Haryali Teej: Celebrating the Green Festival of Shravan with Tradition and Devotion

Haryali Teej is a Hindu holiday that occurs on the third day after the new moon in the month of Sawan. Hariyali Teej is another name for the Shraavana Teej. It is celebrated during summer when it rains heavily and everything turns green.

Haryali Teej Dates for 2003, 2004, and 2005

• Saturday, August 19, 2023
• Wednesday, August 7, 2024
• Sunday, July 27, 2025

How is Haryali Teej Celebrated in India?

One of the most famous holidays for married women in North India is Hariyali Teej. Hariyali Teej is an event on the Tritiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Shravan. Other names for it are Chhoti Teej, Shravani Teej, and Sindhara Teej. It's mostly an event for women. In India, it's the rainy season, so nature covers everything in a coat of green. Seeing the beauty of nature makes the mind dance with joy. Married women get new clothes and jewelry for Hariyali Teej and visit their parents. Women enjoy the swing by singing folk songs in groups while wearing traditional clothes and make-up.

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Hariyali Teej, also known as Shravani Teej, is celebrated on Tritiya Tithi in the first week of Shravan. The English calendar says that Hariyali Teej takes place in July or August. When the whole land is green in the month of Sawan, women swing on swings to enjoy the beauty of nature and sing traditional songs to celebrate. For Hariyali Teej, fairs are held all over the country, and a Mata Parvati is led with a lot of show and circumstance. An essential holiday for married women is Hariyali Teej. People enjoy this event of love and beauty to remember when Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati got back together.

Teej gets swings in the month of Sawan, which makes the weather very interesting. The Hartalika Teej comes after the Hariyali Teej. Women fast on the day of Teej so that their husbands will live long lives. During this time, some women fast as part of the Nirjala ritual. Many people think that this fast is harder than the Karva Chauth fast. Grooms pray that their wives will live long lives while they fast for about 30 hours.

What are the Traditions Associated with Hariyali Teej?

The first day of Sawan after the wedding is significant for girls who just got married. For the Hariyali Teej holiday, girls are called to Pehar from their in-laws' homes. Friends and family send their daughters and sisters to live with their in-laws in Sindhara a day before Hariyali Teej, which has a sign of clothes, jewelry, makeup, tattoos, flowers, and sweets.

Today, mehendi and wearing red and green rings are very important. Girls and women use henna on their hands to make different kinds of art. As of today, alta is also put on the feet. This is a sign of a wedding for women.

Married women touch their mother-in-law's feet and give her Suhaagi on Hariyali Teej. If there is no mother-in-law, the title goes to the sister-in-law or any other older woman available. Women honor Goddess Parvati on this day by wearing makeup and new clothes. Girls and women swing on swings in the fields or parks and dance and sing folk songs on Hariyali Teej.

This fast is very important for married women because, according to the Shiv Purana, Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati reunited on Hariyali Teej. Women pray to Mahadev and Mother Parvati on this day.

How Do People Pray During Hariyali Teej?

• Clean the house and put up Toran-Mandap décor. Put Ganga water in clay on a stage and use it to make statues of Shivling, Lord Ganesha, Mata Parvati, and her friends.
• You should do Shodashopachar worship and call on the gods after making the clay figure.
• People pray and fast for Hariyali Teej all night. At this time, women also perform Kirtan and Jagran.
• Offering three things in sacrifice on Hariyali Teej is a custom. Every woman should promise to give up three lousy stuff on this day. The following three things are: Cheating, lying, and misbehaving with the husband, as well as slander (not saying bad things about other people).

What Does Hariyali Teej Mean in Mythology?

In the Hindu faith, every fast, holiday, and event has a spiritual meaning. It's also the subject of stories and tales. People also celebrate the Hariyali Teej event to remember when Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati reunited. According to mythology, Mother Parvati suffered a lot when getting married to Lord Shiva. It was after this hard sacrifice and her 108th birth that Mother Parvati married Lord Shiva. People say that Lord Shankar married Mother Parvati on the third day of Shukla Paksha in Shravan. People think that Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati blessed this day so that married women would have good luck. A married woman stays lucky and brings happiness and wealth to her family by praising Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati and fasting on Hariyali Teej.

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What Does Hariyali Teej Mean?

In Hinduism, the Teej fair is one of the most happy and well-known events. Hariyali Teej is a holiday that both single and married women enjoy. People also call this Hindu holiday Sawan Teej or Sindhara Teej. People want it to praise Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. There will be a celebration on the third day of the first half of the North Indian calendar (Shravan month). To celebrate Hariyali Teej, people must follow specific rules about fasting and puja. It is also essential to say chants and shlokas to please Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva.

Why is Hariyali Teej Celebrated?

Most people in North Indian states enjoy the big Teej event. The women of Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh are pleased and devoted as they welcome the holiday. Hariyali Teej, also called Sindhara Teej, honors Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. On this holy day, people hold events to make the gods happy. Many Hindu astrologers believe this holiday marks the meeting of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. Because Goddess Parvati did a lot of penance and prayed a lot, Lord Shiva finally saw her as his wife on the happy day of Hariyali Teej. This happened after 108 births. In Hinduism, this day is significant because of this.

On this Sawan Teej (Hariyali Teej), women worship Goddess Parvati, do aarti, and ask for a happy and good marriage. Hariyali Teej fast is a time for women to pray for their husbands' well-being, health, and long life.

After the dry and hot summer, Hariyali Teej celebrates the earth's new and beautiful look. Married women dress up like new brides on the Teej holiday and go to their parents' house. In some places, ladies also like swings.

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In Hariyali Teej, What is Sindhara?

Parents give Sindhara as gifts to their daughters and in-laws. It contains many things, like beads, Heena, ghevar (sweets), and more. The gift (Sindhara) given to married women today makes Hariyali Teej as popular as Sindhara Teej.