Teej 2020: Date, pooja vidhi and foods you can eat in Hariyali Teej

This year Hariyali Teej will be celebrated on: Hariyali Teej will begin on 22 July 2020 ( 7.23 pm) and will end on 23 July (5.03pm).

Hariyali Teej is around the corner and it’s that time of the year, when festivity is in the air, but this time things would be a little different as the pandemic scare has changed the dynamics of life and taught us the new way of living and surviving the deadly Coronavirus attack.

Interestingly, much like every year, the festive fervour has already begun and the rituals will be followed with the same devotion, and the folklore and songs will be sung in the same way. The enthusiasm of festivity will again bring everyone together but with a twist of masks, sanitizers and social distancing.

Hariyali Teej brings with it a wave of happiness and the festivity begins with preparation of some delicious food. Interestingly, unlike other festivals in India, wherein there are some strict restrictions on food, in this festival, food is a quintessential part of celebrations that brings everyone together to bond over and share some happy moments.

On this day women dress up in traditional attire and follow an auesterious fast for their husbands. It is believed that worshipping Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati on this festival brings happiness and prosperity in life and strengthens martial bonds. From offering prayers to celebrating with songs and folktales to indulging in delicious food, here are a few delicacies that you can make at home with limited resources and enjoy the festival with exuberance of bonding over good food.

In India festivals are incomplete without delicious kheer. Right from offering it to the deity to serving as a prasad, kheer is a quintessence of Indian festivals. It is believed that sweetness of this dish brings sweetness to life and relationships. This Hariyali Teej prepare a nice creamy kheer, offer it to the deity and relish it with your loved ones. Just boil milk till it is reduced to half and add some washed basmati rice, sugar, then reduce it further add a hint of cardamom powder, saffron and some nuts and dry fruits.

Another authentic delicacy prepared during the Hariyali Teej is Ghewar. This Rajasthani delicacy is a part of their rich culinary heritage. Made with the goodness of milk, kesar, dry fruits,nuts, this traditional dessert is prepared during this festival, This plate-shaped delicacy is made with the richness of ghee, flour, malai dipped in sugar syrup.

Pakoras are an inseparable part of this festival, especially Mirchi Pakoda. Also known as Mirchi Bada in some regions, it is a very popular snack relished in Teej. To make this super easy dish, take big chilies, slit them from the centre and scrape out the chilli seeds. In the meantime, boil potatoes, mash them, mix them with spices and chopped coriander leaves. Then stuff them inside the chillies, prepare a besan batter, dip in the chilies and deep fry. Serve the pakoras with chutney and chai.

This delicious breakfast delight is also relished in some regions as a Teej breakfast. Made with a hearty amalgamation of spices and herbs, Bedmi Poori is an absolutely delicious Indian bread, and to make it more delicious it is served with spicy aloo curry made with a plethora of Indian spices and herbs.

If you thought this festival was only about sweet delicacies, then you will be amazed to know that in some parts of the country, this festival is celebrated by preparing some lip-smacking snacks and savouries like Samosas, Kachoris and Pakoras. However, Dal Samosa is often relished with chai and as the festival is celebrated in the monsoon season, savouries are an inseparable part of it. To make this dish, just saute the soaked and boiled dal with green chilies, spices and herbs, then stuff the filling inside the samosa pockets. Deep fried to perfection and relish with adrak wali chai.

Another easy to make sweet delight prepared to celebrate this festival is Anarse ki goli made with rice flour, sugar, dahi, white till and some ghee, this delicious ladoo is often prepared as a prasad and offered to the deity.