The Teej festival is very popular among women in north India. Married women come to their parents' home to celebrate this festival. It is an occasion for them to sing, dance and make merry. Special swings are hung on tree branches, and the women, swing on them. They dress up as befits a married woman, adorning all the solashringara. They fast to rededicate themselves to their husband and family. It is believed that praying to Parvati bestows marital bliss. Many villages and tows hold special Teej fairs. This is a time, especially for the rural women to pamper and enjoy themselves, buy bangles, bindis, bead necklaces, etc. It is also a time for feasting.

After a ceremonial worship at home, an image of Parvati, clad in red and gold, borne on a palanquin is taken out in a procession, representative of her marriage procession. Several elephants, camels and dancers accompany the idol.

Another form of Teej observed in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra is Haritalika Teej. This is a three-day festival. By praying to Parvati on these three days, unmarried girls hope to get a husband like Shiva. Married women pray to her for marital bliss.

According to Hindu mythology, Parvati was in love with Shiva. However,  being an ascetic, Shiva was not aware of her. Parvati prayed for many years until Shiva finally noticed her. Realizing the depth of her love and devotion, he agreed to marry her. Since then Parvati has been worshipped as Haritalika. The three days of prayers by girls is symbolic of Parvati’s prayers.

In Maharashtra, women wear green bangles, green clothes, golden bindis and kajal to signify their luck. They distribute beautifully painted coconuts to their female relatives and friends and offer fresh fruit and green vegetables to the goddess as thanksgiving. The ritual ends with a feast. A special sweet known as patoli is an integral part of this feast. It is made of jaggery and rice and coconut milk steamed in banana leaves. Mixed vegetables cooked with spices and coconut milk and tender coconut water are other important parts of the feast.