The green season

Hariyali Teej is just around the corner and as per the Hindu calendar it is celebrated on the third day of Shukla Paksha. Teej refers to the monsoon festivals, observed particularly in western and northern states of India. Hariyali Teej derived its name from the word that translates into greenery which is to be celebrated and rejoiced all over the country. This festival is considered very pious among the married women and unmarried girls as they pray for marital bliss.

It celebrates the bounty of nature, arrival of clouds and rain, greenery and birds, rituals and customs. Green symbolises nature and therefore is a manifestation of God himself. It is the colour of balance and harmony. From a colour psychology perspective, it is a great balancer of the heart and the emotions, creating equilibrium between the head and the heart. Green is also the colour of growth, the colour of spring, of renewal and rebirth.

It renews and restores depleted energy. It is the sanctuary away from stresses of modern living, restoring us back to a sense of well-being. This is why there is so much of this relaxing colour in the festival. Green is also the colour of the Heart Chakra, also known as Anahata. This chakra is located at the center of the chest area and is linked to the heart, lungs, circulatory system and cardiac plexus. The Heart Chakra bridges the gap between the physical and spiritual worlds.

Opening the Heart Chakra allows a person to love, empathize, and feel more compassion. In several religions, green is the colour associated with resurrection and regeneration. It is also the color of love associated with both Venus, the Roman goddess and Aphrodite, the Greek goddess. The prophet Mohammed wore a green cloak and turban too. The God of fertility in Celtic myths was associated with green.

Green is also the colour associated with Sunday in the Catholic church and the altar cloth is usually green for Sunday services. After Teej, nature is meant to rejuvenate itself, reviving from the scorch and heat of the summers. With heavy downpours, the pores of the earthly skin are rejuvenated as they soak moisture in abundance. This festival is considered to kickstart a complete new life of earth as well as of married women as they start off with their new journey by praying to Goddess Parvati.

This day is said to be the day of the symbolic event where Goddess Parvati was reunited with her beloved husband Lord Shiva. The married women pray to her to make them stronger and enable them to handle ups and downs with patience and modesty. Green is also an emotionally positive colour, giving us the ability to love and nurture ourselves and others unconditionally.

— The writer is a mind, soul and body doctor. She is also a spiritual and energy healer.