Kajari Teej Festival

Kajari Teej Festival Significance, Grand Celebrations & Food

Kajari Teej or Badi Teej is a special festival. It is celebrated throughout the Northern and the Western parts of India. The celebrations are conducted with much fanfare throughout the states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Kajari Teej is celebrated during the Shravana month.

Kajari Teej Date:

  • 2023: 02 September, 2023 (Saturday)
  • 2020: 06 August, 2020 (Thursday)

Significance:

Kajari Teej is celebrated by people to welcome monsoons after a harsh summer. Kajari Teej is one of the three Teej festivals celebrated throughout the year. Like Akha and Hariyali Teej, devotees make special preparations.

It is considered auspicious to worship Goddess Parvati on this day. Women who worship Goddess Parvati are blessed with having a dignified relation with their husband. Legend has it that Goddess Parvati was able to marry Lord Shiva after taking 108 births. The day is also celebrated as a mark of respect for the selfless love that Goddess Parvati showed for Lord Shiva. It was this selfless devotion that led Lord Shiva to finally accept Goddess Parvati as his wife.

Women pray for long life of their husbands and observe a fast on this day.

Grand Celebrations on Kajari Teej

The festival is celebrated with much enthusiasm throughout Rajasthan particularly in the city of Bundi. The city is specially decorated for the day. The idol of Goddess Parvati is taken in a procession throughout Bundi. The palanquin carrying the image of Goddess Parvati is accompanied by numerous camels, elephants, musicians and folk dancers. This adds a unique blend to the festivities and makes the occasion special for devotees. The celebrations hold special significance for women in Rajasthan and preparations begin days ahead for the festivities.

Young girls perform dances like Kalbeliya, Bhavia and Ghoomar on the occasion. The festival holds a special significance for married women. Women pray for the safety of their husbands on this day. They sing, dance and stay awake all night to add a distinct touch to the festival. A lamp is specially lit and it is ensured that the flame does not diminish throughout the night. Legends associated with Kajari Teej are also shared by the womenfolk among themselves during the course of celebrations.

The celebrations are unique and married women dress especially for the day. The married women apply mehndi on this day and dress up like a newly wedded girl.

Food:

While women fast on the occasion of Kajari Teej, their husbands ensure that they have a grand feast on this festival. Men folk enjoy sweets prepared from Sattu. Special delicacies like malpua and Ghewar are also prepared on this day.

Singing and dancing traditional folk style becomes the highlight of the day. In fact singing and dancing is considered auspicious on Kajari Teej. Women put up specially decorated swings on Kajari Teej and ride these swings. While swinging is a part of the festival, special preparations and special dressing goes hand in hand making this day unique and special.

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