Teej: A time for prayer, merriment and festivities

The holy month of Shravan is here and so is Teej, an occasion for some fervent prayer and fasting, when women fast for the success and well-being of their spouses. We decided to decode the festival and all it entails, for you; be it the traditions, food items that are had during the fast and other semblances to the festival.
Traditions galore
Referred to as a monsoon festival, Teej celebrates the beauty and abundance of nature and the onset of the rains too.As nature herself dons several shades of green at this time of year, wearing clothes in shades of green during Teej is considered another part of the festivities. Red and yellow are other shades that are opted for, too. Women adorn their hands and feet with intricate and colourful heena as they gather to sing, dance and get together to soak in the festivities of the day, while fasting. After the rituals are performed, hot snacks like pakodas, tikkis, chiwda and so on are prepared, served and relished.
Some women also visit their parents’ place during Teej to celebrate the festival with the family. Mothers often gift sarees to their married daughters along with a lot of snacks during the festival, in the hope that they will continue to lead happy married lives. “Teej Milan is an enjoyable occasion for us. Being together on the day of fasting is what makes it seem so special. We sing songs, perform the puja together, cook, dance and indulge in the real spirit of togetherness. Fasting tends to get particularly difficult, but for us who come together and have a good time, it seems a lot easier,” said Sarita Sahu, a regular Teej milan participant. The puja involves praying fervently to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The goddess’ union with her husband is the point of meditation and aspiration for all devotees. Every woman who worships during Teej prays for her marital bond to be as strong as that of Shiva and Parvati.
Of swings and other customs
During this month, ‘saavan ke jhooley’ or the custom of playing on swings has festive significance.
Especially during Teej Milan, women are seen enjoying themselves on swings, singing songs and having fun, which brings to mind good memories. As a part of tradition, women dress up like newlyweds donning new sarees that are embellished with fine and beautiful work and stunning jewellery.
Shopping for Teej begins way before the arrival of the festival. “We see a hike in the sale of sarees for both personal and gifting purposes before the arrival Teej. A lot of new designs come in for this season, with most women preferring sarees in shades like red and green,” informed Mahendra Maheshwari, a saree shop owner.
Delectable fasting foods
A large spread of delectable snack items lie ready after a long day of fasting. Nibbles like chaklis, mathri and gujiya are an absolute must during the celebrations. Mostly made at home, these snacks are prepared in large quantities during the season and are enjoyed throughout. Although they are hard to resist and get consumed in a matter of minutes, preparing them requires a lot of time and labour, something that working women cannot commit to in today’s fast pace age.
As a solution, bakeries in the city have begun to introduce snacks in ready-to-eat packed form. “In the last three years, we have seen an increase in the number of women opting to buy sweets rather than going through the herculean task of preparing them. Most buyers are working women who don’t have enough time and energy to make these snacks themselves. So we stock our stores specially during this season,” signed off Aman Sahu, a baker.