The word ‘teej’ refers to the third day of the lunar cycle when women fast, stay awake in all night vigils, hoping to find good husbands if not married, and praying for the health of husbands if married. Hariyali Teej is celebrated during the waxing moon of Shravan, Kajari Teej during the waning moon of Shravan and Hartalika Teej on the waxing moon of Bhadrapad. These three consecutive teejs are celebrated especially in Punjab, Haryana and the Hindi-speaking belt, during the monsoons.

Teej is essentially a women’s celebration. Women dress in bright red clothes and bangles. They anoint their hands and feet with red dye (alta) and mehendi. They sing and dance. It is said this ritual was performed by Parvati herself. By fasting, she transformed Shiva, the hermit into a householder and together they became the perfect, cosmic couple.