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Teej:
(July/August)
Teej
falls on the third day of the moonlit fortnight of Shravan in July
or August.
This day is also called as “Akha Teej”
Teej
is one of the most important and auspicious festivals of Rajasthan,
so important that any activity can be performed on this day
without consulting any body for any auspicious timing. It is
also celebrated in Bihar and parts of Uttar Pradesh. It is the
festival for the daughters of the house.
In
Rajasthan on the occasion of Teej, Dandia dances are arranged by
professionals and performed in courtyards at home and in public
places. The young girls of the house dress up in colourful saris,
lehangas and chunris to perform these dances. The tie-and-dye
chunri in green, red, and yellow with its zari and gota along with
green, yellow and red bangles, becomes a feast for the eyes.
The
dance is a synchronized movement of hands and feet with colourful
dandias striking rhythmic beats. This dance has to be practiced
diligently earlier by all the participants.
Swings
are set up in the open courtyards. Girls apply henna on their
hands and feet and are excused from household chores on this day.
On Teej, it is a must for the girls to receive new clothes from
their parents. The system of giving new clothes on all occasions
to a daughter (and her children) was in lieu of her right to the family property
and money, which was, earlier denied to her by law.
On
Teej, just as on Karva Chouth, the mother sends a baya or gift.
The pooja is performed in the morning. The baya which consists of
a variety of foodstuff, is placed on a thaali at the place of
worship where a chowk (square) has been decorated, an idol or a
picture of Parvati is installed. The evenings are set aside for
singing and dancing.
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