Hariyali Teej: Festival of Monsoon Greenery, Swings & Goddess Parvati

Hariyali Teej is the vibrant monsoon festival celebrating Goddess Parvati's reunion with Lord Shiva. Women wear green, apply mehndi, swing on decorated jhulas, and fast on Shravan Shukla Tritiya each year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hariyali Teej?

Hariyali Teej is a Hindu festival celebrated on Shravan Shukla Tritiya (3rd day of bright fortnight in Shravan month). It marks the beginning of the monsoon festival season and celebrates Goddess Parvati's reunion with Lord Shiva. Women fast, wear green attire, apply mehndi, swing on jhulas (swings), and prepare Ghewar sweets. Hariyali means 'greenery', and the festival honors the lush green landscape of the monsoon season.

When does Hariyali Teej fall each year?

Hariyali Teej falls on Shravan Shukla Tritiya, which is the 3rd day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) in the Hindu month of Shravan (July-August). In 2026, Hariyali Teej is on July 27. In 2025, it was August 7. The exact Gregorian date shifts by 10-20 days each year due to the lunar calendar.

What is the difference between Hariyali Teej and Hartalika Teej?

Hariyali Teej (Shravan Shukla Tritiya, July-August) is the first Teej, celebrating the green monsoon season. It allows food and water intake. Hartalika Teej (Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya, August-September) is the second Teej, often observed as Nirjala (without water), with an all-night vigil and clay idol worship. Both celebrate Parvati-Shiva devotion but Hartalika is more austere.

What do women wear on Hariyali Teej?

Women wear green clothing on Hariyali Teej as green represents the monsoon's fertility and the spirit of Hariyali (greenery). Common choices include green sarees, green ghagra-choli (lehenga), green salwar-kameez with green dupatta, and green glass bangles. Many also apply mehndi (henna) on their hands and feet, and accessorize with marigold flower garlands in their hair.

What is Ghewar and why is it eaten on Hariyali Teej?

Ghewar is a Rajasthani disc-shaped sweet made by frying wheat flour batter in ghee and soaking in sugar syrup, sometimes topped with mawa (khoya), dry fruits, or saffron. It is the quintessential sweet of the Teej season. Families prepare Ghewar at home or purchase it from sweet shops, gift it to relatives, and distribute it as prasad after puja. The crispy, honeycomb-textured Ghewar is inseparably associated with Hariyali Teej.

How is the Hariyali Teej fast observed?

The Hariyali Teej fast is less strict than Hartalika. Women may have: fruit or milk-based food during the day, and break the fast at sunset or after moonrise. The fast begins on the morning of Tritiya and ends when the moon is sighted in the evening. On Teej day, women perform puja of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, apply mehndi, swing on decorated jhulas, and celebrate with songs.

What are Teej swing traditions (Jhula)?

Swings (jhulas) are a central feature of Hariyali Teej celebrations. Trees in courtyards or parks are decorated with flower garlands and multi-colored cloth, and a wooden swing is hung from branches. Women dress in their finest green clothes, apply mehndi, and swing while singing traditional Teej songs (Teej ke geet). In Rajasthan, even the Goddess Teej Mata's idol is placed on an elaborately decorated swing during the Teej procession.

Where is Hariyali Teej most celebrated?

Hariyali Teej is celebrated across North India, with the grandest celebrations in Rajasthan (Jaipur's Teej Sawari parade is world-famous), Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi NCR, and Himachal Pradesh. The Rajasthan government organizes Teej Mela festivals in Jaipur and Bundi. In Jaipur's Teej Sawari, a decorated elephant carries the Teej Mata idol through the city in a grand procession.

What is the spiritual significance of Hariyali Teej?

Hariyali Teej spiritually celebrates the cosmic marriage of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva after Parvati's intense tapasya (austerity). Married women observe the fast for the long life, health, and happiness of their husbands (like Parvati's devotion to Shiva). Unmarried women fast to receive a devoted husband. The festival also honors the renewal energy of the monsoon, celebrating both divine love and the earth's fertility.