Kajari Teej 2023

Kajari Teej is as unique as Hariyali Teej for women. It is celebrated on the third day of the Krishna Paksha during the month of Bhadrapad. This festival is observed grandly in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan. Kajari Teej is also known as Kajali Teej. It is a festival of women. On this day, the married women observe fast for their married lives' wellbeing and prosperity. Kajali Teej is known with different names at different places. It is predominantly celebrated in the Hindi speaking places like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar. Among these places, Kajari Teej is known as Buri Teej and Saturi Teej also. Kajali Teej is as vital as HariyaliTeej and HartalikaTeej for women. This fast is observed for happiness and prosperity in the married life. It is believed that if a Jap Kanya or a married woman worships Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati with utmost devotion on this day, then they are blessed with the Vardaan of a right life partner and good fortune. It is also believed that Goddess Parvati could be with Lord Shiva only after performing deep and intense meditation on this day. It is believed that on the occasion of Kajali Teej, Gauri is worshipped predominantly. No matter how many hurdles are present in the Kundli of an individual, all of them can be removed by performing a Puja on this day. However, this might be fruitful only if an unmarried perform this Puja all by one's self. People believe that on KajaliTeej, Goddess Parvati got Lord Shiva's presence in her life. She had to undergo challenging meditation for this. On Kajari Teej, married women should worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is said that women who are not married receive a noble life partner's blessings on this day. Neither the husbands nor the married women should commit specific actions to strike good relations with the husband. These are betrayal, wrong behaviour, and saying ill of others behind their back. Husband and wife must not do these actions both. On this day, married and unmarried women observe fasts, which are considered essential for them. They should adorn themselves on this day. The adornment includes henna (mehndi) and bangles. And then, in the evening, they should visit a temple and worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. On this day, a wife prays for the long life of her husband. On KajaliTeej, a swing is installed at home, and women enjoy swinging in it. On this day, women sit together all day long with their friends and sing songs. They dance together as well. Married women observe fast for their husbands, and unmarried women follow it to get the right life partners.

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

Importance of KajaliTeej

Married women keep this fast to the long life and prosperity of their husbands. It is considered that on this day, Devi Parvati performed deep meditation to receive Lord Shiva's presence in her life. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati must be worshipped wholeheartedly on this day. By doing this, unmarried receive the Vardaan of suitable bridegrooms, and married women receive the Vardaan of being fortunate forever. Goddess Parvati's worship is considered to be auspicious on this day. All the women who worship Goddess Parvati on Kajari Teej get the blessings of a respectful relationship with their husbands. According to a legend, it is said that after 108 births, Goddess Parvati was successful in marrying Lord Shiva. This day is celebrated with the feeling of selfless love. It was the selfless devotion of Goddess Parvati which made Lord Shiva accepts her as His consort. On Kajari Teej, various cuisines are prepared by mixing the Sattu of barley, wheat, gram peas, and rice with ghee. After the moonrise, meals are consumed to open the fast.

Why is KajaliTeej Celebrated?

The festival of Teej holds a lot of importance for married couples because it is a festival that strengthens the relationship of a husband and his wife. On this day, women open their fast by eating Sattu. Worshipping the Neem tree is another essential part of this festival. People wear colorful clothes on this day and enjoy various delicacies after finishing with the fast. It is believed that Goddess Parvati had received the fruit of having Lord Shiva in her life after performing deep meditation on Kajari Teej. Hence, both Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are worshipped on this day. If an unmarried woman observes fast on this day, she gets the bridegroom of her own choice.

Why is KajaliTeej known as KajaliTeej?

According to ancient legends, a forest named Kajali existed in India's central part, where a king named Dadurai used to rule. In this kingdom, people used to sing songs based on the name of the kingdom, Kajali. This is the reason that their place got so famous all over India. After some years, King Dadurai died, after which Queen Naagmati became a widow. After the death of the king, Queen Naagmati became a widow. This situation made their subjects very sad and gloomy. Hence, the songs of Kajali are sung for the eternal togetherness of the husband and the wife.

