Place :
Rajasthan,
Gujarat
&
Chandigarh
Month: August
Significance: Monsoon celebrations coinciding with the commemoration
of Godess
Parvathi's
union with
Lord
Shiva.

Celebrated
in Rajasthan and Chandigarh in August, this swing festival welcomes the advent
of the monsoon. The festival is also dedicated to Goddess Parvati and commemorates
the day when she was united with Lord Shiva after a penance of a hundred years
– making them a symbol of an ideal marriage. It is believed that invocation
of Parvati’s blessings on this day results in continued marital bliss.
Basically a women's festival, Teej falls on the third day
of the bright fortnight of the month of Shrawan (July-August). The images
of Parvati or Teej Mata are bedecked in new clothes and jewellery and worshipped.
Then the images are taken out in ceremonial processions escorted by caparisoned
elephants, camels and horse drawn chariots, as the bride Parvathi leaves her
parents home for her husband's. The devotees surges to catch a glimpse of
the deity and seek blessings.
Swings are hung from trees and decorated with flowers. Young
girls and women colourfully attired, swing on them and sing songs in praise
of the goddess and the monsoon. They decorate their hands and feet with
henna in delicate designs. The popular belief is that darker the henna the
more a man loves his woman. Girls engaged to be married receive gifts such
as a dress, henna, lac bangles and sweets from their future in-laws and married
women, from their parents.