Kajari Teej 2022

Kajari Teej, also known by the name Kajali Teej, is celebrated on the third day of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) during the lunar month of Bhadrapada. According to the Gregorian calendar, the day falls during the months of July or August. Kajri Teej is primarily a festival of women. It is celebrated in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and other parts of the country. The festival is also known as Boodhi Teej and Satudi Teej in some regions. Like Hariyali Teej and Hartalika Teej, Kajari Teej also holds an immense importance for married women. A fast observed on the day of Kajari Teej leads to happiness and bliss in married life.

Rituals for Kajari Teej

The festival is celebrated with joy and zeal by women. While some regions add their own touch to the festival, the basic rituals which are followed remain the same. These rituals for Kajari Teej are listed below:

1.  Married women observe fast on this day for the longevity of their husbands, while unmarried girls observe this fast in order to be blessed with a good husband.
2.  On the day of Kajari Teej, several dishes are prepared using barley, wheat, gram and rice mixture (sattu). The fast is concluded when the observer sees the moon.
3.  The worship of cows is an important facet of Kajari Teej. Small chapatis made up of wheat flour, coated with jaggery and ghee are first fed to the holy cows, and then the food is consumed.
4.  The women celebrate the day by adorning their houses with beautiful swings, and dancing to the tunes of folk-songs.
5.  One important feature of the day are Kajari Teej songs. The people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar sing Kajari songs accompanied by the beats of drums.

Puja Vidhi for Kajari Teej

Goddess Neemdi, also known as Neemdi Mata is associated with this sacred festival. The veneration of Goddess Neemdi is performed with devotion on the day of Kajari Teej. Before performing the puja, there is a ritual of making a pond-like structure using the support of a wall. Pure ghee and jaggery are used to strengthen and decorate the outer borders of this structure, and a twig of Neem is planted near it. Raw milk and water are poured inside the pond, and a lamp (diya) is lit and kept near it. The Puja thali (plate) is adorned with lemon, cucumber, bananas, apples, sattu, vermillion, sacred thread, whole rice, etc. Raw milk is taken in a vessel, and in the evening worship of the Goddess should be done according to the rituals (Puja Vidhi) given in the following points:

1.  Along with sprinkling water and vermillion (sindoor), rice are offered to Goddess Neemdi.
2.  On the wall behind the Goddess, 13 dots are marked using henna, vermillion and black kohl each. The dots of henna and vermillion are made by using the little finger, while the 13 dots of kohl are marked with the ring finger.
3.  After offering the sacred thread, Goddess Neemdi is also offered henna, kohl and clothes. The wall is embellished with the sacred thread by using the dots marked on it.
4.  Offer fruits or other oblations to Goddess Neemdi. Apply a Tilak of vermilion on the Puja Kalash (sacred vessel), and tie the sacred thread around it.
5.  In the light of the lamp (diya) placed near the pond, one should look at the lemon, cucumber, neem twig, nosepin, etc. After this, offer Arghya to the Moon God.

Rituals for offering Arghya to Moon God

After worshipping Goddess Neemdi in the evening, Arghya (mixture of water and milk) is offered to the Moon God as a part of Kajari Teej rituals.

1.  After sprinkling some drops of water, vermillion, sacred thread and whole rice are offered, along with food oblations to the Moon God.
2.  Holding a silver ring and wheat grains in your hand, offer Arghya to the Moon God. Make sure that you stay at the same place and rotate 4 times in a clockwise direction (Pradakshina).

Kajari Teej Vrat Rituals

1.  Generally, the observers of the fast choose not to even drink water during the fast (Nirjala). Although, pregnant women are allowed to consume fruits during the fast.
2.  If by any means, the observer is not able to see the Moon, the fast must be broken by looking at the sky at 11:30 P.M., and consuming food.
3.  After Udyaapan (rituals for ending a fast), if a proper Nirjala fast is not possible the observer can consume fruits during the fast.

If performed accordingly and with unfathomable devotion, the fast can ensure a happy married life for the observers in the long run.