PicKajTeej01 Neem tree
Kajari Teej
(14.08.2022)
-Rohit Kumar Parmar
Kajari (कजरी), Kajali (कजली), Satudi (सतुदी) Teej (तीज) is celebrated by women in North India. The word Kajri is derived from the Awadhi [1] word Kajra or Kohl (literally meaning dark, black, dark clouds), a form of semi-classical and/or folk singing in Bhojpuri [2], traced to and popular in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, especially Mirzapur district/area.
Kajari Teej is celebrated on Tritiya Tithi (third day) of Krishna Paksha (waning or dark phase of the Moon) in the month of Bhadrapada, corresponding to August/September of the Gregorian Calendar.
Three famous and special Teej celebration by women during Shravana and Bhadrapada months are- Hariyali Teej (31.07.2022), Kajari Teej (14.08.2022), Hartalika Teej (30.08.2022). Shravana and Bhadrapada months coincide with Varsha Ritu (वर्षा ऋतु) or monsoon, making them special.
Kajari Teej celebrated fifteen days after Hariyali Teej is known as Badi Teej. Kajari Teej comes three days after Raksha Bandhan and five days before Krishna Janmashtami.
The two other Teej [3] festivals - Akha Teej (Akshaya Tritiya) and Gangaur Tritiya are not part of above listed three Teej festivals.
Kajari Teej an age-old festival is celebrated by married women, as they visit their maternal home. Kajari Teej celebrates womanhood and is for longevity and prosperity of husbands, and for a blissful married life.
Like in several other festivals for married women, unmarried girls also observe an upvasa/vrat (fast) for finding a life partner of their choice, by seeking blessings of Gods/Goddesses.
Women observe a day-long (sunrise to moonrise) upvasa without eating or drinking even a drop of water (निर्जला) and perform rituals to seek Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva's blessings. Women also worship Goddess Parvati. Women get up before sunrise and eat some food and have water.
Women get up early and finish their work. They wear new clothes and adorn themselves with sindoor, bindi and churis (bangles). It is customary for women to dress up as newlywed brides.
PicKajTeej02 Mehendi Art on a palm
Women apply Mehendi or Henna on their hands and feet, in attractive designs and art forms in the Indian sub-continent and among the diaspora. Mehendi is derived from the Sanskrit word "Mendhika," which is a plant whose leaves give a red dye/colour. A paste is prepared from the leaves and applied overnight/for a long period. It serves as a herbal cum medical dye giving a red colour. Mehendi ceremony is an important function during weddings in all religions in the Indian sub-continent.
Women gather in small groups and perform puja around a neem tree, with ‘kumkum’ (red colour), ‘chawal (rice)’, ‘haldi’ (turmeric), ‘henna’ (Mehendi) and also offer fruits and sweets. They also recite/listen to the ‘Kajari Teej Katha’.
PicKajTeej03 Swings on a tree
Festivities include songs, dance, kirtan (collective prayers), get-togethers and other customary rituals. On Kajari Teej day, swings are put up on trees. In the evening, women in the neighbourhood get dressed up and gather for puja.
At dusk (after sighting the moon), women worship the Moon (Chandra Devta) and break their fast. In some communities women break their fast by eating ‘Sattu’ (made roasted gram flour) [4] and/or fruits.
PicKajTeej04 Ghevar, sweet prepared for Teej
Any Hindu festival is incomplete without sweets and savouries. Women prepare ‘Kheer’, ‘Puri’, ‘Badam ka Halwa’, ‘Gujiya’, ‘Ghevar’ and ‘Kaju Katli’. Sattu (roasted gram flour) sweet and snacks, are an important preparation, which is why it is also called Satudi Teej.
In villages in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, women sing ‘Kajri Songs’, which are in Bhojpuri, an integral part of the celebration. Themes of Kajri, inspired by the tradition, express the pain of brief separation from the husband or longing of a maiden for her lover. Kajri is also sung as an ode to the dark/black clouds which bring rains. Celebrations also include monsoon imagery like peacocks, swings, clouds, ladybugs etc. The motifs in Kajri music include Radha and Krishna –divine lovers.
