Hariyali Teej brings along with it green bangles, mehendi-stained hands and get-togethers that have a lavish spread with a mix of sweet and savoury snacks. This time Hariyali Teej will be celebrated on Saturday, August 15. The festival is celebrated across North India, especially in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.
The festival is linked with the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. While prayer, festivities and gatherings are at the core of Teej celebrations, food naturally turns out to be the main part of the event that brings everyone together.
If you're inviting your friends or family members for a Teej 2026 gathering, a small table of colourful, easy-to-eat snacks works perfectly, without you having to stand in the kitchen for the whole time. Here are some easy-to-make sweet and savoury snack options that can make your Teej 2026 get-together more manageable.
Mini Aloo Tikki
If you want to go with a familiar and traditional choice that pleases everybody, an aloo tikki can be the best pick, but make them in small-sized ones instead of big ones. Boil and mash potatoes, then season with roasted cumin powder, red chilli, coriander powder, chaat masala and salt. Add a little cornflour so that the mixture binds well. To make the tikkis even more appealing, you can also add paneer crumbs, green peas and chopped cashews.
Shape the mixture into small discs, then pan-fry with a little oil until it turns crisp and golden from all sides. Serve them with green chutney and sweet imli chutney. With a crisp cover and soft potato filling within, these tikkis are an easy crowd-pleaser for the festive spread.
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Corn Chaat Cups
Give the snack spread a colourful makeover with corn chaat cups. Simply boil some sweet corn and let it cool down a bit. Then take them in a bowl and mix with finely chopped cucumber, tomato, onion, coriander and green chilli. Add some lemon juice, chaat masala, black salt and a bit of roasted cumin powder to season the chaat thoroughly.
Instead of simply serving it in a bowl, spoon the mixture into small serving cups and then garnish with additional chopped coriander from the top and some nylon sev just before you serve, or else it will turn soggy. The fresh, juicy crunch having sweet, tangy and a bit spicy taste, instantly lifts up the palate. Since there is no frying needed, this is particularly convenient when you are making many other dishes along for the celebration.
Paneer Tikka Bites
Paneer tikka can become a party snack when it is served in small sizes. Just cut paneer into bite-sized cubes and then marinate them with a marinade prepared of thick curd, ginger-garlic paste, Kashmiri chilli powder, a pinch of turmeric, garam masala, lemon juice and salt to taste. Add pieces of onion and capsicum if you prefer.
Keep the marination refrigerated for about half an hour, then grill, air-fry or pan-cook, as you like it, until the edges get lightly charred. Serve them with mint chutney and lemon wedges alongside. The smoky charred edges, soft paneer and light spicy marinade result in a juicy appetiser.
Masala Makhana
If you want to keep something light and crunchy, because lunch or dinner is to be followed next, turn plain makhana into a quick, appealing snack. In a pan, heat a little ghee and roast the makhana over low to medium flame until they turn crisp. Keep stirring so they get roasted evenly without browning much. Once done, sprinkle roasted cumin powder, black pepper, red chilli powder, chaat masala and a bit of salt.
Toss everything and let it cool down thoroughly before serving. The outcome is a crisp, savoury and a bit spiced munching snack, making it a good option along with other richer snacks. Store it in an airtight box if preparing ahead so that they do not turn soggy.
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Coconut Ladoo
The Teej snack table feels incomplete without having a sweet dish to it. Soft coconut ladoos are easy to make prepared ahead as a sweet. Mix desiccated coconut and condensed milk in a non-stick pan and then cook on a low heat until the mixture turns thick and starts to leave the sides of the pan. Now, add cardamom powder to enhance the taste and mix it well.
Let the mixture cool down a bit, then shape them to make small ladoos. Once done, roll them over desiccated coconut. They are soft, chewy and naturally aromatic from the use of coconut and cardamom. Try to make them a day ahead and keep them refrigerated, then bring them to room temperature before you serve.
Easy Drinks To Serve
Keep the drinks menu simple by making nimbu sharbat, rose lemonade or simply aam panna. Make them before guests arrive so that they are sufficiently cool. If you are serving tea afterwards, keep a pot of masala chai prepared with ginger and cardamom to add at the last.
For a more traditional touch, cut and place small pieces of ghewar along with the coconut ladoos. You do not need a large complex menu; a few colourful snacks, a refreshing beverage and one festive sweet are sufficient to turn a simple afternoon into a warm gathering.