teej

India Guides -Monsoon Special - Teej

Teej, a festival from Rajasthan heralds the rainy season. The festival is specially popular with women. They apply henna on their palms and sing traditional songs. Teej also signifies the return of Goddess Parvati to her parents. Even today, in traditional households all over North India, married women visit their parents during this season. In Rajasthan, Teej is celebrated in a big way. In almost every town, a colourful procession carrying the bedecked idol of goddess Parvati is taken around the city. Women collect at a common place to offer prayers for the long life of their husbands and also to sing, dance, apply henna and make merry. In Bikaner, a colourful royal procession is taken out every year from the Temple of Sundari which culminates at the impressive Junagadh fort. Rajput ladies accompanied by their families walk alongside the decked up carriages pulled by camels and horses to impart a regal look to the occasion. The entire town flocks to the fort to participate in the festivities. Merry-go-rounds and vendors keep children busy as parents offer prayers to the deity.