Teeyan

Teeyan (Punjab/Haryana)
Official name Teeyan Teej dyan
Also called Teej
Observed by Women
Type Monsoon festival/seasonal
Observances Monsoon
Begins Shraavana
Date July/August

Teeyan (Punjabi: ਤੀਆਂ) is the Punjabi name of the festival of Teej which is celebrated in Punjab and Haryana (where it is also called Haryali teej) which is dedicated to the onset of the monsoon[1] and focuses on daughters[2][3] and sisters.

Celebration

The festival is celebrated during the monsoon season from the third day of the lunar month of Sawan on the bright half, up to the full moon of sawan, by women. Married women go to their maternal house to participate in the festivities.[4][5] In the past, it was traditional for women to spend the whole month of Sawan with their parents.[4][6]

Gifts

Whether or not a married woman goes to her parents, brothers take a gift set to their sisters called a 'sandhara'. A sandhara includes a Punjabi Suit/sari, laddoo, bangles, mehndi (henna) and a swing.[4]

Gidha and swings

The festival of teeyan centres on girls and women getting together in the village green and tying swings to the trees. The festival gathers momentum in the teeyan Gidha.

Traditional bolyan which are sung to dance Gidha include:

Punjabi:

ਓੁੱਚੇ ਟਾਹਣੇ ਪੀਂਘ ਪਾ ਦੇ
ਜਿਥੇ ਆਪ ਹੁਲਾਰਾ ਆਵੇ
[4]

Uchay tahne peeng pa de
jithey aap hulara aavey

Translation

Hang my swing from a high tree branch
where the swing moves by itself

The main focus of the teeyan is dancing Giddha. In the past, the festival would last for as long as the girls wishes ranging from a few days to four weeks. Girls would gather to dance Giddha everday. The festival would close by the women performing the closing dance called 'bhallho'. Bhallo or ballo is performed by the women standing in two rows and dancing.[7] This tradition of women getting together in villages has now become extinct.[8]

Food

The food traditionally associated with teeyan is:

Observance

Punjabis consider teeyan as a seasonal festival. Although the teeyan gatherings are not as common in the villages in Punjab, the festival is observed on a low-key scale, especially in schools and colleges. Government sponsored teeyan festivals are observed at pre-selected sites.[10] Festivals are held in Surrey, and Brampton in Canada[2] and in other countries outside of India such as in Southall[11][12] and Smethwick[13] in the United Kingdom. Festivals are also organised in Melbourne Australia.[14]

Religion

In Rajasthan, Hindu women fast on the day of Teej as the festival is dedicated to Goddess Parvati. However, the festival in Punjab and Haryana is a cultural festival.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Good Earth Punjab Travel Guide (2006)
  2. 1 2 http://www.teeyandamela.com/
  3. ↑ Savino, Natalie (03 09 2013) Leader: New cultural group Koonj-The Flock bringing migrants together for fun, theatre and dance
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Alop Ho Raha Punjabi Virsa: Harkesh Singh KehalUnistar Books PVT Ltd ISBN 81-7142-869-X
  5. ↑ Shankarlal C. Bhatt (2006) Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories: In 36 Volumes. Punjab, Volume 22
  6. ↑ Rainuka Dagar (2002) Identifying and Controlling Female Foeticide and Infanticide in Punjab
  7. ↑ Yash Kohli The Women of Punjab 1983
  8. ↑ East of Indus: My memories of old Punjab: Gurnam Singh Sidhu Brar
  9. 1 2 Alop ho riha Punjabi virsa - bhag dooja by Harkesh Singh Kehal Unistar Book PVT Ltd ISBN 978-93-5017-532-3
  10. ↑ The Tribune 26 08 2012:Amar Nath Wadehra & Randeep Wadehra
  11. ↑ Ramaa Sharma (15 08 2008) Happy Clapping BBC London
  12. ↑ Teeyan Festival at Southall Library (04 07 2013)
  13. ↑ Charanjit Kaur Sapra Tia in West Smethwick Park
  14. ↑ Teeyan Melbourne diyan 2015
  15. ↑ Narula, S.S (1991) Aspects of Punjabi Culture. Punjabi University, Patiala. OCLC 263147472
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