About Kajari Teej

About Kajari Teej

Kajari Teej, also called Badi Teej or Satudi Teej, falls on the third day of the dark half of Bhadrapada, three days after Raksha Bandhan. It is kept in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and comes between Hariyali Teej and Hartalika Teej.

Married women fast for the long life and health of their husbands, and young girls fast for a good life partner. They dress in green and red, wear new bangles and draw mehndi on their hands. Many worship Neemdi Mata with a branch of neem set up in a small pond of water and milk.

In the evening women give arghya to the moon, then break the fast with sweets made of sattu, the roasted gram flour of the season, along with fruits and malpua. Swings are hung from trees and women sing kajari, the rain songs of Mirzapur and Varanasi.

In Bundi in Rajasthan, Kajli Teej brings a colourful fair and procession. Everywhere the day is about the green of the rains, the love between husband and wife and the joy of women singing together.