Kajli Teej, Badi Teej or Kajari Teej, is observed on third day after Shravan Purnima i.e. Krishna Paksha Tritiya in Bhadra month as per North Indian calendars. Kajli Teej 2012 date is August 4. On this day women perform Sri Krishna Puja and neem pooja. This is the biggest of all three Teej festivals celebrated in the North. Kajli Teej is the festival celebrated to welcome monsoon season in grand manner. It is celebrated with utmost enthusiasm in Bund
The Kajli Teej festival is one of the most popular festivals in Rajasthan. Though the festival is celebrated in various parts of Rajasthan but Kalji Teej festival of Bundi is most attractive.
Kajli Teej Vrat Katha
Goddess Parvati is worshipped by seekers of conjugal bliss and happiness. An elaborate procession is taken out in Jaipur for two consecutive days on the festive occasion, which is watched by people in large numbers. The Teej idol is covered with a canopy whereas the Gangaur idol is open.
Teej festival is celebrated all over the state with each region having its own unique touch. Kajli Teej of Bundi is different in several ways- while Teej is celebrated on the third day of the month of Shravana, in Bundi it is celebrated on the third day of the month of Bhadra.
The festival starts with the procession of goddess Teej in a decorated palanquin from the beautiful Naval Sagar. It passes through the main bazaars and terminates at Azad Park. The procession has decorated elephants, camels, bands, performing artists and colourfully dressed people.
The people who gather here from surrounding areas also get to watch and participate in the cultural programmes that are organised in the evenings. it provides a very good chance to see performances by local artists from Hadoti region.
Though the main function of Teej is held only on two days, the celebrations continue upto Janmashtami, which marks the birth of Lord Krishna.
To celebrate the auspicious occasion of Teej, women fast for longevity and healthy of their husband. They refrain themselves from water and food whole day and perform various rituals associated with the festival. In the evening a special Vrat (fast) katha is chanted. These are stories based on Hindu legends which are narrated to ladies who gather to conclude their fast ceremony. Teej Vrat Katha is very crucial feature of Teej celebrations.
Kajli Teej Pooja Procces
First collect some fine sand and make a pond of it as shown in the picture. It should be made properly so that water does not leak out from it. Then tie all the neem stems together neatly and fix it in the middle edge of the pond as shown in the picture.
And then put red odhini on top of the neem stem. Then place Ganeshji n Laxmiji’s Idol near it. As you know, every puja is incomplete without them.
Now, first make Swastik on the small pot of water (lauta) which is to be used for puja. Tie moli
or a red thread around it. Then stick some rice on the Swastik and some Gur and Sattu also.
And then in the same manner make Swastik where the puja is to be done. Place moli, rice, gur, sattu and a coin on it. Now first of all do puja of Ganeshji and Laxmiji. Mark their forehead with kumkum and rice.
Offer them moli, sattu, gur, fruits and coins.
And then in the same way do Teej puja or Neem puja. Then offer Sattu to Teej Mata.
Pour some milk and water in the pond.
Then the married women have to give seven round dots of kumkum, mehndi and kajol each near the pond. And then unmarried girls have to give sixteen dots in the same manner explained above. Then they lit Agarbatti and Dipak to begin their Vrat Katha. After completing the Vrat Katha
women need to see reflection of all the things (sattu, fruits, coins and odhini ) which are offered
to teej mata in the pond. They also see Dipak and their jewelries in it.
After reading the Vrat Katha and singing the Teej songs they all bow down to Teej Mata to pray
and to get blessings from her. And then they Stand up and walk gently (Give Pheri) around the Teej
Mata three times.
Pooja Samagri
Kumkum (Vermilion), Kajal (Kohl), Mehndi(Henna), Moli (Red Thread), Agarbatti (Incense Sticks), Dipak, MatchBox, Rice,Small pot of Water (Lauta), Fruits, Neem Branch, Milk, Odhini, Sattu, Ghee, Teej Vrat Katha Book, Teej Geet (Songs) Book and Some Coins.
