Teej refers to a group of sacred festivals honouring Maa Parvati and her union with Bhagwan Shiv. Mainly celebrated by women through the monsoon months, it brings together fasting, prayer, folk songs, mehendi, swings, and time spent with family and friends.
There are three major Teej festivals in 2026: Hariyali Teej, Kajari Teej, and Hartalika Teej. Each has its own story, though all are connected to Maa Parvati's devotion and her love for Bhagwan Shiv. Hariyali Teej celebrates the monsoon and the way nature comes back to life during this season. Kajari Teej is more about folk songs and women coming together in joy. And Hartalika Teej remembers Maa Parvati's deep tapas, the penance she performed to get Bhagwan Shiv as her husband.
| Teej Festival | Date |
| Hariyali Teej | Saturday, August 15, 2026 |
| Kajari Teej | Monday, August 31, 2026 |
| Hartalika Teej | Monday, September 14, 2026 |
The dates are observed according to the Udayatithi tradition, under which a festival is generally observed on the day when the relevant tithi prevails at sunrise.
Hariyali Teej will be observed on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
This sacred festival falls during the holy month of Shravan and is dedicated to Maa Parvati and Bhagwan Shiv. Married women observe the vrat and pray for the long life and well-being of their husbands. Meanwhile, unmarried women observe this vrat to find a loving and devoted life partner, just like Mahadev.
Kajari Teej will be observed on Monday, August 31, 2026.
Observed on the Tritiya of Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada, Kajari Teej is also known as Kajli Teej, Badi Teej, or Satudi Teej in different regions. Women observe the vrat and worship Maa Parvati and Bhagwan Shiv for the long life of their husbands, family well-being, and happiness in married life.
Kajari Teej has many beautiful regional traditions. In some places, women worship Neemri Mata, represented by a neem branch placed near a small clay pond. They offer sindoor, rice, and diyas as part of the puja. Women also gather to sing traditional Kajri folk songs, swing on decorated jhulas, and celebrate the beauty of the monsoon. Sattu-based sweets prepared for the festival are also an important part of the tradition in many families. After the fast, women offer Arghya to Chandra Dev after moonrise and then break their vrat.
Hartalika Teej will be observed on Monday, September 14, 2026.
Hartalika Teej is one of the most important Teej festivals. It commemorates the devotion and determination of Maa Parvati, who performed intense tapasya to make Bhagwan Shiv her husband.
The name Hartalika is deeply rooted in the sacred story of Maa Parvati’s unwavering devotion. The word itself is a combination of Har (meaning abduction) and Alika (meaning female friend), directly translating to “the abduction by a friend”. According to tradition, King Himavan had accepted a marriage proposal for Maa Parvati from Bhagwan Vishnu on the advice of Devarshi Narada, without knowing that she wished to marry Bhagwan Shiv.
Distressed by this, Maa Parvati's friend took her to a secluded forest, where she performed intense tapasya to attain Bhagwan Shiv as her husband. On the Tritiya of Shukla Paksha in Bhadrapada, she made a Shivaling from sand and clay and worshipped Bhagwan Shiv throughout the night. Pleased with her devotion, Bhagwan Shiv appeared before her and granted her wish, and accepted Maa Parvati as his consort.
While all three Teej festivals share the same devotional roots, they look quite different depending on where you are in India or Nepal. Each of these festivals carries its own name and set of local customs.
Indian states like Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh are where Hariyali Teej really comes alive, with colourful monsoon festivities and big processions. Jaipur is especially known for this
Kajari Teej goes by a few other names too, Kajli Teej, Badi Teej, Satudi Teej, depending on where you ask. It is mostly celebrated in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and pockets of Rajasthan like Bundi. On the other hand, Hartalika Teej has the widest spread. It is observed across Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Nepal, though in Maharashtra people know this festival as Hartalika Tritiya.
Hariyali Teej will fall on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Kajari Teej will be observed on Monday, August 31, 2026.
Hartalika Teej will be celebrated on Monday, September 14, 2026.
Mostly unmarried girls and married women. Unmarried girls keep it, hoping for a good husband. Married women keep it too, but their prayer is different, they want their husband's long life and a happy, prosperous home.
Bhagwan Shiva and Maa Parvati are worshipped during the major Teej festivals.
No. While many devotees observe a nirjala vrat on this day, some simply offer prayers, light diyas, and worship Bhagwan Shiv with devotion. You should observe the vrat according to your health and circumstances.