Introduction
Hariyali Teej, one of the most cherished monsoon festivals of India, is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion, especially by women. Falling in the month of Shravan (July–August), during the lush green monsoon season, this festival heralds prosperity, love, fertility, and renewal. “Hariyali” means “greenery,” and “Teej” refers to the third day of the lunar fortnight—Hariyali Teej, therefore, is observed on the third day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) in Shravan month.
While the central theme of the festival is the divine union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, it is also a time for married women to pray for the long life and well-being of their husbands, and for unmarried girls to seek blessings for a loving spouse. The festival is also a celebration of nature’s beauty, as the earth turns green with life during the rainy season.
📍 Regional Celebrations of Hariyali Teej in India
🕌 Rajasthan: Grand Processions and Royal Festivities
In Rajasthan, Hariyali Teej is an iconic and widely celebrated festival. The city of Jaipur is especially known for its spectacular Teej Mata procession, featuring decked-up elephants, horses, camels, dancers, musicians, and traditional palanquins carrying the idol of Goddess Parvati (Teej Mata). The festival is steeped in royal tradition, and women dress in green lehengas or sarees, apply mehndi (henna), and sing folk songs. Jhoolas (swings) are hung on trees, and sweets like ghewar and malpua are prepared. Local fairs and craft exhibitions add vibrancy to the celebrations.
🌿 Uttar Pradesh: Devotion and Radha-Krishna Bhakti
In regions like Mathura, Vrindavan, and Varanasi, the festival is infused with the spiritual aura of Radha and Krishna. Devotees celebrate Teej as a time when Radha met Krishna during the monsoon. Temples organize special prayers, kirtans, and cultural programs. Married women observe fasts and offer prayers to Goddess Parvati, seeking conjugal harmony. Mehndi, green attire, and bangles are significant symbols of the day.
🌾 Bihar: Songs, Rituals, and Green Sarees
In western Bihar, especially among the Maithil and Bhojpuri communities, women celebrate Hariyali Teej with traditional songs and rituals. Women wake up early, take a holy bath, and fast throughout the day. Dressed in green, they gather for group worship and sing folk songs praising Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Swings and mehndi remain central to the celebration, and sweets are distributed after breaking the fast.
🌧️ Madhya Pradesh: Rustic and Reverent
In central India, especially in cities like Bhopal, Indore, and Gwalior, the festival is marked by both religious and social observances. Temples host special aartis and pujas, and cultural centers organize Teej-themed events. In rural parts, women celebrate with group singing, dancing, and swing rituals.
🌾 Haryana: A Cultural Showcase
Hariyali Teej is one of the most important festivals in Haryana. The state government even promotes it with Teej fairs, where cultural programs, traditional dance forms, handicrafts exhibitions, and local delicacies are showcased. Schools and colleges participate in festive events, and girls often sing Haryanvi Teej geet while swinging from trees. Married women visit their maternal homes, strengthening familial bonds.
💃 Punjab: Precursor to Teeyan
Though Teeyan is more prominent in Punjab, Hariyali Teej is observed in many Punjabi families, especially among women. Celebrated with Giddha dance, mehndi, chooda (bangles), and sweets, the festival emphasizes the joys of womanhood and seasonal change. In rural areas, swings are tied to banyan or neem trees, and women sing Teej songs with much merriment.
🏙️ Delhi & NCR: Urban Celebrations
In metro cities like Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad, the festival is celebrated within communities, apartment societies, and temples, especially by families with roots in Rajasthan, UP, Bihar, or Haryana. Cultural associations and temples often host Teej melas, and women participate in mehndi competitions and dance performances.
🪔 Jharkhand & Chhattisgarh: Quiet Yet Devout
In states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, Hariyali Teej is celebrated in communities with a strong North Indian presence. Women fast, worship Parvati and Shiva, and adorn themselves with green clothes, flowers, and ornaments. The celebrations are often held at the community or temple level.
💚 Symbols of Hariyali Teej
- Green Attire and Bangles: Symbolizing fertility, growth, and marital bliss.
- Mehndi (Henna): Applied as a sign of beauty and devotion.
- Swings (Jhoolas): Representing the joy of nature and womanhood during the rains.
- Fasting (Vrat): Observed for marital harmony and blessings from Goddess Parvati.
- Songs & Dances: Folk songs and dances bring out the cultural vibrancy of the festival.
🎉 In Essence
Hariyali Teej is more than just a seasonal celebration—it is a cultural, spiritual, and emotional observance that brings together nature, devotion, and feminine joy. While the rituals may differ across regions, the core sentiment remains the same: celebrating love, life, and the beauty of relationships under the refreshing skies of monsoon.