The Teej Festival Jaipur from 15 - 16 August
An unique festival for women, Teej is primarily celebrated in Rajasthan, parts of Uttar pradesh and Bihar with both fasts and delicious feasts. Falling on the Hindu month of Shravan (August), it also celebrates the arrival of monsoon after a season of oppresive heat. "Teej" is a small red insect that comes out of the soil during rains.

History of Teej
According to Hindu mythology, on the 3rd day (teej) after the new moon in the month of Shravan Goddess Parvati went to the house of lord Shiva, her husband and was united with him. This day is celebrated as Teej all over India and especially so in Rajasthan. Apart from its mythological origins this festival also heralds the arrival of the rainy season. In the month of Shravan the long awaited monsoon finally arrives in Rajasthan bringing relief to the parched land. Like a magic wand it transforms the hot, dusty and barren summer landscape of Rajasthan into the fertile green beehive of activity. The Teej festivities also celebrate this rejuvenation.

Activities
During Teej, swing ropes on the coutyards decorated with flowers are a common sight. Newly married girls return to their parents home, receiving clothes from their parents and other male kins. An ocassion to pamper for rural women by buying bangles, bindis bead-necklaces and having mouth-watering dishes. Celebration includes games such as turban-tying and bangle wearing competition.

Legend
The legend behind the celebrations is Goddess Parvati’s hard-core Tapasya, before her union with Lord Shiva, for which she took 108 births on the Earth. The Myth goes that she failed to have Lord Shiva as her Life Partner till 107th Birth. But this divine union happened, when she again took birth for 108th time.

Types of Teej
In the state of Rajasthan three kinds of Teej are celebrated and worshiped by the local public in the region. Broadly,

• On Haryali Teej: The moon is prayed to.
• On Kajari Teej: women gather to sing songs and a pooja of neem is performed.
• On Hartalika Teej: Fast for 3 days without any water on the second day.

This festival is more famous amongst the people of Rajasthan and thus the celebration of Teej remains exclusive to the Jaipur region. Teej holds a special place in the heart of the people of Jaipur as a time for rejuvenation and revival of spirits after the punishing summers. The festival is made into an even more memorable experience if it rains on this day.


How to Reach
Air : Jaipur Airport, Sanganer is at a distance of around 11km from the city center. Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and domestivc carriers operate regular flighta to and from Jaipur. There are direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Aurangabad, and some other cities from Jaipur.

Train : The train service to Jaipur is available from all the major parts of the country. The direct connections to Jaipur are from Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ahmedabad, Secunderabad, Agra, Lucknow, Mumbai, Chennai and Calcutta.

Road : Jaipur is well connected by road to various parts of India. Delhi-Jaipur national highway is one of the finest roads in India. Rajasthan roadways runs excellent regular service of AC and Deluxe Coaches from Delhi