Today, on 3rd August 2019 the festival is Hariyali Teej is celebrated as it marks the holy union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This festival comes in the Holy month of Sawan.
Hariyali refers to greenery and green environment due to monsoon. Teej is celebrated to mark the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati who is known as Teej Mata. Hariyali Teej is celebrated in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Punjab. The timings of the Hariyali Teej begins at 01:36 am on August 3 and ends at 10:06 am on August 4.
Rituals followed by women on the occasion
On the auspicious festival, women dress up like newly-weds in colors like red and green
In the evening the women come together to hear Katha and pray for the good health of their husbands or fiancé for a blissful married life. The Puja starts with the offering of flowers and fruits to the goddess.
As a part of the ritual, some women also bathe with red mud to purify themselves. Apart from the Puja, the tradition of swings is also associated with this festival.
Resemblance of Teej with Greek mythology
As per the mythology, Greeks and Hindus have a lot in common. In Greeks, there is Orpheus and Eurydice, Orpheus was struck in the grief of Eurydice’s death that he dared the world of the underworld to see his wife. In the Hindu myths, there is Radha who is known for breaking a conventional rule when she fell in love with Krishna.
Hariyali Teej is hence more than just a union of two gods. It is about Goddess Parvati and her enduring wait that led to her re-birth until Lord Shiva accepted her dedication and married her. The festival celebrates the determination of Goddess Parvati.
Harayali Teej 2019: Wishes, quotes, images, messages, wallpapers for the festival
