Kajari Teej 2023
Kajari Teej, alternatively referred to as Kajali Teej, is celebrated on the third day of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) during the lunar month of Bhadrapada. In the Gregorian calendar, this falls in July or August. This festival predominantly revolves around women and finds its observance in regions such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and across the nation. Variably known as Boodhi Teej and Satudi Teej, it carries significant relevance for married women, much like Hariyali Teej and Hartalika Teej. The fasting ritual of Kajari Teej is believed to usher happiness and harmony into married lives.
Traditions of Kajari Teej
Kajari Teej is celebrated with exuberance by women, each region adding its own flavor while adhering to the core customs. The following are the basic rituals associated with Kajari Teej:
- Married women observe a fast on this day for their husbands’ longevity, while unmarried girls fast to seek a blessed marital union.
- Various dishes, often using a mixture of barley, wheat, gram, and rice (sattu), are prepared for the day. The fast concludes when the moon becomes visible.
- Cows are revered during Kajari Teej, where small wheat flour chapatis, coated with jaggery and ghee, are offered and then consumed after being fed to the sacred cows.
- Homes are adorned with beautiful swings, and women revel in dancing to folk songs.
- A notable feature of the day is the singing of Kajari Teej songs. In regions like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, people sing Kajari songs accompanied by drum beats.
Kajari Teej Puja Procedure
Goddess Neemdi, also known as Neemdi Mata, holds significance in this sacred festival. Devotees venerate Goddess Neemdi with devotion during Kajari Teej. The puja begins with the creation of a pond-like structure using a wall as a support. The outer borders of this structure are fortified and adorned with pure ghee and jaggery, and a Neem twig is planted nearby. Raw milk and water are poured into the pond, and a lamp (diya) is lit and positioned close by. The puja thali (plate) is embellished with items like lemon, cucumber, bananas, apples, sattu (gram flour), vermilion, sacred thread, and rice. Raw milk is placed in a vessel, and the evening worship of Goddess Neemdi is performed according to the prescribed rituals:
1. Water and vermilion (sindoor) are sprinkled over Goddess Neemdi, followed by rice offerings.
2. A henna paste is used to create 13 dots on the wall behind the Goddess – henna and vermilion dots with the little finger, and kohl dots with the ring finger.
3. Goddess Neemdi is adorned with a sacred thread, henna, kohl, and clothes, following which the wall is embellished with the sacred thread using the marked dots.
4. Fruits or other offerings are presented to Goddess Neemdi. A vermilion tilak is applied to the sacred vessel (Puja Kalash), and the sacred thread is tied around it.
5. In the glow of the nearby lamp (diya), one gazes at the lemon, cucumber, Neem twig, nosepin, etc. Following this, Arghya (water offering) is presented to the Moon God.
Moon God Arghya Rituals
After worshipping Goddess Neemdi in the evening, the Arghya (a mixture of water and milk) is offered to the Moon God as part of the Kajari Teej observance.
- After sprinkling water, vermilion, sacred thread, and rice are offered, along with food offerings, to the Moon God.
- Holding a silver ring and wheat grains, the Arghya is offered while rotating four times clockwise (Pradakshina) without moving from the spot.
Kajari Teej Vrat Practices:
- The fast observers generally refrain from consuming water during the fast (Nirjala), although pregnant women are allowed to consume fruits.
- If, for any reason, the moon isn’t visible, the fast must be broken by looking at the sky at 11:30 P.M. and consuming food.
- After the Udyaapan (ending a fast) rituals, if a strict Nirjala fast isn’t possible, fruits can be consumed during the fast.
By adhering to these practices with unwavering devotion, the Kajari Teej 2023 fast is believed to bestow enduring marital happiness upon the observers.
