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The festival of Teej is one of the largest festivals to be celebrated in India. It is celebrated according to the Hindu calendar during the month of Shravan. Teej is primarily celebrated in the north of India, being quite popular in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab. The period during which Teej is celebrated is said to signify the beginning of monsoon, which takes place right after long and hot summers. Apart from signifying the beginning of monsoon, Teej is also celebrated in honor of the reunion between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Married women from all over pray to the Goddess Parvati for the well-being and prosperity of their husbands. The festival of Teej is an occasion for fasting, splashy fashion, religious ceremonies and observances as well as a lot of singing and dancing. A lot of religious processions take place during Teej. These processions are colorful affairs where people enjoy themselves among family and friends soaring with the festive spirit.

Celebrations in Different States

For those who are quite unacquainted with this festival of Teej, you might want to continue reading below where we highlight exactly how the festival is celebrated in the different northern states.

Gujarat

Because Teej is primarily a Rajasthani festival, most surrounding states such as Gujarat base their Teej celebrations around the manner in which Rajasthanis celebrate it. Traditional dance forms such as Dandiya and Garba are quite popular in the state. Outfits such as Ghagra cholis and Lehenga Cholis are typically worn at such events. Most women in this region make the use of colorful dupattas designed with impressive zari and gota embroidery to accessorize their outfits, whether they be sarees, lehenga cholis, ghagra cholis or anarkali suits. Gujarati women also drape their lehengas and sarees differently to women in other states, with the pallu in the front side.

Rajasthan

The festival of Teej is said to have originated in the state of Rajasthan. Numerous fairs and processions are organized all over, where women take part in a variety of traditional dances. Green is the most common color used in the festive Teej clothing. The three-day celebrations see the opening of a lot of huge makeshift markets which sell a lot of festive styles featuring leheriya prints as well as popular Teej jewelry such as kundan and meenakari jewelry.

Punjab

In Punjab, Teej is a very popular festival that people eagerly await and look forward to celebrating all year. A variety of events such as dances, beauty pageants, singing, drawing, mehendi and rangoli competitions are organized in small village fetes. One of traditional-folk dance forms that are very popular in these areas is the Gidda, which is performed only in the traditional outfit known as the Gidda. Much like the celebrations in the state of Rajasthan, Punjabi Teej celebrations include huge pop-up markets that sell everything from food, traditional clothing, Teej accessories like bangles, earrings, necklaces and traditional footwear called jooties.

Bihar

Bihari women take their Teej fashion quite seriously. Red is the staple color that women are supposed to sport during this time. As accessorising plays a big part in their festive attire, a lot of women can be seen sporting their finest gold jewelry during these times. Women fast throughout this three day period and pray to deities for their husbands prosperity and long lives.

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Here are not many instances in our life where we go out on a vacation with family or friends because of the compact itinerary we have limited ourselves to. So why not make those special moments conductive of rejoicing for a lifetime by following some simple tips and tricks of photography explained beneath.

1) Take multiple shots: 
Everyone strives for that picture perfect click whenever a photograph is being snapped but unfortunately out of 100, we like or savor only a handful of clicks. Other photographs, lay down in our albums backup just for the sake of remembrance.

Therefore, it’s recommended to take multiple shots of the same picture so while sorting it out, you have a chance to opt for the best among them. Continuous shots is also an option that you try depending on your needs and deeds.

2) Camera type and its features: 
Before you begin your trip, you should know everything about the camera, its type, and features you are willing to use. Because you will be handicapped for your entire journey if your camera broke up midway or you find out something very much unusual in it.

Smartphone cameras are also a great option nowadays as they are available with extensive features and are easy to carry compared to external cameras. But, if you are going to use smartphone cameras, make sure you have conclusive photography applications up on your sleeves to make your photographs elegant.

3) Take pictures with proper lights: 
Background lights are very much important to click a wondrous snap no matter which camera you are using. By clicking photos with proper lights in the background will surely have a huge impact on the output and definitely, at the end, you will have an extraordinary click saved for your memories.

Natural lights can also be effective to give you better snaps, but make sure that the exposure level is managed or else output will be a bit dark.

4) Read and learn from every shot: 
While you capture images, you should look out for all of those minute details that can make your pictures better than before and so it is your responsibility to learn from every of the shot you take.

Learn from your mistakes and be creative when you snap as photography is all about creativity. Your Photograph is an example of a shot that your eye has already captured.

5) Photo Stamping: 
Photo Stamping is a remarkable way to add detail to photos, especially when you are on holidays or something related. The reason behind this is the 3 W’s question in your life which includes “When, Why and Where” were the photographs taken.

Adding details like date and time, signature and location on to the images can comfort you from stress that crop up when you memorize details of the snaps captured by you. And also, when you will be checking up all of those Images after your Journey is over, they won’t be an unknown entity to you.

Everything concluded, follow all these tips and tricks to make your memories with family, friends and loved ones stunning. Keep traveling and keep capturing beautiful images with its remembrance. Cheers!

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The Parvati Valley in Himachal Pradesh is an extraordinarily beautiful region, but most people know it more for its charas than its beauty. Even till a decade ago, the valley remained underground, somewhat surprisingly, and mostly saw foreign tourists, as Indian tourists preferred other destinations in the Himalayan state. But as awareness about cannabis (the source plant of charas) and its forms increased in India over the years, the Valley has seen more and more young Indians pour in. While that has definitely helped tourism in the Valley’s villages, its environment, along with its reputation, has suffered a lot.

The Origins of Charas Trade in Parvati Valley

Charas is a black, sticky substance that is extracted from cannabis plants by continuously rubbing the plants, and it has been cultivated and used by the locals for decades. Lord Shiva is said to smoke it, which makes it a substance of immense religious importance in a region that is predominantly Hindu.
When foreigners, mostly backpackers, and hippies, first stumbled upon the valley and discovered the potent charas, they couldn’t wait to take it back with them, as it had immense value in the west. More interestingly, the natives of the valley had little idea of the prices their products would fetch, as they kept selling it for extraordinarily low prices.

Thus started a drug trade that grows stronger with every passing year. The natives are now fully aware of their products’ value in the international markets. As a result, thousands of acres of Himalayan lands, located in the upper reaches of the valley, remain full with cannabis plantations from April onwards. They are allowed to thrive and grow till September when the rubbing process begins, and the charas is extracted. It’s hard work, but it definitely pays; to what extent, however?

Why is it a Problem?

Earnings may have skyrocketed for the locals in recent years thanks to the charas trade, but most people these days venture into the Valley in the only for charas, and they rarely want anything more. This strong undercurrent of indifference for the natural magnificence of the region has resulted in a huge amount of litter on the Himalayas.

Pay a visit to any of the villages in and around the Valley, and it wouldn’t be long before you can spot garbage on the sides of the mountains. The banks of the Parvati River too, haven’t been spared, and Kasol, probably the most popular destination in the Valley, is among the many victims.
With no proper waste management system in place, it is imperative that visitors to the Valley handle plastic and packaged products with utmost care, especially in remote places of the Valley like Kheerganga, which can be accessed only after a 3-hour trek. But on the contrary, the crowd stays busy in drug-fuelled fantasies, happily ignoring the need of the hour; keeping Parvati clean and green.

Preserving Parvati

Charas may be intrinsic to the Parvati Valley way of life, but the Valley needs to be seen as much more than just a place that produces a really potent drug. It’s time all of us admired the Valley for its views of spectacular snow-capped Himalayan peaks, its apple trees, and all its lush greenery, and played our parts in protecting Parvati from the dangers of too much plastic and pollution.

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