On the other hand, according to a loving myth, Goddess Parvati desired Lord Shiva as her husband. However, Lord Shiva had kept a condition in front of her. According to the condition, Goddess Parvati had to prove her true devotion and love for Lord Shiva. After this, Goddess Parvati performed meditation for 108 long years in the name of Lord Shiva and stood the test of loyalty and love as was asked by Lord Shiva. After this, Lord Shiva accepted Goddess Parvati as His wife on the day of Teej. Due to this reason, this day is also known as KajaliTeej. According to shastras, all the Gods worship Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva on Buri Teej. 

How is KajaliTeej Celebrated?

On the day of KajaliTeej, married women observe fasts for their husbands' long life, and unmarried women keep fasts on this day to be blessed with bridegrooms of their choice. On this day, various cuisines are prepared by mixing the Sattu of barley, wheat, gram peas, and rice with ghee. The fast comes to an end after worshipping the Moon. Apart from this, cows are worshipped on Kajari Teej. Also, swings are installed on this day, and women sit together to sing and dance together. Singing Kajari songs is an inseparable part of this festival. Neem tree is also worshipped. After that, there is a tradition of offering sacrifice to the Moon.

The tradition followed on KajaliTeej.

1. On this day, married women keep fast so that their husbands can be blessed with long life and unmarried girls observe this fast for getting a bridegroom of their choice. 

2. On Kajari Teej, various cuisines are prepared by mixing the Sattu of barley, wheat, gram peas, and rice with ghee. After the moonrise, meals are consumed to open the fast.

3. On this day, cows are worshipped especially. Seven little balls of wheat are made, and ghee, jaggery is applied to them. These are fed to the cows, and then meals are consumed. 

4. Swings are installed on KajaliTeej. They sit together and sing and dance together. 

5. On this day, there is a unique tradition of singing Kajari songs. In UP and Bihar, people play dholak while singing Kajari songs.

Rituals of KajaliTeej

On the occasion of Kajari Teej, there is a rule of worshipping Goddess Nimdi. Before the Pujan, a pond-like structure is made on the wall using mud and cow dung by tying a paal made of ghee and jaggery. And then, a branch of the Neem tree is kept beside it. Raw milk and water are offered in the pond, and a Diya is lit and placed there. Lemon, cucumber, Banana, apple, Sattu, Roli, Mauli, Akshat, etc., are placed on a plate. Apart from this, take some raw milk in a container, and the evening after adorning yourself; worship Goddess Nimdi in the following ways: 

1. At first, sprinkle some water and Roli on Goddess Nimdi and then offer rice. 

2. Apply 13 tikas of henna, Roli, and Kajal with fingers on the wall behind Goddess Nimdi. 

Apply the tika of henna, roli with the ring finger, and Kajal's tika should be applied with the index finger.

3. After offering Mauli to Goddess Nimdi, offer henna, Kajal, and clothes to her. Taking the support of the tikas on the wall, tie a laccha

4. Offer fruits and Dakshina to Goddess Nimdi and tie a laccha by applying Roli's tika on the Puja container.

5. Look at lemon, cucumber, neem branch, nose ring, sari palla, etc., in the light of the Diya kept on the banks of the pond at the place of worship. After this, offer Arghya to the Moon.

Ritual of offering Arghya to the Moon

There is an age-old tradition of offering Arghya to the Moon after worshipping Goddess Nimdi in the evening of the Kajari Teej.

1. Offer drops of water, Roli, Molly, and Akshat to the Moon, and then offer bhog. 

2. Offer Arghya to the water by holding a silver ring and wheat seeds in the hands and then stand at one place and rotate four times. 

Rule of Kajari Teej

1. Generally, this fast is observed without having water. However, pregnant women can have fruits. 

2. If the moonrise cannot be seen, then the fast can be opened by offering arghya while looking at the sky around 11:30 at night. 