Some noted exponents of Kajari semi-classical and/or folk singing are Begum Akhtar, Girija Devi, Pandit Channulal Mishra, Rajan Mishra, Rasoolan Bai, Sajan Mishra, Sharda Sinha, Shobha Gurtu, Siddheshwari Devi, and Ustad Bismillah Khan,
Lyrics of a few Kajari songs
अब के बरस भेज भैया को बाबूल [5]
अब के बरस भेज भैया को बाबूल
सावन में लीजो बुलाय रे
लौटेंगी जब मेरे बचपन की सखिया
दीजो संदेसा भिजाय रे
अंबुवा तले फिर से झूले पड़ेंगे
रिमझीम पड़ेंगी पुहारे
लौटेंगी फिर तेरे आँगन में बाबूल
सावन की ठंडी बहारे
छलके नयन मोरा कसके रे जियरा
बचपन की जब याद आये रे
बैरन जवानी ने छीने खिलौने
और मेरी गुड़िया चुराई
बाबूल थी मैं तेरे नाजों की पाली
फिर क्यों हुई मैं पराई
बीते रे जुग कोई चिठीया ना पाती
ना कोई नैहर से आये रे ।। ३ ।।
Lyrics of a second Kajari songs
राम सिया के मधुर मिलन से
राम सिया के मधुर मिलन से
फुलवारी मुस्काये कोयलिया कजरी गाये
कोयलिया कजरी गाये, कोयलिया कजरी गाये ।। १ ।।
राम सिया के मधुर मिलन से
राम सिया के मधुर मिलन से
फुलवारी मुस्काये कोयलिया कजरी गाये
कोयलिया कजरी गाये, कोयलिया कजरी गाये
कोयलिया कजरी गाये।। २ ।।
तोड़ रहे थे फूल राम जी, गिरिजा पूजन चली जानकी
तोड़ रहे थे फूल राम जी, गिरिजा पूजन चली जानकी
पायल की झंकार से उनकी,
पायल की झंकार से उनकी,
रोम रोम हर साये
कोयलिया कजरी गाये
कोयलिया कजरी गाये, कोयलिया कजरी गाये ।। ३ ।।
राम सिया के मधुर मिलन से
राम सिया के मधुर मिलन से
फुलवारी मुस्काये कोयलिया कजरी गाये
कोयलिया कजरी गाये, कोयलिया कजरी गाये
कोयलिया कजरी गाये ।। ४ ।।
सिया मुख चंदा उगा सामने भुला दिया सब शान राम ने
सिया मुख चंदा उगा सामने भुला दिया सब शान राम ने
नैन वैन सब ने गति छोड़ी,
नैन वैन सब ने गति छोड़ी,
मन विन मोल बिकाये
कोयलिया कजरी गाये
कोयलिया कजरी गाये, कोयलिया कजरी गाये ।। ५ ।।
पहली झुला लगी बाग में
बंधे परस्पर प्रेम धाग में
लगे झूमने दोनों के दिल
स्नेहलता लतराये
कोयलिया कजरी गाये
कोयलिया कजरी गाये, कोयलिया कजरी गाये ।। ६ ।।
राम सिया के मधुर मिलन से
राम सिया के मधुर मिलन से
फुलवारी मुस्काये कोयलिया कजरी गाये
कोयलिया कजरी गाये, कोयलिया कजरी गाये
कोयलिया कजरी गाये ।। ७ ।।
[1] Dialect of Hindi, spoken in and around Awadh, erstwhile province of Nawabs of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh [2] Dialect of Hindi, spoken mainly in western Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh [3] A festival with Teej suffix suggests that it falls on the third day of the lunar month (either waxing or waning part) [4] While Sattu is generally made from Gram flour, it is also made from wheat and rice [5] These are lyrics of a Kajari song in the Hindi movie Bandini (1963), sung by Asha Bhosle, lyrics by Shailendra and Music by Sachin Dev Burman [6] There are some local variations in the lyrics for example फूल बगिया could be called फुलवारी ; सिया राम could be राम सिया [7] Grateful to a friend/family for getting the lyrics correct
コメント