What Is the Teej Festival in Jaipur?
Teej is the monsoon festival of Rajasthan, and Jaipur celebrates it like nowhere else. For two days the Pink City turns green: women in leheriya saris and fresh mehndi fill the bazaars, swings hang from the trees, and the idol of Teej Mata leaves the City Palace in a royal procession of elephants, camels, drummers and dancers, a tradition that has continued for nearly 300 years.
Quick answer: In 2027, Hariyali Teej falls on 4 August. Jaipur's Teej Mata procession starts at the City Palace, leaves through Tripolia Gate and winds through the Old City on Teej and the following day. It's free to watch. Expect decorated elephants and camels, bullock carts, Kalbeliya dancers and men in colourful safas, and plan for monsoon showers.
- Festival
- Hariyali Teej (Shravan Teej)
- Teej 2027
- 4 August 2027 (Budhi Teej the next day)
- Celebrates
- The monsoon and Parvati's reunion with Shiva
- Where
- City Palace and the Old City, Jaipur
- Procession starts
- Tripolia Gate, City Palace
- Highlights
- Silver palanquin, elephants, camels, folk dance
- Entry
- Free to watch from the street
- Colour of the day
- Green, and leheriya prints
- Signature sweet
- Ghewar
- Weather
- Warm, humid, monsoon showers
- From Delhi
- About 270 km · 5–6 hours by car
- Best base
- A hotel in or near the Old City
Teej in numbers
- ≈300years of the royal Teej procession in Jaipur
- ≈400 kgthe silver palanquin that carries Teej Mata
- 2days of processions: Teej and Budhi Teej
- 3Teej festivals every monsoon: Hariyali, Kajari, Hartalika
- ₹0to watch the procession from the roadside
- 1colour that rules the day: monsoon green
Why Is Teej Celebrated? The Story and Significance
Teej has two reasons to celebrate, and both are about longing finally rewarded.
The arrival of the rains
In dry, desert Rajasthan, the monsoon means everything: green fields, full wells and good harvests. Teej welcomes it, which is why green is the colour of the festival.
Parvati and Shiva, reunited
According to Hindu tradition, Goddess Parvati spent many lifetimes in devotion and penance to win Lord Shiva as her husband. Teej marks the day he finally accepted her. Parvati, worshipped as Teej Mata, is believed to bless women with a happy married life, so married women pray and fast for their husbands' wellbeing, and unmarried girls pray for a good partner.
When Is Teej in 2027?
Teej falls on the third day of the waxing moon in the Hindu month of Shravan, so its date moves each year, landing in July or August. Jaipur's grand celebration is on Hariyali Teej, and the procession continues on the next day, known as Budhi Teej.
| Year | Hariyali Teej | Jaipur procession |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 4 August | Teej and the following day |
| 2026 | Mid-August | Held from the City Palace (Tripolia Gate) |
| 2025 | 27 July | Teej and the following day |
| Teej | Hindu month | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Hariyali Teej | Shravan | Jaipur's royal procession, swings and green |
| Kajari Teej | Bhadrapad | Folk songs (kajris) and a later procession in some towns |
| Hartalika Teej | Bhadrapad | A strict fast, widely observed in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Nepal |
Dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar. Rajasthan Tourism announces the official procession schedule closer to the festival, so check before you book travel.
The Royal Teej Procession: What You'll See
The Teej ki Sawari is the moment everyone waits for. Teej Mata comes out of the City Palace only for this festival, which is why the streets fill hours ahead. Here's what passes before you:
Teej Mata in silver
The richly dressed idol of the goddess rides in a silver palanquin said to weigh around 400 kg, carried out through Tripolia Gate.
Elephants and camels
Elephants with painted faces and embroidered cloths, and camels in bright tassels and mirror-work, lead the way.
Horses and bullock carts
Decorated horses with royal riders, and bullock carts that bring the village heart of Rajasthan into the city.
Royal guards and the band
Guards in ceremonial dress and a brass band add the pomp of Jaipur's royal past.
Kalbeliya and Ghoomar dancers
Kalbeliya dancers in swirling black skirts move like snakes, while Ghoomar dancers spin in clouds of colour, to dhol and shehnai.
Rajasthani dress and safas
Men in traditional dress and bright safas (turbans), women in leheriya: the crowd is part of the spectacle.
