Kajari Teej 2023: Date, shubh muhurat, history, significance, celebrations

The auspicious festival of Kajari Teej is approaching, and Hindu women are preparing to celebrate this sacred occasion. Also known as Kajali Teej, Kajri Teej, or Boorhi Teej, the festival falls on the Tritiya Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the Bhadrapada month. Devotees of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati observe this festival, engaging in worship, observing a nirjala fast (fasting without water), visiting temples, and more. Women don new clothes, apply henna to their hands, adorn themselves with ornaments, and pray for the longevity and prosperity of their husbands. To properly observe Kajari Teej, it's essential to understand its date, shubh muhurat (auspicious timings), history, significance, and the associated celebrations.

Kajari Teej 2023 Date and Shubh Muhurat:

Kajari Teej arrives every year fifteen days after Hariyali Teej, three days following Raksha Bandhan, and five days before Krishna Janmashtami. This year, Kajari Teej is set to fall on September 2, a Saturday. As per Drik Panchang, the Tritiya Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the Bhadrapada month will commence at 11:50 pm on September 1 and conclude at 8:49 pm on September 2. The favorable muhurat for performing Kajari Teej puja will be from 7:57 am to 9:31 am on September 2. Additionally, the nighttime shubh muhurat will prevail from 9:45 pm to 11:12 pm.

Kajari Teej 2023 Significance and History:

Among the three major Teej festivals observed by Hindus—Hariyali Teej, Hartalika Teej, and Kajari Teej—each holds special importance for married women who undertake a day-long nirjala fast. This occasion is celebrated predominantly by women in North Indian states, notably Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. Married women pray to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, fasting without food or water, for the well-being of their husbands. Unmarried girls partake in similar rituals, seeking an appropriate life partner.

According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati ardently wished to marry Lord Shiva and embarked on intense penance to realize her desire. Kajari Teej is believed to be a day to receive the blessings of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, the divine embodiment of a harmonious marital union. Worshiping them and observing fasts are ways to attain their blessings.

Kajari Teej 2023 Celebrations and Rituals:

Married women celebrate Kajari Teej by singing folk songs that reflect the temporary separation from their spouses. They observe nirjala fasts, offer prayers to Lord Shiva and Parvati for their husbands' well-being, and perform a sacred puja of the neem tree, along with other rituals and customs.

On this day, devotees rise early to purify themselves with a bath. Fasting women don traditional attire and adorn themselves. They place clay idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati on a red cloth, conducting aarti, lighting incense, and lamps during worship. As part of the rituals, offerings of sixteen items related to married women are presented to Maa Parvati. Moreover, offerings such as Bel leaves, cow's milk, Ganga water, and Dhatura are made to Lord Shiva. Listening to the story of Shiv-Gauri's wedding is also a customary practice.