Teej Festival

Covered In This Section : Overview, Historical Background, Celebrations, Where to Reach

Festival Overview
Teej is one of the popular festivals celebrated in Rajasthan, at some places in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar state. The festival marks the coming monsoons or Sawan. Teej as such falls in the month of July-August. The festival is devoted to Goddess Parvati and like Gangaur believed to bring prosperity and bliss to the married couple. Teej is also popular as the festival of swings. Mainly celebrated by the womenfolk there is lot more to witness than just home making.

History
Teej is celebrated to pay homage to Goddess Parvati. According to Hindu mythology, on the third day of the month Shravan Goddess Parvati was reunited to Lord Shiva after a penance that lasted for about hundred years. This is one popular legend that marks the celebration of the festival. The festival is celebrated for other attributes, like the productivity brought by the monsoons. People living in villages, especially those dependent on agriculture, wait in anticipation for the said festival.

Celebrations
There is one un-oblivious activity you will find during the festive days of Teej - the swings. Also called the festival of swings; people at many places make swings from the over hanging branches of the trees and the swings are beautifully decorated with flowers. Women take an active part in the festival. You can see them busy preparing special dishes on the day, singing and dancing, at many places in the state.
In Jaipur a procession is carried out with the image of Goddess Parvati, Teej Mata. The procession is a very big one followed by marching elephants, camels, horses and bullock carts. The image is carried in a palanquin and usually carried by eight brightly dressed men.

Besides that the city like Jaipur shines in bloom as the homes, worshipping places and markets are adorned and decorated.

Where to Reach
Teej Festival is celebrated in many north Indian cities. In the state of Rajasthan the festival is celebrated with great pomp and show at Jaipur and Jodhpur. To witness this wonderful festival you need to reach either of the city. One can get an experience at many cities, besides the mentioned cities.

	Palace On Wheels Tour (08 Days) Features : Travel through the colorful cities of Rajasthan with the royal courtesy. It is an eight days tour in the most coveted train serving the state. Jodhpur is one of the places you will be going through. Other destinations to be visited include Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur , Sawai Madhopur, Chittaurgarh, Udaipur, Bharatpur, Agra, Delhi.

	Desert Expeditions (13 Days) Features : An adventure package, this tour gives you a day at the popualr Jodhpur city. You will get to explore through some of the desert outbacks of Rajasthan. The cities covered in the tour includes Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Mandawa, Jaipur, Agra, New Delhi, Mumbai.

Romantic Maharaja (20 Days) Features : Delhi city tour, a trip to famous Bharatpur sanctuary, exploring the Pink City, a day tour to famous Jodhpur city - are some of the tour highlights of this package. Romantic Maharaja Tour takes you to a lot many destinations in Delhi, Agra and Rajasthan. An excellent opportunity for globe trotters. Other destinations include Delhi, Agra, Bharatpur, Jaipur, Pushkar, Udaipur, Narlai, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Gajner, Bikaner, Shekhavati.

	Trail To The Maharaja (16 Days) Features : If you want to add one place to your travel to the Jodhpur city be it Taj Mahal. This tour gives you a day at Jodhpur and proceeds to other destinations including that of Agra city. Places you will see yourself at are Delhi, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Pushkar, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Bharatpur, Agra, Delhi.

	Rajasthan Heritage Tour (17 Days) Features : As the name suggests the package covers the heritage places that have earned a fame in the state of Rajasthan. It is full seventeen days tour and gives you a complete day to explore the city of Jodhpur. The places included in the tour schedule are Delhi, Mandawa, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Jaipur, Bharatpur, Agra, Delhi.