3. If the whole fast is not possible after the Udyapan, then fruits can be consumed. 

According to the rules mentioned above, if the fortunate and married woman observes Kajari fast, her family is blessed with prosperity and happiness. Unmarried girls get the blessings of getting bridegrooms of their choice. 

Ancient Myth of Kajari Teej or KajaliTeej

A poor Brahmin used to live in a village. His Brahmin wife also lived with him. Kajari Teej arrived in the month of Bhadrapad at that time. The Brahmin wife observed fast in the name of GoddesTeej. She told her husband that she had observed Kajari Teej fast and needs Sattu, and she asked him to bring Sattu made of gram peas. The Brahmin husband asked his Brahmani wife as to how and from where he will get Sattu. On this, she asked him to arrange for it at any cost, either by theft or loot as she needs it. It was night time. The Brahmin went out of the house to the moneylender's shop. From here, he took chana daal, ghee, sugar and measured it up to one and a quarter kilogram. Then he made Sattu out of these. The moment he was leaving, all the servants woke up by listening to the noise. Everyone started shouting: Thief! Thief! The moneylender came and caught the Brahmin. The Brahmin said he was not a thief and that he was a poor Brahmin. Her wife has kept Teej fast, and that is why; he came to prepare one and a quarter kilogram of Sattu so that he can take it to her. When the moneylender did the Brahmin's checking, he got nothing except Sattu.

On the other hand, moonrise had taken place, and the Brahmin wife was waiting for Sattu. The moneylender said to the Brahmin that from today, he would consider Brahmin's wife as his Dharam sister. He bids a warm farewell to the Brahmin by giving him sattu, jewelry, money, henna, and lacchaa, along with a lot of wealth. Then, everyone worshipped Goddess Kajali. The way the Brahmin was blessed with happiness, similarly, may everyone remain blessed by the grace of Goddess Kajali.

Cow is worshipped

On this day, dishes are cooked by mixing wheat, gram peas, and rice in Sattu. The fast is opened after sunset in the evening. On this day, a cow is worshipped especially. Jaggery and gram peas are out on wheat made chapatis and offered to a cow. And then, fast is opened.

Kajari Teej and SolahSringar

A procession of the idol of Goddess Parvati is taken out on Kajari Teej. Unmarried women perform ghoomar dance as well. On this day, women pray for their husbands' long life and stay awake for the entire night by lightening up an Akhand Diya. On this day, women put henna on their hands and do solahsringar. Swinging is also done on this day.

Women cook delicious dishes on Kajari Teej like Malpua and Ghevar. They sing songs and dance in front of the idol of Goddess Parvati. They enjoy the greenery all around on this day and also sing songs while swinging on the swings.

Where is Kajari Teej Observed in India 

Kajari Teej is celebrated in different parts of India. However, it is observed in different ways in various states of India. It is observed in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, etc. 

1. In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Kajari songs are sung on boats. 

In Varanasi and Mirzapur, Kajari songs are sung along with the annual songs.

2. This festival is given special significance in Rajasthan. It is specially celebrated in the city of Bundi with great pomp and show. On this day, people ride on horses and camels. Teej's celebration in Bundi is famous worldwide, and people come from faraway  places to witness its grandiloquence.

What should not be done by Women on Kajari Teej

• On this day, married women should not wear white saree and should not stay without jewelry. 

• Do not consume meals and water on Kajari Teej as this fast is Nirjala Fast. One needs to follow it without having water. 

• Focus on keeping the surroundings clean as cleanliness has a lot of importance on Kajari Teej.

• On Kajari Teej, please do not say anything to your husband that might hurt him.

• Do not stay away from your husband on Kajari Teej. 

• Do not say bad words on the occasion of Kajari Teej.

• Do not speak behind anyone's back on Kajari Teej, and do not feel jealous of anyone.

• Do not fight at home on Kajari Teej. Behave nicely with the family members.

• Married women should apply henna on their palms on this day. Henna symbolizes love.

• Do wear bangles on this day. Being without bangles is considered to be inauspicious.