Festival of Teej is a devotional and pious festival of women in Gujarat. It falls on the moonlit fortnight of sawan month (July/August). People splurge in the colorful festival of Teej and perform the rituals earnestly. Both married and unmarried women of Gujarat desperately wait for the season to begin the celebrations of the holy festival..
Teej is celebrated with same rituals and customs in Gujarat as performed in many other parts of the country. Since the state lies closer to Rajasthan so it has adopted many festivals from the colorful culture of the state. Teej is one such festival which is now celebrated as a major festival in Gujarat. Teej Festival preparations begin well in advance. The most attractive part of Teej celebration are Teej fairs. These fairs and markets are stocked with women ornaments, embellishments and other household stuff. Most of the Gujaratis are busy shopping for Teej celebrations when the festival is near. In most towns and villages, processions are taken out with beautifully adorned elephants and horses to celebrate the festival. At some places, special Gujarati dance performances are also organized. Women perform garba and dandia dance in traditional lehanga-choli.
Teej is a woman centric festival. To celebrate the auspicious occasion, married women return to their parents house. On Teej, women observe fasts for the longevity and well-being of their husband. Long queues of devotees can be seen outside various Shiva temples to worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati - symbols of an ideal marriage.
Beautifully decorated swings are hung from trees or in the courtyard of the house which recreate memories of childhood. A special sweet dish called seviyan is prepared on Teej in various parts of Gujarat. Women dressed up in colorful sarees, lehangas and suits sing traditional folk songs. Gujarati women dress themselves in different colors depicting the symbol of married life. One can see them in the auspicious green, yellow and red colored duppattas with zari and gota work on it. Most of them wear red colored sarees with a front pallu or vibrant lehanga-choli. Some women in Gujarat specially practice steps from garba or dandia and perform them in celebrations after Teej puja ceremony.
Just as in other states, married and engaged women in Gujarat also receive sweets and clothes from their parents and parents in-law. This is considered as a marital blessing for long and happy life of their husband.
