By Girish Kumar Dubey
Married women in Varanasi city of India's northern Uttar Pradesh state celebrated Teej festival, dedicated to Hindu deities, Lord Shiva and his wife goddess Parvati, with traditional fanfare on Wednesday (August 31).
It is believed that praying to goddess Parvati, who is also known as Gauri, consort of Shiva, on the occasion of Teej bestows marital bliss. Women observe fast to rededicate themselves to their husbands and family. "Married women carry out Teej prayers. They eat last at night and after midnight they rest and the next morning gather at the banks of Ganges to pray. They make offerings of sweets and fruits," said Priest, Kishore Anand Sharma.
Women gathered at the banks were dressed in their finery and prayed for the well being of their husbands and other family members.
"This is an extremely auspicious day for women who pray for their husband's long life. We fast the entire day and pray to Parvati and offer lots of fruits and sweets to her. We break our fast the next day with make offerings to priest (brahaman)," said married woman, Kalki Devi.
On Teej, folk songs are generally sung in praise of goddess Parvati, whose devotion to her husband Lord Shiva, the god of destruction and rejuvenation is considered exemplary.
The festival of Teej marks the onset of the monsoon in the month of Shravan after the long and arduous summer. It also marks the beginning of a series of fairs and festivals through the autumn and winter months, culminating in the spring festival of Gangaur.
Married women in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state celebrate Hindu festival 'Teej', dedicated to Hindu deities, Lord Shiva and his wife goddess Parvati, with traditional fanfare.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL
VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (AUGUST 31, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. TOP OF A HINDU TEMPLE
2. GATHERING OF MARRIED WOMEN AT THE BANKS OF THE TEMPLE
3. ENTRY GATE OF THE TEMPLE
4. PRIEST CHANTING HYMNS AS WOMEN WATCH
5. A WOMAN WITH FOLDED HANDS
6. PLATE FILLED WITH FRUITS AND SWEETS
7. WOMEN SITTING WITH FOLDED HANDS
8. PRIEST PROCEEDING WITH THE PRAYERS
9. WOMEN PRAYING
10. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) KISHORE ANAND SHARMA, HINDU PRIEST, SAYING:
"Married women carry out Teej prayers. They eat last at night and after midnight they rest and the next morning gather at the banks of Ganges to pray. They make offerings of sweets and fruits."
11. WOMEN SITTING IN THE PRAYER
12. IDOLS OF HINDU GOD SHIVA AND HIS WIFE GODDESS PARVATI
13. WOMEN PUTTING VERMILION ON EACH OTHER
14. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) KALKI DEVI, MARRIED WOMAN, SAYING:
"This is an extremely auspicious day for women who pray for their husband's long life. We fast the entire day and pray to Parvati and offer lots of fruits and sweets to her. We break our fast the next day with make offerings to priest (brahaman)."
15. WOMEN TAKING DIP IN WATERS OF GANGES
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