Jal Jhulni Ekadashi
Jal Jhulni Ekadashi is an important festival in Hinduism commemorating Lord Krishna’s playful childhood antics. Signifying innocence and purity, it is said that Lord Krishna would swing on a jhula (swing) during the auspicious day. On this day, devotees take a holy bath in their local rivers and perform special prayers to honor Lord Krishna. They also seek blessings from the Goddess Lakshmi in order to lead a prosperous life filled with faith and spiritual devotion.
Traditional celebrations for Jal Jhulni Ekadashi involve exchanging gifts between family members, preparing special dishes, visiting temples and decorating swings with flowers and fabrics as homage to the divine energy of Lord Krishna. Jal Jhulni Ekadashi is an important festival in the Hindu religion, celebrated in remembrance of Lord Vishnu’s Vamana Avatar. Worshipping the lord on this day is believed to bring immense happiness and good fortune to those who observe the fast.
According to legend, this is also the day that Mata Yashoda washed Lord Krishna’s clothes, so it is known as Padma Ekadashi too. Jal Jhulni Ekadashi brings a chance for devotees to shower their love on their beloved deity and experience his blessings directly. Jal Jhulni Ekadashi is a significant religious festival celebrated with great fervor by Hindus. Devotees proceed in a festive procession adorned with flowers and flags, carrying the Palki (Palanquin) of Lord Vishnu. The idol of Lord Vishnu is then bathed in holy waters outside a temple.
The ritual usually takes place in bawris, lakes, ponds, or rivers which highlights the importance of the traditional water bodies within the Hindu culture. This celebration is an expression of adoration for Lord Vishnu and devotees prepare for this day with excitement and grandeur.
Teej
Teej is a vibrant festival celebrated in Rajasthan for centuries that brings together women of all ages to celebrate. While the true essence of Teej is praying for well-being of husbands and familial togetherness, it is also known across the world for its unique customs and joyous celebrations. During the festivities, swings are strung with various colors of flowers and hung everywhere around temples and homes. Women dressed in traditional green attire take turns swinging while singing ancient folk songs.
In markets, particularly around Teej, trendy clothes and jewellery make up decorations around the city. Many fabrics are decorated with distinctive tie-dye prints popularly known as laheria. From worshipping Goddess Parvati to making merry with lively music and dance, Teej is an unforgettable experience for those who witness it firsthand. Teej is a much-awaited and celebrated festival in Rajasthan, India. Sweetshops make sure to keep different varieties of Teej sweets like Ghevar, Feeni, and more.
Ghevar and Feeni are the traditional sweets prepared during this festival season. To mark this occasion, houses – especially women’s homes – prepare special swings made of metal or bamboo poles with attractive fluffy colourful curtains hung from the branches of trees. Flowers are used along the rope edges to give it a pleasant smell as women, both married and unmarried, enjoy swinging to celebrate this ‘Sawan festival’.