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Rajasthan
Fairs & Festivals - Teej Festival
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Held during the monsoons,
July-August Teej is also dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati and
this time it is married women who pray for a happy and long
married life. 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.
Teej is celebrated mainly by the women folk of Rajasthan.
Married women who idolize Parvati for her devotion to her
husband Shiva celebrate Teej. The festivity revolves around
singing and dancing in praise of Parvati. The rituals allow the
women to pamper and enjoy themselves, to feast, to dress in the
best of cloths, finery and jewellery, in fact to look the
stunning best. |
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All over Rajasthan, even 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 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. Antique gilt palanquins, bullock carts pulling cannons,
chariots, gaily decorated elephants with silver haodas, horses, camels,
brass bands, and group of dances all form a part of this grand
spectacle. The Palanquin of Goddess Paravati is carried by 8 men dressed
in red color. This kilometer long procession winds its way through the
lanes of the old city. Local people come in huge numbers, dress in their
best traditional clothes. Space is at a premium as people perch on top
of building, windows even trees to catch a glimpse of Goddess. A huge
band of urchins follows the Palanquin to grab these offerings.
A lot of merriment prevails during the Teej procession. 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.
According to Hindu mythology, on the 3rd day (teej) after the new moon
in the month of Shravan Goddess Parvati went to the house of lord Shiva,
her husband and was united with him. This day is celebrated as Teej all
over India and especially so in Rajasthan. Apart from its mythological
origins this festival also heralds the arrival of the rainy season. In
the month of Shravan the long awaited monsoon finally arrives in
Rajasthan bringing relief to the parched land. Like a magic wand it
transforms the hot, dusty and barren summer landscape of Rajasthan into
the fertile green beehive of activity. The Teej festivities also
celebrate this rejuvenation.
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Other Fairs & Festivals:
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Nagaur Fair, Nagaur (Jan-Feb.) |
Kite Festival (held on 14th Jan of
every year) |
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Desert Festival, Jaisalmer (Jan-Feb.) |
Baneshwar Fair, Baneshwar (Jan-Feb.) |
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Gangaur Festival, Jaipur
(March-April) |
Mewar Festival, Udaipur (March-April) |
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Elephant Festival, Jaipur
(March-April) |
Urs Ajmer Sharif, Ajmer (According
to Lunar Calendar) |
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Summer Festival, Mt.Abu (June) |
Teej Festival, Jaipur (July-August) |
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Kajli Teej, Bundi
(July-August)
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Dussehra Festival, Kota (October) |
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Marwar Festival, Jodhpur (October) |
Pushkar Fair, Ajmer (November) |
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Camel Festival, Bikaner (January) |
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