Hariyali Teej 2023

Tritiya, or the third day of Shukla Paksha of Shravan month, is termed Hariyali Teej or Shravani Teej. As per the English calendar, Hariyali Teej is often in July or August. It is primarily a festival of women. The festival is celebrated on Tritiya Tithi or the third day of Shravan Shukla Paksha for good luck and sought-after groom. This festival comes in Sawan when there is the foliage all around. This is the intention why this festival is termed Hariyali Teej. In the month of Sawan, when the whole earth is fresh and green, to relish this beautiful moment of nature, women swing on swings, celebrate the festival with a lot of folklore. On the occurrence of Hariyali Teej, fairs are prearranged in many places across the country, and the ride of Mata Parvati is taken out with a lot of pomp. Hariyali Teej is significant for married women. This festival is celebrated to venerate the reunion of Lord Shiva and Parvati.

इस पेज को हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए “हरियाली तीज” पर क्लिक करें।

In Hinduism, every fast and festival has a mythological implication, and there is an exciting story or tale associated with it. Hariyali Teej is also celebrated to celebrate the reunion of Lord Shiva and Parvati. According to mythology, Goddess Parvati did severe penance to win Lord Shiva as her husband. After this severe penance and 108th birth, Mata Parvati got Lord Shiva as her husband. It is said that Lord Shiva acknowledged Parvati as his wife on the third day of Shukla Paksha of Shravan month. Since then, it is believed that Lord Shiva and Parvati blessed this day to be a day of fortuity for married women. And so, by worshiping Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati on Hariyali Teej and fasting, the married woman remains well-off and brings contentment and affluence to the family.

Religious Significance of Hariyali Teej

According to religious belief, it is said that Lord Shiva and Parvati again came together in Sawan on Hariyali Teej. Its description is also mentioned in Shiv Puran, so on this day, wedded women worship Parvati and Shiva so that their married life remains blissful. The festival of Teej is celebrated with great splendor in North India. Single girls can also fast on this day with a wish to get a worthy groom.

How is Hariyali Teej celebrated?

This fast is considered to be more difficult than Karva Chauth. On this day, women observe a fast for the whole day until the next morning after taking a bath and worship, complete the fast, and gulp anything. Goddess Parvati and Shiva are worshiped on occasion. On this day, makeup goods and sweets are sent from the maternal home of women to their in-laws. After the completion of household chores and bathing in the morning, women keep a Nirjala fast (निर्जला व्रत) by doing sixteen makeups (सोलह शृंगार). After the worship, listen to the story associated with the fast. There is also a custom of wearing green attires, green chunari, green leheriya, green makeup, mehndi, and swinging.

This is how Hariyali Teej is celebrated

Married women are called to their parents' house with the inception of Sawan. A day before Hariyali Teej, Dwitiya is celebrated as Shringar Diwas (day), Sinjara. Daughter-in-law and daughters are fed 9 types of sweets and dishes. On the day of Singhara, teenagers and newly married brides apply mehndi inventively on their hands and feet to celebrate this festival. On the day of Teej, women, dressed in Lehariya saris and ornaments, sing songs with their friends in the evening while swinging near a lake or in a garden. It is believed that it is done to get Lord Shiva as a husband. For this, Parvati took 107 births. Because of her rigorous penance and in her 108th birth, Lord Shiva accepted Goddess Parvati as his wife. With that, this fast started. On this day, the married women who worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati with sixteen makeups (सोलह शृंगार) ritual, their relation, and the husband live long.

Significance of 16 makeups ritual  in Teej Puja

Women do teej fasting with the desire to stay contented forever. In this fast, which is done for good fortune, women offer the dishes made of honey to Goddess Parvati. In this, 16 items of makeup are offered to the Goddess. It includes bangles, vermilion, bracelets, henna, sari, chunari, etc. Women observing the fast offer these things to Goddess Parvati and seek blessings of good fortune. Lord Shiva is also worshiped along with Parvati in the worship ritual of Hariyali Teej. Women who fast on this day also do the 16 makeup ritual. Swinging and singing folk songs is ubiquitous on the day of Teej in many places.

