Teej, a festival of joy, devotion and cuisines

CHANDIGARH: The festival of Teej begins this Sunday and to celebrate this special occasion for marital bliss, president of Rajasthan Parishad in Chandigarh, Shanti Lal Sethia, has arranged for the finest cooks from across the state, so the festivities could match those in Rajasthan.
Sethia must ensure that ghewar (sweet prepared out of wheat flour) and sitafal firni (custard apple sweet dish) are prepared well in advance, as people would break their fast on Sunday.
For Rajasthanis settled in Chandigarh, the festival is more about dishes and wearing jewellery. Women from Uttar Pradesh fast for their husbands’ long life, besides taking to the swings. Rekha Bhagri, who lives in Sector 8, Panchkula, said: “We get together and wear ghagra choli and borla (a jewel that married women wear on their heads). Men dress up in kurta pyjamas, a tradition in Rajasthan.”
Teej celebrates the advent of the monsoon season. “The occasion is primarily for women. We get to wear new clothes, jewellery, footwear and bangles. Through our fasting, we pray for the long life of our spouses,” said Ashu Mishra of Phase XI, Mohali.
Women even apply intricate mehndi patterns on their hands and feet and the married ones wear “chuda” and adorn themselves in the traditional red and green colour ghagra-choli. A cultural dance “Ghumar” is popular on this day.