What is Teejri?
Teejri, sometimes known as Teejdi or sindhi Teej, is a Sindhi festival. Teej is followed by almost all the Sindhi women and is very famous. Teejri is similar to Karwa Chouth and Hariyali/Kajari Teej. Teejri is celebrated by Sindhi ladies as they keep a fast on that day for their husbands and young girls keep teejri to get good marital bliss. Teejri is in the month of Shrawan and normally falls on the 3rd day after the full moon falling in August.
Why do we celebrate Teejri?
According to the mythological stories, Goddess Parvati wanted to marry Lord Shiva. So she started praying and fasting for Lord Shiv and later on lord Shiv realised Goddess Parvati’s love and devotion towards him and married her. Thus, goddess Parvati preached to all women about it, promising prosperity.
How do we celebrate Teejri?
Eat something at 4 am in the morning, maybe a koki (sindhi dish) and something sweet like rabri . It is necessary to eat something as you will fast for the entire day. This ritual is called Assur. Later have a shower and then you can go back to sleep. In the morning offer a little water on Tulsi (holy plant). In the evening, cook a little rice and once it cools down, add raw milk and sliced cucumber along with a little sugar. This is known as Argh. Argh is offered to the Moon after offering the prayer, followed with water. The preparations of Teejri starts in the evening. The Thali used during the Katha is made of an oil lamp that can be lit on four sides (Chau-mukha diya) which is made out of wheat flour and haldi, kumkum, chandan, uncooked rice, flowers and pani ka kalash. The Teejri Katha starts around 8 in the evening, people visit temples to listen the Katha.
Usually ladies keep fast with or without water. And a few of them keep fast on fruits as well. Mehndi can be applied on hands and feet. If you dislike Mehendi you can just put a dot or make a small design as it is considered as a good luck for future.
What is Teejri Katha?
Teej Katha is very famous and should be done in the evening. The Katha tells us a story. The story starts with a man called Lakshmichand who had 2 sons and one daughter who recently got married . Once Mr. Lakshimchand wished to perform Yagna, and so a brahman was called for it . Lakshimchand then sent both his sons to fetch his daughter and with the intention to bring her home. But the daughter was fasting of Teejri and couldn’t make it. So one of the brothers climbed up a tree & held a thali and showed her the Thali as the moon. Unaware of the plan Rupwanti broke her fast and had dinner. In few minutes her husband went into a very deep sleep, Rupwanti got shocked and panicked, then the brothers told her the truth . Rupwanti then laid her husband on her lap and for the complete year kept praying. The next year she again kept a fast of Teejri and offered the Moon with the argh. She fed the remaining argh to the husband and then the miracle happened — the husband was all well again . Thus, it is said that Teej should be kept and no one should break it. Teerji Mata ki Jai!!!