Why fast on Hariyali Teej

On this occasion of this festival, the married women who worship Shiva-Parvati after wearing sixteen adornments, their husband lives for a long-time. Also, at the will of Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva blesses any unmarried girl who observes this fast and worships Shiva Parvati, the hitches in her marriage will be removed, and she will get an appropriate groom.  Married women will get good fortune and happiness of married life along with husband long life from this fast.

If a girl cannot get married, she should fast and worship on this day. Apart from this, married women should jointly worship Shiva and Parvati.

Sindhara is given to sisters and daughters-in-law

On the occasion of Hariyali Teej, women apply mehndi on their hands. After this, they fast. During this period, there is a prevalence of Ghevar, Feni, and Sevaiyan. A day before the festivity, sisters and daughters-in-law are given Sindhara. It comprises clothes, good luck items, ghevar, feni, fruits, etc. On Hariyali Teej, Thakurji is also offered Malpuas.

Hariyali Teej tradition

For newlywed girls, the first Sawan after marriage has a different connotation. On the occasion of Hariyali Teej, girls are called to their parents' house from their in-laws' house.

1. Sindhara is celebrated a day before Hariyali Teej. On this day, clothes, jewelry, makeup items, Mehndi, and sweets are sent from the in-laws of the newlywed girl.

2. Applying Mehndi on this day has a special meaning. Women and girls apply it on their hands in various designs. Aalta is also applied on the feet on this day. It is a sign of being married.

3. On Hariyali Teej, married women touch the feet of the mother-in-law and give them sweets. If she is not present, it is given to the sister-in-law (Jethani) or any other elderly lady.

4. On this day, women worship Parvati by wearing makeup and new clothes.

5. On Hariyali Teej, women and girls swing in the field or garden and do a lot of folklore.

Hariyali Teej Puja Mantra

देहि सौभाग्य आरोग्यं देहि मे परमं सुखम्।

पुत्रान देहि सौभाग्यम देहि सर्व।

कामांश्च देहि मे।।

Malpus are also offered

Ghevar, Feni, and Sevaiyan are predominant in the month of Shravan. A day before Teej, sisters and daughters-in-law are given Sindhara. It contains clothes, good luck items, ghevar, feni, fruits, etc. Devotees get astonished to see her in the cassette, especially after offering Sindhara to Radharani in Barsana. On Hariyali Teej, offerings of Malpus are also offered to Thakurji.

Hariyali Teej Vrat Story

Hariyali Teej is celebrated to honor the reunion of Lord Shiva and Parvati. According to mythology, Goddess Parvati did a Spartan penance to get Lord Shiva as her husband. Because of this severe penance, Goddess Parvati got Lord Shiva as her husband. As stated by the legend, Mata Gauri was reborn as Parvati in the Himalayas. Parvati wanted to get Shiva as a groom since childhood. For this, she did severe penance. One day Narad Ji told Himalaya that Lord Vishnu, contented with Parvati's penance, wanted to espouse her. Himalaya was thrilled to hear this. Alternatively, Narad Muni went to Vishnu and said that Himalaya has decided to get his daughter Parvati married to you. Vishnu also agreed to this. Narada then went to Parvati and told her that father Himalaya had fixed her marriage with Vishnu. Hearing this, Parvati was saddened and went to an isolated place with her mates, hiding from her father. After reaching the dense and deserted forest, Parvati once again started penance. He constructed a Shivling out of the sand and begun worshiping while fasting. Lord Shiva was satisfied with this penance and assured to fulfill his wish. In the meantime, Parvati's father Himalaya also reached there. Knowing the truth, he agreed to get Parvati married to Lord Shiva. Shiva tells in this story that later, he got married to Parvati by law. Shiva says, 'O Parvati! Due to the stringent fast that you had taken, we could get married. I give the desired wish to the woman who performs this fast honesty.

Teej's tradition in a different state
Different states in India celebrate this festival in a different style. Here are some of the unique Hariyali Teej celebrations in some parts of India.

