Hariyali Teej, an annual monsoon
festival, celebrates the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The
festival is primarily celebrated by married women who dress up in finery,
usually in shades of green and red, and some also observe fasts. This year,
Hariyali Teej will be celebrated on August 11.

According to Drik Panchang, the
tritiya tithi began at 06.05 pm on August 10 and ends at 04.53 pm on August
11.

On this day
women also receive ‘sindhara’or a bucket of gifts from their mothers.

There are three types of popular teej namely
Hartalika Teej, Hariyali Teej, and Kajari Teej. All of these are celebrated in
the months of Shravan and Bhadrapada

The auspicious Hariyali Teej is marked on the tritiya tithi
of the Shukla Paksh in the holy month of Shravan.

The festival is usually celebrated in northern India in
states like Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.

According to Hindu mythology, Teej is the day Lord Shiva
was reunited with Goddess Parvati. Celebrations of the day also include
decorating swings with flowers.

Women who keep this fast, play around the swings and sing
songs based on Teej. As a part of the day’s ritual, Sindhara, which is a bucket
of gifts, is sent to the married daughter’s house. It contains gift items for
her and her in-laws.