Kajari Teej is an important Hindu festival, celebrated on the third day of the waning moon in the month of Bhadrapada according to the North Indian calendar. In the South Indian calendar, it falls in the month of Shravana. This festival usually takes place three days after Raksha Bandhan and five days before Krishna Janmashtami. Known by various names such as Badi Teej, Kajali Teej, and in some regions, Satudi Teej, the festival holds deep cultural and spiritual significance across different parts of India. Despite the variations in its name and timing, the essence of Kajari Teej remains the same, symbolising devotion and the importance of marital harmony. In 2024, Kajari Teej will be observed on Thursday, August 22.
Kajari Teej 2024: Date and Time
Kajari Teej Date: Thursday, August 22, 2024.
Tritiya Tithi Begins: 5:06 PM on August 21, 2024.
Tritiya Tithi Ends: 1:46 PM on August 22, 2024.
Significance of Kajari Teej
The term ‘Kajari’ is rooted in ancient folklore and represents the longing experienced by women for their husbands during periods of separation. The festival is closely linked to the monsoon season and is observed with great devotion. Women observe fasts and engage in various rituals, such as the Rudra Abhishek Puja, to seek blessings from Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. The divine couple is worshipped as a symbol of a harmonious marriage, and married women pray for a long and fulfilling married life.
The festival also sees women adorning themselves in fine clothes, applying mehndi, and participating in communal celebrations. In rural areas, elderly women pay homage to the neem tree and the moon, while unmarried girls fast in hopes of finding a loving and understanding husband.
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Kajari Teej Rituals
On Kajari Teej, women dedicate their prayers to Goddess Parvati, seeking her blessings for a harmonious married life. The day begins early, with women completing their morning routines and then dressing in new clothes, sindur, bindi, bangles, and mehndi, resembling newlywed brides. In some regions, women gather to worship the neem tree, under the guidance of a priest, offering kumkum, chawal, haldi, henna, fruits, and sweets during the puja. A strict fast, known as the Kajari Teej Vrat, is observed, beginning before sunrise with a meal, followed by a day of complete abstinence from food and water.
In the evening, women assemble for the puja, where the priest narrates the Kajari Teej Katha. In some communities, the fast is broken by consuming sattu or fruits after the moon is worshipped. Once started, the Kajari Teej vrat is often continued for a lifetime or for 16 years.
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