Kajari Teej is a lovely festival in Rajasthan, India, that honours women. It is one of three special Teej festivals, along with Hariyali Teej and Hartalika Teej. On this day, married women fast from sunrise until moonrise for the well-being of their husbands. This Hindu festival is primarily for married women, who pray for a happy married life and worship Lord Shiva (Mahadeva). Celebrated for centuries, Kajari Teej has deep roots in Hindu mythology and typically occurs in July or August.
The day is filled with lively activities. Women dress in bright saris, apply henna to their hands, and sing traditional songs. They also enjoy swings hung from trees, which symbolise the arrival of the monsoon season. Special sweets like 'ghewar' are made and shared. It is a day of joy, prayer, and community bonding. Learn more from this informative guide!
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Kajari Festival | Date & Time
This joyful festival is celebrated with great devotion in Shravan or the monsoon season in the Bhadra pad of the Hindu calendar. As per Gregorian Calendar, the festival falls in the month of July or August. This time falls after 15 days of Hariyali Teej, three days after Rakshabandhan, and about five days before Krishna Janmashtami. This is a day-long festival. Womenfolk get up early in the morning and get ready before sunrise.
They dress up in beautiful clothing. In the evening, there is a detailed pooja where the story of Kajari Teej is told as a Katha. Then they wait for the moon to rise. Because this festival happens during the monsoon season, seeing the moon can be difficult. After offering ardhya to the moon, women break their fast with fruits, milk, and sattu. This festival is also known as Saudi Teej.
Significance of Kajari Teej
Kajari Teej is a prominent festival of Rajasthan which is celebrated by married and unmarried women. Married women observe a day-long fast on this day, praying for the long life, success, and prosperity of their husbands, and unmarried women observe a fast praying for a good husband. On this day, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are worshipped. This fast is similar to Karwa Chauth, but even after opening this fast, women do not have food. They instead open their fast with sattu, fruits, and milk. Women spend the whole day singing folk songs, dancing to traditional Rajasthani music, and sharing stories. This festival is closely associated with the worship of the moon and neem tree. It shows Rajasthanis devotion to nature and celestial bodies. Women take special care of their dressing on this day. They wear red attire, preferably a wedding dress or odhni, heavy ornaments, sindoor, henna or mehendi, wear makeup and listen to the kajari vrat Katha. After the elaborate pooja, listening to Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva’s stories, offering prayers to the neem tree and the moon, women open their fast with water followed by sattu. These rituals are followed with ardent devotion and bring a lot of happiness and joy to marital life.
History of Kajari Teej
According to the legend, Maa Parvati wished to marry Lord Shiva and was deeply devoted to making her wish come true. Observing her mix of desperation and devotion, Lord Shiva asked her to prove her dedication as the divine feminine energy. It is said that to demonstrate her immense and pure love for Lord Mahadeva, Goddess Parvati observed penance for 108 years. After this, Lord Shiva accepted her as his faithful wife.
Their divine marriage is believed to have taken place during the Krishna Paksha of the Bhadrapada month, and this day later became known as Kajli Teej. Hence, it is considered very auspicious to worship Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati on this day.
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Major Attractions Of Kajari Teej
Kajri teej, the festival of nature and womanhood, is celebrated with great devotion and elaborate prayers. Women keep fast for the whole day to pray for their husbands’ long life. The entire day is spent preparing for these auspicious prayers. The highlights of this festival are-
1. Elaborate Celebrations
The festival of Teej is celebrated with great pomp and shown all across the land of Rajasthan. Here, you will find the people celebrating Teej in the most unique way. The festivities here continue for weeks on end. During the celebrations, various rituals are followed, which even includes a large procession dedicated to Teej Mata and includes elephants, camels and bands as its entertainment elements.
2. Local Fairs
Local fairs are held in several parts of Rajasthan, where hundreds of artisans participate, showcasing their art in the form of kataar, paintings, bangles, rural handicrafts, trinkets, eatables and much more. During these fairs, many competitions are also held, out of which Algoza, which is basically a recital competition, is the most popular. All these fairs and merriment continue till Janmashtami.
3. Fasting and Puja Rituals
On this day, the womenfolk keep a fast for the long life of their partners, which is broken by eating sattu. For this, a special puja ceremony dedicated to Neem Tree is conducted. Along with this, the kajari teej pooja vidhi also includes praying to the Moon God.
4. Mehendi
Women get henna or mehendi applied on their palms a day early or on the same day as Kajari Teej. Elaborate and intricate designs are carved on the palms. Henna is considered auspicious and thus an integral part of Kajari Teej pooja.
