The katha told by Shiva ji
Once Lord Shiva said to Mata Parvati, 'O Parvati, you do not remember your past birth, so I will tell you the story of how you won me.'
Shiva ji said, 'You were born 107 times to win me as your husband, but did not succeed each time. In your 108th birth you were born in the home of Himalaya, king of mountains. You did harsh penance on the Himalaya — in the summer sun, under the open sky in the rain, and standing in water in winter. You lived on dry leaves and then gave up even those in your penance.'
'Your father was very sad to see your condition. At that time Narad Muni came with a proposal of marriage on behalf of Lord Vishnu, and Himalaya agreed. But your heart was set on me.'
'You did not give up your penance. Seeing your unbroken faith, on the Tritiya of Sawan's Shukla paksha I was pleased and promised to accept you as my wife.'
Shiva ji said, 'Any woman who keeps the vrat with faith on this day, worships us and hears this katha will have unbroken good fortune.'
How to do the puja
Married women wear green clothes and green bangles, apply mehendi and swing on swings. In the evening they make clay images of Shiv-Parvati, worship them and offer suhag items to Mata Parvati. The 'sindhara' (ghewar, sweets, clothes) sent from the mother's home is a special tradition of this Teej.
This is OmKiran Bhakti's retelling of the traditional katha in simple English; details of the katha vary slightly from region to region.