Teej

Practice

In Rajasthan, on the occasion of Teej, young girls in general as well as professionals dance the dandiya. Dandiya is a group dance in which the dancers wield two colourful, slender batons each. The batons strike one another in a swift, steady rhythm even as the dancers' bright flowing clothes swirl and sway and create, together with the graceful movements of the dancers themselves, a picture of harmony in colourful motion. Swings are set up in the courtyards. (In India, girls have a special affinity for swings). On Teej, girls wear new clothes and henna on their hands and feet. For a change, they do no housework.

Time: The third day of the full moon in the month of Shravan, in July or August.

Place:Rajasthan, parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.