Colours of Sawan, Spirit of Teej: A Celebration of Women and Tradition
Hariyali Teej Utsav 2026 brings together music, dance and a vibrant ramp walk; Aparna Yadav calls upon women to stay aware, confident and empowered
Lucknow: The colours of Sawan, the charm of age-old traditions and the confidence of women came together in a vibrant celebration at the Grand Inn Hotel in Indira Nagar on Saturday. Organised by the Foundation for Social Help, the Hariyali Teej Utsav 2026 turned into a lively showcase of talent, culture and womanhood, with participants taking centre stage through music, dance and a traditional ramp walk.
Aparna Yadav, Vice-Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Women, attended the event as the chief guest.
An Auspicious Beginning
The celebrations opened with a Ganesh Vandana, setting a traditional tone for the evening. Aparna Yadav and Councillor Pooja Jaswani formally inaugurated the programme by lighting the ceremonial lamp. BJP leaders Jiya and Nandita Mishra served as judges for the competitions.
What followed was a colourful series of performances that brought the festive spirit of Teej alive. Women showcased their talent in singing, dancing and ramp walking, reflecting not only creativity but also confidence and individuality.
Music, Dance and Confidence Take Centre Stage
Among the cultural performances, Shweta Dwivedi’s solo dance emerged as one of the major attractions of the event and drew an enthusiastic response from the audience.
In the competitions, Monica Sonkar won the singing category, while Sneha Saxena emerged victorious in the dance contest.
The ramp walk added another vibrant dimension to the celebrations. Ila, Pinky, Sudha, Monica, Aastha, Vijaya and Ranjita walked the ramp in traditional attire, combining festive elegance with confidence. Their colourful ensembles beautifully captured the essence of Sawan and the cultural spirit associated with Hariyali Teej.
Renu Singh Crowned ‘Teej Queen’
One of the most eagerly awaited moments of the evening was the announcement of the Teej Queen.
Renu Singh was crowned ‘Teej Queen’, while Supriya Singh was named the second runner-up. The winners were felicitated with prizes amid applause from participants and guests.
‘Age Is Just a Number’: Aparna Yadav
Addressing the gathering, Aparna Yadav underlined the importance of awareness and active participation among women.
“Age is just a number. No matter where we stand in society, it is important for us to remain aware,” she said.
She encouraged women to stay informed about their rights as well as welfare initiatives launched by the Central and Uttar Pradesh governments, stressing that greater awareness enables women to make better use of opportunities available to them.
Speaking about the cultural significance of Hariyali Teej, Yadav said the festival is celebrated with immense enthusiasm across northern India. She appreciated women for preserving traditional customs, rituals and cultural practices and passing them on from one generation to another.
Where Tradition Meets the Confidence of Modern Women
Ila Mishra and Pinky Verma welcomed Aparna Yadav with a bouquet and later presented her with a memento as a mark of honour.
The gathering saw the participation of a large number of women, including Shweta Dwivedi, Seema Aeri, Shweta Gupta, Aastha Nagar, Sudha Tiwari, Rekha Mishra, Vijaya, Padma, Preeti Dhawan and Alka Srivastava.
With the melody of festive songs, the rhythm of dance and the elegance of traditional attire, the celebration went beyond entertainment. It offered women a platform to express themselves while reaffirming their connection with India’s cultural heritage.
Hariyali Teej Utsav 2026 ultimately emerged as a celebration where tradition met contemporary confidence — painting the evening not only in the vibrant colours of Sawan, but also in the many shades of women’s talent, identity and empowerment.If this is going for print publication, I can also make the English tighter and more editorial, with a magazine-style headline, standfirst, photo caption and pull quote.
