Declare Teej as holiday, demand Banjaras

Himayatnagar: President of All India Banjara Seva Sangh Shyam Naik has demanded that the state government declare Teej festival, which a symbol of Banjara culture and traditions, as a public holiday. He was speaking at a press conference held here on Monday. Shyam Naik called upon all Banjara tribals to celebrate the festival on the day fixed after consultation with community elders and intellectuals.

He said Teej celebrations start on August 3 and conclude on August 11. He urged Banjaras to celebrate the festival on a grand note at every tribal inhabitation so that everyone comes to know about the Banjara culture. He demanded the state government to declare the festival as official holiday and provide financial assistance to each inhabitation, like other festivals.

Teej in Telangana forms part of a wider celebration which is a forerunner to other festivals being celebrated and is known as Kajal Teej. Kajal Teej is one of the Banjara tribe's biggest festivals.[40] It is quite popular in villages and thandas. It is a week-long festival. On day 1 unmarried girls put wheat on a small bamboo basket. On the 7th day of sowing, the festival of Thamoli is celebrated.

On the ninth day, an earthen idol is prepared which is taken with all the bamboo baskets in a procession and immersed in a nearby pond or river, according to Wikipedia. Working president of the association Kishan Singh Rathod, Raja Singh, Dr Raj Kumar, Ketawath, Surya Dhanunjaya, Sitaram, Somlal and others were present during the press conference.