Kajali Teej Celebrated With Religious Fervour In Hojai

HT Correspondent
HOJAI, Aug 19: The Kajali Teej was celebrated with religious fervour in Hojai. Kajali Teej is one of the main three Teej festivals celebrated by Hindus in India.
Notably, Hariyali Teej, Kajali Teej and Hartalika Teej are the three significant and famous Teej celebrated by women during the month of Shravan or Sawan and Bhadrapada according to the Hindu calendar.
Kajali Teej, popularly known as ‘Kajari’ is also known as Badi Teej, while Hariyali Teej is known as Chhoti Teej. People of some regions refer to it as Satudi Teej. After fifteen days of Hariyali Teej comes Kajali Teej. Generally, Teej comes three days after Raksha Bandhan and five days before Krishna Janmashtami. As per the Hindu calendar followed in North India, it falls during Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada and in the Krishna Paksha of Shravan month as per the one followed in South India. In both the calendars, Kajali Teej falls on the same day.
On the auspicious occasion of Satudi Teej, married women especially from Maheshwari and Daima community prayed for the well-being and longevity of their husbands in the evening. This year, the festival was celebrated on August 14. The women offered prayers to Goddess Parvati and sought her blessings for a happy married life. Women dress as newlywed brides and worship neem trees. They gather around the neem tree and perform puja. Women celebrate this festival by fasting from dawn till evening. After seeing and worshiping the moon in the evening they break their fast and take prasadam. Women also sing Kajali hymns. They apply mehendi on their hands as it is believed to be a sign of good luck. Like any other Indian festival, traditional food is an integral part of the celebrations. Preparations of kheer, puri, sweets marked the day.