Teej (Sanskrit: तीज, romanized: Tīja), literally meaning the "third" denoting the third day after the new moon when the monsoon begins as per the Hindu calendar, is a combined name for 3 Hindu festivals primarily dedicated to Hindu deities - the mother goddess Parvati and her male consort Shiva, mainly celebrated by married women and unmarried girls mostly in Nepal and North India to wish for the long life of their husband or future husband and to welcome the arrival of monsoon season with the singing, swings, dancing, enjoyment, prayer rituals and often fasting.

The Hartalika Teej (literally a composite word of "Harat" and "Aalika" meaning "a woman's kidnap with her consent by her female friends"), falls one lunar month after the "Haryali Teej" on the third day after new moon in the month of Bhadrapada which usually falls a day before the Ganesh Chaturthi, it marks the occasion when Parvati encouraged her friends to kidnap her to escape the marriage with Vishnu after her father Himalaya wanted to gave her hand in marriage to him.

It is celebrated by married women who observe "nirjala vrata" (water-less fast) for the long life of their husband.

[5] The festivals celebrate the bounty of nature, arrival of clouds and rain, greenery and birds with social activity, rituals and customs.

According to Bhatnager (1988), Sindhara is derived from the Sanskrit word sringar which means "decoration of women and their charming beauty".

[13][additional citation(s) needed] Haryali Teej is one of the famous festivals of Haryana, and is celebrated as an official holiday.

The evenings are set aside for folk singing and dancing, including the women's prayers for their husbands' longevity and their families.

The monsoon rains fall on the parched land and the pleasing scent of the wet soil rises into the air.

Swings are hung from trees and women dressed in green clothes sing songs in celebration of the advent of the monsoon.

An elaborate procession is taken out in Jaipur for two continuous days on the festive occasion which is watched by people in large numbers.

Since then, the day is referred to as Hartalika Teej as Parvati's female (aalika) friend had to abduct (harit) her in order for the goddess to achieve her goal of marrying Shiva.

[citation needed] Accordingly, Hartalika Teej is seen as a major festival and is celebrated on the third day of the bright half of the Indian/North Nepali Lunar month of Bhadrapada.

The festival women feasting during the evening of Hartalika Teej, praying to Parvati and Shiva, remembering their wedding and staying up all night listening to prayers.

[citation needed] [30] The main areas of celebration are Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Nepal.

Women do Sola shrungar, apply mehndi, wear new red or green sari, observe fast, make idol of Shiva, Gauri, Sakhi and Ganesha with clay or river sand, read katha.

It is very auspicious vrat for women in India to worship goddess Parvati in the form of Gauri along with Shiva parivar.

In eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand, married women keep Nirjala Upvas for the whole day of Teej, & deck up with Shringaars like Aalta, Mehndi, e.t.c..

In the evening, the women get decked up in heavy sarees, gold jewellery,their wedding Chunris, & don the traditional orange Sindoor from the tip of their nose.

Akha Teej (also called Akshaya Tritiya) falls on the third day after full moon in the month of Vaisakha.

Jains celebrate this day to commemorate Tirthankara Rishabha's ending of his fast by consuming sugarcane juice poured into his cupped hands.

[citation needed] On the day of Teej, idols of Krishna and Radha are placed on swings in the temples and the focus of Jhulan Leela is religious.

Married and unmarried women observe a fast on the day and offer the kevada flower (pine screw) to Parvati and Shiva.

[citation needed] Dedicated to Parvati, commemorating her union with Shiva, the festival is celebrated for well-being of spouse and children and purification of one's body and soul.

It is particularly celebrated by women from various ethnicities and castes of Nepalese society, particularly the Bhojpuriyas, Maithils (Native Madheshis), Bahun, Chettri, Newairs and Kiratis, on the third day after the new moon of the month of Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September).

On this day the women assemble at one place in their finest attire and start dancing and singing devotional songs.

That is the day for them to embellish themselves in sorha singaar — dressing up and using make up to the full extent, indulge in good food, and dance.

Married women abstain strictly from food and drinks with a belief that their devotion to the gods will be blessed with longevity, peace and prosperity of their husband and family.

The main pooja (religious ceremony) takes place with offerings of flowers, fruits, etc., made to Shiva and his wife Parvati, beseeching them to grant their blessing upon the husband and family.

[42] After the completion of the previous day's puja, women pay homage to seven saints or sages, offer prayers to deities, and bathe with red mud found on the roots of the sacred datiwan bush, along with its leaves.

Within the past few decades, as Nepal and the surrounding area experiences rapid development and modernization, the Teej songs have become more of a critical commentary on gender relations from women's perspectives.