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In the cultural swing

Teej was celebrated with traditional gaiety at Dilli Haat

TRADITION ON HAND That henna application has something to do with marital bliss comes forth during the Teej festival PHOTO: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

The diversity in culture makes India a land of festivals. Each festival has some sanctity attached to it, some story, something divine, something cosmic.

Teej is the traditional festival of North India that is devoted to the divine relationship of Shiva and Parvati. It celebrates the day when Parvati united with Lord Shiva after a penance of 100 years. . It is believed that invocation of Parvati's blessings on this day results in long lasting marital bliss.

Considered to be a festival of women, they celebrate the day in a grand manner. The pompous preparation begins many days before.

The festival of Teej is celebrated in the month of Sharavan, which marks the arrival of monsoon.

It appears more like a cultural event where women of different age groups from the family and the neighbourhood unite at a common place. They worship the goddess of Teej, Mata Parvati and make oblations to venerate her. They perform traditional folk dance and sing folk songs making the atmosphere livelier and cherubic.

For love

The married ladies adorn themselves with ornaments and new dresses for their husbands. They apply henna on the foot and palm. There is a myth attached to it - darker the colour henna leaves behind on the skin, more is the love of husbands for their wives.

Another essential feature is swings. Swings are hung from tree and decorated with flowers. The girls wear dhani (a shade of green) colour chunari matched with green bangles while swinging.

But these days metros are losing out on such festivities. So the Rajasthan Tourism in association with Delhi Tourism organised an exclusive Teej festival at Dilli Haat.

The stalls showcased various handicrafts, cuisines and folk culture. Also a platform for members of society, who are not introduced to this tradition, the festival attracted people with different demographic profiles.

There was a lot of fanfare as folk dancers, singers and instrumentalist entertained the visitors.

Those who were out to shop, there was a fascinating collection of artefacts to keep them interested.

There were mehendiwallas in every corner of the fare, attracting the young and the old alike. Dal Bati, the traditional dish of Rajasthan was the cuisine in demand.

The festival is also an occasion for the socialites to gather and have fun. Packaging designer Shalini Beriwal celebrated the festival at her studio where she invited her clients. There were folk singers and fresh flower jewellery to get the friends into the groove of the festivities. It was also an opportunity where Shalini could market her products. People deck up the idols of Lord Krishna on the occasion. So Shalini offered a variety of dresses and mukuts (crowns) for the Lord. Teej is also an occasion where parents send gifts to their married daughters. Shalini suggested some innovative ways about how to package the gifts.

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