Kajari Teej

    What is Kajari Teej?

    The fast kept for a husband's long life

    Katha

    Kajari Teej falls on Bhadrapada Krishna Tritiya. Women worship a neem branch — Neemdi Mata — keep a foodless fast through the day, and wait for moonrise in the evening.

    Tradition holds that this worship, offered with sattu, neem and water, protects the family. Only after offering arghya to the moon and hearing the katha is the fast broken.

    In Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh it is also called Kajli or Badi Teej — falling exactly a fortnight after Hariyali Teej.

    Mantra

    ॐ उमामहेश्वराभ्यां नमः

    Salutations to Uma and Maheshwara — to Parvati and Shiva together.

    Vrat Vidhi

    Foodless through the day. Worship of Neemdi Mata; arghya at moonrise, then parana with sattu.

    Bhog

    Sattu, jaggery with ghee, neem leaf