Chhattisgarhi festival : Teeja or Teej The festival of Married Women

Teej festival ('Teeja' in Chhattisgarhi') is celebrated in Chhattisgarh and Northern India to welcome the monsoon season . Wishing the long life of husband and the happiness of the family all married women have Nirzala Fast (they don't drink water whole day) and at evening after worship of  Teej mata Parvati and Lord Shiva, they took water and food. A day before the Teej, all women go to each other's house and eat bitter food ('karu bhaat' in Chhattisgarhi). Barely vegetable and other dishes are made. This festival is celebrated in third day of Shukla Paksha in Bhadrapad (Bhado) month (Usually August - September).

In this rainy season, the forests, the fields are wrapped in a greenery sheet. The whole nature fills the mind with a panoramic view of green. That is why this festival is called Hariyali Teej or Haritalika.
Rituals

According to mythological legends, Goddess Parvati had done austerity for a hundred years to achieve Mahadev Shiva to marry him. From her tireless spiritual practice, she married Lord Shiva on this day. This is the reason that married women keep this fast for their happy married life and untiring good luck. According to tradition, unmarried girls also keep this fast for getting a suitable groom.
Method of worship

On this day, statues of Lord Shankar and Mata Parvati are made from sand. They are decorated with a board of flowers. The worship house is decorated with banana tree. This is anhydrous fast. After worship, fruit is offered in the form of prasad. Women who keep fasting worship Lord Lord Shiva after awaking at night. On the second day, this fast is completed in the river with immersion of Lord Shiva and Parvati statues and worship materials.

Tradition

The festival of Hariyali Teej has a special significance for henna, swings and suhag symbol. Women decorate hands with henna (which is a symbol of suhag). Swings are being used in villages and towns. Kajri songs sung by the women and they are swinging together.

On this special occasion, the newlyweds have a tradition going Mayka. They bring Singhraha with them. Also clothes, jewelry, honeycombs, sweets and henna are sent, which is considered a gift of Teej.

Here is one of Kajri Song in Chhattisgarhi

Sangi ho jai johar ....hamar chhattisgarh mahtari ke pora tihar ....katka sugghar tihar a ..a tihar ke yad ma .....ek bhai ha apan mayaru ..jo maike ma apan dai dada ghar pahuna ge he tekar yad ma okhar gosaiya ha ye hamar lok git likhe he ....jekar do line sunawat ho........
.........teeja pora bar lehe aahu mayaru maya daya rakhe raibe na.......
......a ga babu ke dada teeja pora ma lehe aabe radda dekhat raiho na ............
.......sangi ho sute kebera ho ge ta mola do bida jatka bhai bahini man la mor dahar le pora tihar ke tukna tukna badhai he............