Residents offer puja at a Shiva temple at Police Lines Colony for Teej in Patna on Wednesday. Picture by Jai Prakash

Patna, Aug. 31: Married women thronged the numerous Shiva temples in the state capital today to pray for the long lives of their husbands as Teej, an important festival for them in the calendar, coincided with Id.

Residents took a dip in the Ganga and offered prayers to Shiv Parvati at the different temples. Although the wives visited various temples, often at different ends of the city, their wish to the gods was the same — marital bliss and long lives for their husbands.

Dressed in red saris, accessorised with gold jewellery and designer mehndi, several residents arrived at the Shiva Mandir at the Boring Road roundabout area for the puja.

Sushma Kumari, a resident of West Lohanipur, said: “On this day, we observe fast praying for marital bliss and prosperity and long lives of our husbands. This is an important festival and no matter what happens, I always observe a fast on Teej as it is a matter of my husband’s life. If he is safe and sound, then only can I expect anything from this world.”

For the uninitiated about Teej, Sushma said: “According to Hindu mythology, this festival is celebrated to remember the day when Parvati was united with Lord Shiva after a penance of 100 years.”

The effect of the fast was hardly noticeable on the women as their faces glowed with the gleaming gold jewellery they wore.

Patliputra resident Punam Anand said: “All this jewellery was given to me during my marriage and on Teej, every woman prefers to wear the ornaments she received during marriage. It’s a special day for us because this is the only time when we completely devote ourselves to our husbands. On other days, we may quarrel on small issues, but on Teej, the husbands make sure we are not disappointed. That is the best part of Teej.”

The Khajpura Shiv Mandir at Ashiana Nagar was also packed with fasting wives praying for their husbands. The priests surely felt the pressure of the festival as as they helped the devotees perform the puja.

Richa Sharma, a devotee at the temple, said: “Teej symbolises the relationship between a husband and a wife. New saris and bangles add more joy to this festival. Although sometimes my husband asks me not to fast on Teej, it is my duty. The wait to break the fast the next morning in front of my husband is also very exciting.”