Hartalika Teej is a Hindu festival celebrated in honour of Goddess Parvati. This festival is mainly celebrated in Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. In Karnataka, this fast is celebrated as Swarna Gauri Vrata or Gowri Habba while, in Andhra Pradesh, it is referred to as Thadiya Gauramma Vratham.This is three day festival falls on the third day of Shukla Paksha which is the bright fortnight of lunar month which culminates in full moon day in the month of Bhadrapada. Haritalika Teej comes one month after Hariyali Teej and usually celebrated one day before Ganesh chaturthi. On this day women folk worship goddess Parvathi or Teej Mata made of clay.
On this day women seek the blessings of goddess Parvathi since it is believed that by fasting and praying to goddess Parvati married women will be blessed by a healthy and long life of their husband and a marital bliss like that of lord Shiva and Parvathi while unmarried girls are said to be blessed by a husband like Lord Shiva.
Hartalika Teej History
According to the legends after the death of Sati Devi, Lord Shiva started ignoring the entire world, including Goddess Parvati. But Parvati was in love with lord Shiva. So Parvati worshipped lord Shiva and performed penance in the Himalayas for many years surviving only on grass and fruits. Lord Shiva was impressed by her love and dedication and accepted her as his wife. From then onwards goddess Parvati is worshipped as Hartalika or Teej Mata. It is believed that Goddess Parvati will be pleased with those women who observe the Vrat on this day.
How is Hartalika Teej Celebrated?
Hartalika Teej is celebrated for three days. On the first day women dress up in new clothes, jewellery, bangles and bindi and look their best. In Maharashtra women wear green sarees and bangles on this day. They spend the day by applying mehandi on each other’s hands and singing and dancing. The second day is the most important day. On this day women and young girls observe nirjala vrat without even drinking water which is symbolic to the intense austerities observed by Goddess Parvathi to get Lord Shiva as her husband. Women perform the puja by sitting in a semi-circle and an idol of Goddess Parvati adorned with new clothes is kept in the centre. A Shivling is made from clay and placed alongside Parvati and women narrate the holy Teej Katha. After the puja women offer fruits and flowers to Teej Mata and seek her blessings. On the Teej main puja takes place with holy offerings of flowers, sweets and coins. Some women also offer food for Brahmins on this day. In some places women stay awake the whole night and an oil lamp is kept alight throughout the night. On the last day women prepare many delicacies to break their fast which vary from region to region.