5. Dance and Music
Rajasthan is known for its vibrant culture, soulful music, elegance and graceful dances. Since married women fast for the whole day, they engage in dance, music, storytelling, etc., to spend time. As the day gives way to dusk, they start getting ready for the prayers.
Cities in Rajasthan where Kajari Teej is Celebrated
Kajari Teej is celebrated with great devotion and excitement all over Rajasthan. It is also celebrated in some parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Let’s take a look at the cities in Rajasthan where Kajari Teej is celebrated with unbridled enthusiasm.
Kajari Teej Celebrations in Bundi
Bundi in Rajasthan is famous for its enthusiastic celebrations of Kajari Teej. Womenfolk celebrated this festival following elaborate rituals and customs. The city has some amazing forts and palaces, folk dances, music, and religious fervour that add to the celebration of this festival.
How to reach Bundi
- Nearest Major City. Jaipur
- Nearest Airport. Jaipur International Airport
- Nearest Railway Station. Kota Junction
Kajari Teej Festival in Jaipur
Jaipur also referred to as the Pink City, is a beautiful destination peppered with majestic forts, royal palaces, verdant gardens, and parks. The festival of Teej is celebrated with a lot of gusto and excitement.
- Nearest Major City. Delhi
- Nearest Airport. Jaipur International Airport
- Nearest Railway Station. Jaipur Railway Station
Kajari Teej Festival in Jodhpur
Jodhpur, or the Blue City, celebrates the festival of Kajari Teej in royal style. Right from royal women to common womenfolk in Jodhpur, this festival is celebrated with elaborate rituals and customs.
- Nearest Major City. Jaipur
- Nearest Airport. Jodhpur Airport
- Nearest Railway Station. Jodhpur Railway Station
Kajari Teej Festival in Udaipur
The City of Lakes, Udaipur, is also referred to as the Venice of the East. This beautiful city gets decked up during the Kajari Teej festival, and the enthusiasm of people reaches sky-high. Women pray for their husbands’ long life and success and seek blessings from Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
- Nearest Major City. Jaipur
- Nearest Airport. Maharana Pratap Airport
- Nearest Railway Station. Udaipur City Railway Station
Kajari Teej is not just a festival; it's a celebration of love, commitment, and womanhood. It's a day when the streets of Rajasthan come alive with colours, music, and the spirit of togetherness. Women, dressed in their finest, embody the essence of traditional values and culture. The festival also reflects the strong social fabric of India, where festivals are not just about rituals, but also about strengthening community bonds. Whether you're a participant or a spectator, Kajari Teej offers a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan and the enduring power of marital bonds.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Kajari Teej
Ques 1. Why is Kajari Teej celebrated?
Ans 1. Kajari Teej is a prominent festival of Rajasthan which is celebrated by married and unmarried women. Married women observe a day-long fast on this day, praying for the long life, success, and prosperity of their husbands, and unmarried women observe a fast praying for a good husband.
Ques 2. When is Kajari Teej celebrated?
Ans 2. This joyful festival is celebrated with great devotion in Shravan or the monsoon season in the Bhadra pad of the Hindu calendar. As per Gregorian Calendar, the festival falls in the month of July or August.
Ques 3. What is the story behind the celebration of Kajari Teej?
Ans 3. According to the legend, it is believed that Maa Parvati wanted to marry Lord Shiva and was greatly devoted to making this wish of hers come true. Seeing this mix of desperation and devotion, Lord Shiva asked Maa Paravati to prove her dedication towards him as the divine feminine energy. It is said that to prove her immense and pure love for Lord Mahadeva, Goddess Parvati observed penance for 108 years, after which Lord Shiva accepted her as his faithful wife. It is for this reason that Kajari Teej is celebrated.
Ques 4. How is Kajari Teej celebrated in Rajasthan?
Ans 4. Kajari Teej is celebrated all over Rajasthan with great enthusiasm, devotion, and excitement. Women start preparing for this festival a few days before the festival. New clothes are purchased, pooja samagri is prepared, sattu is made at home, henna is applied on the hands, and more.
Ques 5. What are unique traditions in Rajasthan for Kajari Teej?
Ans 5. In Rajasthan, Kajari Teej is celebrated with unique traditions. Women wear green clothes, swing on decorated swings, and apply henna. They sing traditional songs, make special sweets like 'ghewar', and participate in processions with Goddess Parvati's idol. These traditions symbolises prosperity, joy, and cultural heritage.
