Teej Dresses

Teej – Traditional Monsoon Festival

Teej is a three-day long festival. It is a part of the grand Indian tradition of Northern and Western India. Celebrated with much gusto, it is observed primarily by Hindu women. The festival itself has a dual, overlapping significance that revolves around the reunion of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva as well as the onset of the monsoon season in India.

The Complete Teej Look

Since the typical Teej attire involves achieving the bridal look, women begin their shopping for the festival days beforehand. There are certain types of dresses, accessories, embroideries and styles that are more popular and acceptable than others. Whether from shopping malls or the local open markets, shopping for the occasion of Teej is an opportunity for women to pamper themselves.

Dresses

The dresses worn at the celebration include sarees, lehengas, and salwar suits. Although heavily embroidered and stylized designer attires are becoming increasingly popular, the color scheme remains in sync with the region it is being celebrated in. Red and pink designer dresses are popular choices as these are considered auspicious. Although green sarees and lehenga cholis outweigh the other color schemes in terms of popularity.

Jewelry

It is common practice for husbands and in-laws to give the bahu (daughter-in-law) of the house jewelry items. There are no particular norms on the kind of items that are to be gifted, although jewelry made of gold and embellished with precious or semi-precious stones is preferred. These can be necklaces, anklets, maang tikkas, earrings as well as other items.

Attire Accessories

To go with their dresses, women also purchase matching dress accessories such as footwear and purses. Although it is not customary, it is now popular for women to wear jewel studded footwear or fancy footwear that adds to the grandeur of the attire. Purses follow similar fashion wherein jewel studded, sequined, beaded bags and other fancy clutches are purchased to complement Indian ethnic wear.

Bangles

Conventionally, bangles are also accessories to the attire. However, on the occasion of Teej, this accessory takes on an identity of its own as it is an integral part of Indian ethnic and Indian bridal looks. Glass bangles in colors that complement the color of the dress are the most popular types. These are recently being replaced by bangles and kadas made of precious metals.