Teej Festival Celebrations: Deputy CM Diya Kumari Inaugurates Craft & Food Fair — A Unique Blend of Women Empowerment, Folk Culture, and Tradition

Jaipur : On the occasion of Teej Mahotsav 2025, Rajasthan’s Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari inaugurated the Craft and Food Fair at Pondrik Park, Talkatora in Jaipur on Sunday.

Diya Kumari was joined by Jaipur MP Smt. Manju Sharma, MLA Shri Balamukund Acharya, and other attendees in listening to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Mann Ki Baat” radio broadcast, which airs on the last Sunday of every month.

As part of the “A Tree in Mother’s Name” campaign, Diya Kumari also planted a sapling, promoting the message of environmental conservation.

Extending greetings to the women of Rajasthan on the occasion of Teej, she said, “This festival holds immense significance for women. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm across the state. This year, the Teej festival is being celebrated on a grander scale, with highlights such as the Teej Mata procession, the Craft & Food Fair at Pondrik Park for women, and the Maha Aarti of Teej Mata at Chhoti Chaupar.”

She mentioned that this is the first time a “Maha Aarti” is being organized during Teej celebrations, with key participation from the Governor and Chief Minister. She also announced that a budget of ₹100 crore has been allocated for the development of Jaipur’s walled city (Pink City).

Speaking at the Craft Fair, Diya Kumari said, “This vibrant event showcases Rajasthan’s rich cultural heritage through folk dance, cuisine, and handicrafts. It is dedicated to promoting Rajasthan’s culture, folk art, and women’s empowerment.” She expressed pride in PM Modi highlighting Rajasthan’s forts and heritage in his Mann Ki Baat broadcast.

Diya Kumari visited various stalls at the Craft Bazaar featuring handicrafts, traditional foods, folk dances, mehendi, and swings, and encouraged women’s participation in the two-day fair being held on Sunday and Monday. She added, “This grand celebration of joy, tradition, and festivity connects us to our rich legacy through mehendi, games, delicious foods, unique products, swings, folk music, traditional dances, and the lantern festival.”

She also personally applied mehendi and tasted ghevar, symbolizing her connection to Rajasthan’s folk traditions. She said, “May the Teej festival continue to bloom like the fragrance of mehendi worn by women.”

The Teej Festival, organized by the Rajasthan Tourism Department, witnessed the presence of Principal Secretary of Tourism, Art & Culture Mr. Rajesh Yadav, Tourism Commissioner Smt. Rukmani Riyar, government officials, citizens, a large number of women, domestic and international tourists, media representatives, journalists, and social media influencers.