Kajari Teej 2138: Chicago, Illinois

The traditional katha

This is the katha traditionally told by those who keep this vrata; no Purana source was found for it.

Long ago there lived a Brahmin who was very poor, so poor that he had almost nothing in his house. His wife was devoted and good, and she never missed a fast.

When Kajari Teej came in the month of Bhadrapada, she kept the vrata as always. She said to her husband, "I am keeping the Teej fast today, and I must have sattu for the worship. No one from my parents' home will be sending any. Please bring some."

The Brahmin had no money. He searched here and there, but found nothing, and the evening was coming on. At last, at night, he went to the shop of a rich merchant. The merchant and his helpers were asleep. There was no sattu ready, so the Brahmin quietly measured out only what was needed to make it: some gram, ghee and sugar. He took nothing else.

The sound woke the people in the shop, and someone cried, "Thief!" The merchant came running and caught the Brahmin with the things in his hands.

The Brahmin did not lie. He told the merchant everything: that he was poor, that his wife was fasting for Teej, that she needed sattu for her worship, and that he had never meant to become a thief. The merchant had him searched, and they found nothing on him but the makings of sattu, just as he had said.

The merchant's anger melted away. He was touched by the poor man's honesty and by the wife's faith. "From today," he said, "I will look on your wife as my own sister." He sent the Brahmin home not only with sattu, but also with money, new clothes, jewellery, mehendi and other gifts.

The Brahmin's wife completed her worship and broke her fast after offering water to the moon. From then on, want left their home, and the family lived in plenty and peace.