is taken out in a royal procession from the city palace so that the general public can have a chance to pay homage to the Goddess. Local people come in huge numbers, dress in their best traditional clothes.
Groups of men and women can be seen singing dancing and playing musical instruments. Men and women dressed as gods and Goddess also join in the procession.