The procession usually sets off in the late afternoon or early evening, leaving the City Palace through Tripolia Gate and moving through the Old City's bazaars, including Tripolia Bazaar and Chhoti Chaupar.
Teej Rituals and Traditions
- Green and leheriya: women wear green and the wave-patterned leheriya tie-dye, with glass and lac bangles and jewellery.
- Mehndi: intricate henna designs are applied the day before. A deep colour is said to be a good sign for married life.
- Sinjara: on the eve of Teej, married women receive gifts such as clothes, bangles, mehndi and ghewar from their families.
- The fast: many married women keep a strict fast, often without even water, for their husbands' long life.
- Swings (jhoolas): swings hung from trees and decorated with flowers, as women sing Teej folk songs.
- Prayers to Teej Mata: worship of Parvati at home and in temples, before and during the procession.
Where to Watch the Teej Procession in Jaipur
Tripolia Bazaar
The heart of the route, right outside the City Palace's Tripolia Gate. Arrive early for a spot at the front.
Rooftop cafés
Rooftops and upper floors along the route give a clear, crowd-free view, and great photos.
Isarlat (Swargasuli)
The tower near Tripolia Gate offers a bird's-eye view over the bazaar and the procession.
Johari and Bapu Bazaars
Not on the main route, but buzzing with Teej shopping: bangles, leheriya and sweets.
Teej Food and What to Buy
The fasting ends in sweetness. Look out for these in every sweet shop:
- Ghewar: the star of Teej, a round, honeycomb-textured disc soaked in syrup, often topped with rabri or malai.
- Feeni: fine, crispy vermicelli sweet, served with sweetened milk.
- Malpua and balushahi: rich, deep-fried festive sweets.
- Kachori: spicy and filling once the fast is broken.
To take home: lac bangles, leheriya and bandhej dupattas, mirror-work bags and mehndi cones from Johari Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar.
Tips for Visiting Jaipur During Teej
- Arrive a day early to settle in and see the festive bazaars before the crowds peak.
- Stay in or near the Old City so you can walk to the route, and book early: rooms fill fast.
- Pack for the monsoon: an umbrella, a light rain jacket and quick-drying clothes and shoes.
- Dress modestly and keep valuables close in the crowds.
- Ask before photographing women up close; it's a religious occasion for them.
- Have your driver drop you near the route and pick you up afterwards: parking near the Old City is very difficult during the procession.
From our team, who plan Jaipur trips for guests all year.
Plan Your Teej Trip from Delhi
Jaipur is about 270 km from Delhi, around 5 to 6 hours by car. Our one-way Delhi to Jaipur fare is ₹7,000 with a private car and driver (see our taxi service in Delhi for outstation fares), and your own private car and driver in Delhi can stay with you for the whole trip.
- Short trip: pair Teej with Agra on our Golden Triangle Tour 2 Nights 3 Days, or see every option in our Golden Triangle tour packages.
- Longer journey: continue across Rajasthan with our Rajasthan tour packages, from the Mini Rajasthan Tour to the Royal Rajasthan Tour.
- Monsoon highlights near Jaipur: Amber Fort and Nahargarh Fort look their greenest in the rains, and the painted havelis of Shekhawati feature on our Rajasthan Village Tour.
- Good to know: Ranthambore's main safari zones usually close for the monsoon (July to September), so save the tigers for another season.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Teej Festival in Jaipur in 2027?
When was Teej celebrated in Jaipur in 2026?
Where does the Teej procession start in Jaipur?
What is the Teej festival and why is it celebrated?
What happens in the Jaipur Teej procession?
Is it free to watch the Teej procession?
What are the different types of Teej?
What do women wear for Teej?
Which sweet is eaten on Teej?
Can tourists take part in Teej?
Where is the best place to watch Teej in Jaipur?
What is the weather like in Jaipur during Teej?
How do I get from Delhi to Jaipur for Teej?
Is Teej celebrated outside Jaipur?
Sources
Festival details in this guide were checked against India's Ministry of Tourism (Incredible India: Jaipur Teej Festival, sourced from Rajasthan Tourism) and Wikipedia. Festival dates follow the Hindu calendar and are confirmed each year by Rajasthan Tourism, so check the official schedule before you travel.
