Festivals are the very essence of life for the people of Rajasthan. Every season is marked with a series of fairs and festivals except the summer months when the blazing sun scorches the earth. With the arrival of the monsoons the festival season is unleashed. And the most important festival to herald the monsoons is the Teej - reflecting the magic of the rainy season.

Teej is the festival of swings and rains. This festival marks the advent of the monsoon month of Saawan (July-August). 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 decorated with flowers. Young girls and women dressed in colorful clothes sing traditional songs in celebration of the advent of the monsoon. This festival is dedicated to the Goddess Parvati, commemorating her union with Lord Shiva.

Goddess Parvati is worshipped by seekers of conjugal bliss and happiness. An elaborate procession is taken out in Jaipur from City Palace for two consecutive days on the festive occasion which is watched by people in large numbers. The TEEJ idol is richly decorated with ornaments and gaudy dresses. The Teej idol is covered with a canopy whereas the Gangaur idol is open.

Teej is essentially a women's festival. On this day goddess Parvati was united with Lord Shiva after a penance of a hundred years - making them a symbol of an ideal marriage. Invocation of Parvati's blessings on this day results in continued marital bliss. Women dress up in all their finery to worship the goddess. Girls engaged to be married receive gifts from their future in-laws a day before the festival. The gift called shrinjhara derived from the word Shringar (adornment) consists of henna, lac bangles, a special dress of laharia (tie and dye fabric) and a sweet called ghewar.