Every year Kajari Teej is celebrated on the third day of Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapad month, which is on 22nd August this year. Kajari Teej is given equal importance as Karva Chauth. According to astrologer Parduman Suri, on the day of Kajari Teej, which is specially celebrated in North India, married women do the ritualistic worship of Gauri-Shankar after doing sixteen adornments.
The similarity between Kajari Teej and Karva Chauth is that on Kajari Teej, married women also observe Nirjala Vrat wishing for the long life of their husbands and break their fast only after offering Arghya to the moon in the evening. On Kajari Teej, married women observe fast for the long life of their husbands. It is believed that by worshipping Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva with full devotion on this day, unmarried girls get a good groom and the husbands of married women live a long life. Therefore, unmarried girls observe fast on this day to get a good groom. Many types of sweet dishes are made on this day and women gather for worship and rituals. This festival is especially celebrated in the states of North India.
Mother Parvati’s 108 years of rigorous penance
According to legend, on the Tritiya Tithi of Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada month, which is known as Kajari Teej, Lord Shiva accepted Goddess Parvati as his wife. Goddess Parvati wanted Lord Shiva to accept her as his wife. To prove her devotion, Goddess Parvati performed rigorous penance for 108 years to please Lord Shiva. The day Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva were united is celebrated as Kajari Teej. On this day, women worship both Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati with the wish of a happy and healthy married life.
