Hariyali Teej

The 3rd day of the Shukla Paksha of the Shravan month is called Hariyali Teej or Shravani Teej. As per the English Calendar, the festival happens in the month of July or August.

The Teej festival commemorates the women and their spirit of producing offspring’s. As the season of Monsoon begin, Mother Earth is covered with green hued plants and fragrant flora all around, the women swing and dance their way to zeal and celebration of their abundant life.

The day is celebrated around the country by organize cultural fairs and procession of the Goddess Parvati, blessing her devotees as she goes by the town.

The married women have a special significance for this festival in their lives, as this festival represents fertility, beauty and attraction of the mutual love and affection, as envisage in the married bond of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

Traditions surrounding Hariyali Teej

For all the newly wedded ladies, the Sawan Teej holds utmost significance. On the eve of Hariyali Teej, they are called back to their parents’ home to celebrate the festival with zeal and fervor!

1. A day previous to the Hariyali Teej, ‘Sinjara’ is celebrated. This day begins with the tradition of the in-laws gifting henna, clothes, cosmetics, jewelry, and sweets to their daughter-in-law.
2. This day gives significance to the use of henna on the girl’s palms. The intricate patterns and designs of the henna on the palms bring joy to their faces. Use of a red colored liquid (Alta) on the feet symbolizes the sacred nuptial bond. 
3. On Hariyali Teej, women touch the feet of their mother-in-law to take blessings, and in return give them a gift. In case, the mother-in-law is not present for any reason, the same can be performing with the eldest sister-in-law from the husband’s side or any other old lady.
4. The women dress up properly, with beautifully adorned textile and jewelry to worship the Goddess Parvati.
5. They enjoy this festival by swinging and playing in the green field, relishing the bounty of nature. Folk songs are sung and women prance around dancing to its tunes.

Hariyali Teej Pujan Vidhi

Pursuant to the Shiv Purana, on the day of Hariyali Teej we celebrate the reconciliation of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Women laud Mahadeva and Maa Parvati to get the most profit in their married life.

1. On this day clean your house and decorate it with decorative flowers to make it look festive. Construct an earthen altar and place the idols of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, Shivalinga, and her friends on it.
2. After this do a 16 step ritual, ‘Shodash upchar’ for the deities.
3. The Poojan for Hariyali Teej goes on for the all night and in this duration women keep vigil at night and engage in devotional music and chanting.

Three things to escape from on Hariyali Teej

Women must pledge to refrain from doing these three things in life on the day of Shravani Teej or Hariyali Teej. The 3 things are:

1. Cheating on your Husband
2. Lying straight through the teeth and misbehaving
3. Humiliating or creating problems for others.

Hariyali Teej: According to the Scriptures

The Hindu religion is a peculiar faith that associates any story or a tale with its innumerable of festivals. Commemorated on the sacred occasion of the reconciliation of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, the festival celebrates the love between the divine couple, and also the fertile bond that exists between the two. As per the story, Goddess Parvati engaged in severe austerity for getting Lord Shiva as her husband. After 108 years of this absolute penance, Goddess Parvati was able to get Lord Shiva as her desired husband.

It’s been said that Lord Shiva accepted Maa Parvati as his wife on the 3rd day of the Shukla Paksha of Shravan month. Since that favorable day, the divinity has blessed the day for a pious day for the wedded women.

Due to this, the day of Hariyali Teej holds a special importance in the lives of the married couple in the expectancy of a joyous and abundant marital life!