As the name says itself, Hariyali Teej is about celebrating greenery and as per the Hindu calendar, this year in 2020, it falls on Thursday, 23rd July. Apart from marking the prosperity and growth, it also celebrated the significance or elevation of igniting love.
If you want to know more about the Hindu Festival, you are just at the right place! Knowing the festival in detail will certainly bring you closer to the significance of the festival in Hinduism.
In Hinduism, Hariyali Teej celebrates the bond of marriage. Pinterest
There are three popular Teej(s) that are celebrated by women during Sawan and Bhadrapada months:
One of the most celebrated festivals in India, Hariyali Teej celebrates the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, it's considered as a day when Lord Shiva accepted Goddess Parvati as his wife after 108 births and rebirths. For this reason, a woman fasts for the long life of their husband, while worshiping Goddess Parvati on this day. It's also considered as a festival of devotion towards Mother Nature and family.
Hariyali Teej is celebrated on the 3rd day of the first bright fortnight in the month of Shravan, hence the name Shravana Teej. Shravan usually falls between July-August, every year and marks the beginning of monsoon. It's relation to the rainy season also verifies the name Hariyali which in turn means greenery; greenery after long periods of long dry summers. It usually falls two days before Panchami.
In north India, one can witness women celebrating Hariyali Teej by wearing green bangles, jewelry, and colorful clothes. Wikimedia Commons
Few words that relate to its celebration are swings, dancing, singing and fasting. In north India, one can witness women celebrating Hariyali Teej by wearing green bangles, jewelry, and colorful clothes. The married women observe fast for the well being of their husbands and the unmarried women fast for marital bliss. It's a day that ends with dances and songs performed in the praise of Goddess Parvati.
The cities that are considered the traditional areas for Hariyali Teej celebration are Punjab, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, and Haryana. Rajasthan ranks the highest when it comes to celebrating the festival with utmost joy and faith. In this state, processions of Teej Mata or Goddess Parvati are taken on the streets and one usually, see a large number of tourists flocking to get a glimpse of it. Performers occupy the streets of Rajasthan.
Lastly, Hariyali Teej, a festival that witnesses fairs organized by local authorities and gifts exchanged by parents-in-law can only add vibrancy to a woman's life, marking her devotion towards her family and husband.
– prepared by Karishma Vanjani of NewsGram