08-13-2007, 08:12 PM
Report of Teej Festival in Telengana from Deccan Chronicle, Aug.,13, 2007
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sow a seed and wish for a good soulmate
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By K. Rajaram
<b>Warangal: For unmarried tribal girls of the Telangana region, the Teej festival is an occasion for hope and trepidation.</b>
They dutifully perform the rituals and pujas associated with the colourful festival for nine days so that Goddess Teej would bless them with a good husband. <b>This fertility festival is also associated with the beginning of the sowing season, which is no coincidence. For many tribal cultures, the fertility of the earth is intimately connected with that of women. "For us, it is basically a festival of girls. It is similar to Batukamma, the festival of flowers celebrated by women in Telangana region," said Lakhavath Dhanwanti,</b> who organised grand celebrations at her native Devaruppula village.
<b>"Teej is also a colourful celebration." The nine-day festival begins with the unmarried girls putting wheat seeds in a wooden basket and performing a puja. "They would water the seeds every day and tend them until the shoots come out," said a tribal leader. "The proper growth of the seeds symbolises the well-being of the village It also indicates that they will get good husbands."</b>
<b>Tribal expert Prof Azmera Sitaram Naik said that Teej was linked with the transformation of aboriginal culture to an agrarian society. Unmarried girls are the focus and they are meant to adhere strictly to traditions during the festival.</b>
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Isnt Teej quite an urbanized festival in North India especially in Rajputana? I saw somw TV serials on Zee depicting this festival. There is a special sweet made during this festival.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sow a seed and wish for a good soulmate
Â
By K. Rajaram
<b>Warangal: For unmarried tribal girls of the Telangana region, the Teej festival is an occasion for hope and trepidation.</b>
They dutifully perform the rituals and pujas associated with the colourful festival for nine days so that Goddess Teej would bless them with a good husband. <b>This fertility festival is also associated with the beginning of the sowing season, which is no coincidence. For many tribal cultures, the fertility of the earth is intimately connected with that of women. "For us, it is basically a festival of girls. It is similar to Batukamma, the festival of flowers celebrated by women in Telangana region," said Lakhavath Dhanwanti,</b> who organised grand celebrations at her native Devaruppula village.
<b>"Teej is also a colourful celebration." The nine-day festival begins with the unmarried girls putting wheat seeds in a wooden basket and performing a puja. "They would water the seeds every day and tend them until the shoots come out," said a tribal leader. "The proper growth of the seeds symbolises the well-being of the village It also indicates that they will get good husbands."</b>
<b>Tribal expert Prof Azmera Sitaram Naik said that Teej was linked with the transformation of aboriginal culture to an agrarian society. Unmarried girls are the focus and they are meant to adhere strictly to traditions during the festival.</b>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Isnt Teej quite an urbanized festival in North India especially in Rajputana? I saw somw TV serials on Zee depicting this festival. There is a special sweet made during this festival.