Teej Festival to be Celebrated in India on August 9, 2013

The Teej Festival celebrated by Hindu women will take place in India on August 9 this year. Through prayers, songs, dances, fasting, processions and other rituals, Hindu women honor the Goddess Parvati and commemorate her union with Lord Shiva. The Teej Festival is so colorful that it's almost worth timing your tour of India around it!

The Teej Festival falls in late July to early August every year depending on the circle of the moon and is celebrated for marital bliss and the well-being of the spouse. During the festival, women dress up in flaming red or pink saris and jewelry; get their hands painted with henna in intricate designs and foreheads decorated with colored rice. They also sing and dance expressing their happiness. On the first day, women will have a sumptuous feast and on the second day, they have rigid fasting to pay homage to Goddess Parvati. On the third day of the festival, women take a "holy" bath in the river to worship the god Shiva. Married women pray for the health of their husbands while single women petition for good husbands.

Holy Bath

The best place to experience the Teej Festival is in Jaipur, one of the most visited cities in India and where the Teej festival is the grandest. In Jaipur, an elaborate procession featuring an idol of the Goddess Parvati is held for two days which is watched by a great number of people. This year again, tourists will get to see the colorful Teej procession including 30 elephants in the city.