There is a Teej ride in Jaipur

This festival is the quintessence of life for the people of Rajasthan. Particularly in the Pink city of Jaipur, its different splendor is observed. The fair held in Jaipur on the occasion of Teej holds a special place in the whole world. On this day, Teej Mata's ride is taken out after the worship. The idol of Parvati, which is called Teej Mata, is taken in the march. Before the festival, the idol is re-painted, and new clothes and adornments are put on; a procession is taken out at the auspicious time. Lakhs of people swarm during this time to have a glimpse of the mother. Elephants and horses enhance the beauty of the procession. This ride is immersed in Tripolia Bazaar, Choti Chaupad, Gangauri Bazaar, and Chaugan after reaching Palika Bagh. Many foreign tourists also accompany the villagers dressed in colorful attires to see the ride. People are dressed in colorful clothes all around; the smell of Ghevar-Fini, the beauty of nature makes this festival unique. Swings on the branches of giant trees in the open are pleasing for women and children. Singing Malhar, swinging with mehndi on the hands, is a unique experience. Ladies, along with friends, swing on while singing folk songs, kajri, etc. The whole atmosphere becomes melodious and lively with songs.

Teej festival in Rajasthan

Teej festival is celebrated in Rajasthan as a seasoned festival. People celebrate this festival by seeing greenery and cloud cover in the month of Sawan or Shravan. Due to the black clouds hovering in the sky, this festival is called Kajali Teej, and because of the greenery, this festival is called Hariyali Teej. On this festival, swings are put up in Rajasthan, and fairs are organized on the river banks. Sowing of Kharif crops also commences around this festival. Farmers yearn for rain on the Teej festival for sowing of moth, millet, pods, etc.

Teej of Vrindavan

The swings of Brij are well-known in Sawan. In Shri Vallabh sampradaya, Thakurji swings on a swing all through the month of Sawan. Carousels are decorated in other temples from Sawan Shukla Tritiya-Hariyali Teej to Rakshabandhan-Purnima. On the night of Shri Banke Bihari Teej in Vrindavan, Ganga-Jamuni of gold and silver is swung in a giant carousel. The bank of Dwarkadhish is well known in Mathura. All the curtains, carousels, clothes of Thakurji are all of the same colors, matching the color of the sky. In the midst of them, the eminence of Kali Ghata (Dark sky) is very high.

Follow these remedial measures on Hariyali Teej

If there is a problem of harmonization between husband and wife, then do this remedy?

Offer yellow apparel to Shiva and red ones to Goddess Parvati.

- Pray for better harmonization.

After this, tie knots in both the clothes and keep them just a stone's throw away.

If husband and wife have to stay away from each other, then what should be done?

Offer flowers, bel leaves, abir-gulal to Lord Shiva.

Offer vermilion to Maa Gauri in a silver pitcher.

- Pray to be unruffled with each other.

Use the offered vermilion regularly.

If the health of either of the spouses is appalling

- Visit the temple of Shiva in the evening

First, offer Panchamrit on Shivling.

Henceforth offer a stream of water.

Pray for the health of the spouse.

If the debt is causing issues

Take a dry piece of catechu.

From this piece, make three straight lines on the ground.

After taking Hanuman Ji's name, erase these three straight lines from the feet.

Do this remedy on three Tuesdays.

- It will surely be profitable.

The tradition of giving up three things on Hariyali Teej

On Hariyali Teej, every woman should take a pledge to abandon the three evils. These three things are-

1. Cheating on Husband

2. Lying and abusing

3. Parninda (abstaining from doing evil to others)

What is right and what is forbidden during Hariyali Teej

What to do?

1) Nirjala fast is kept on Hariyali Teej, i.e., do not drink water during this fast. Though, this does not concern pregnant and sick women.

2) Women observing fast should listen to the fast story of Hariyali Teej. With this, the fast is considered complete.

3) This fast is for the long life and well-being of the husband. On this day, it is considered auspicious to listen to the songs and stories of Teej Mata, i.e., Mata Parvati.

What not to do?

These things should not be done during fasting

1) The use of white and black clothes is forbidden in this fast.

2) It is likewise said that one should not doze off during the fast of Teej.

3) According to Hindu religion, the wife observing this fast should be pure in mind, deed, and words, i.e., do not think bad about anyone, do wrong deeds, and do not use foul language.

These things are considered imperative

Some things are considered significant on Hariyali Teej, such as green bangles and mehndi, which are taken care of by married women as they symbolize the longevity of their husbands and their health and happiness. On this day, women generally use green color. In contrast, on Hariyali Teej, the women's parents send sarees, makeup items, sweets, fruits, etc. It is considered suitable to do so.