Hartalika Teej: Tithi, Vidhi, Significance and More
About Hartalika Teej
Ever wondered how diverse India is? We Indians love to celebrate. One such celebration is of marital bliss. Marriage in India is considered a sacred institution. Women in India observe Teej with so much enthusiasm, to get a good spouse and have a happy married life. In North India, the 3 prominent Teej observed by women are – Hariyali Teej, Kajari Teej, and Hartalika Teej. Hartalika Teej is prominently Hindu festival observed by married women in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
In the southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, Hartalika Teej is known as Gowri Habba. Women observe Swarna Gowri Vratha, to seek blessings of Maa Gowri.
Hartalika Teej Tithi
Hartalika Teej is observed in Bhadrapada month, on the Shukhla Paksha Tritya. It comes a month after Hariyali Teej.
In 2023, the Tithi for Hartalika Teej is 18 September.
Pratah kaal timing: 06.07:10 to 08:34:22, duration 2 hours and 27 minutes
To know about the exact time and tithi for puja and more, you can talk to an expert astrologer at NamoAstro.
Hartalika Teej Vrat katha
Hartalika is made up of “Harat” and “Aalika” which means “abduction” and “female friend”. It is believed that Mata Parvati’s friends abducted her into the forest when her father Himavat wanted Mata Parvati to get married to Shri Hari Vishnu. Mata Parvati had an inclination for Mahadev and wanted to marry him.
The legend of Hartalika Teej was narrated by Shiv ji himself to Parvati Ji, while reminding her of her incarnation as Parvati, as the daughter of Raja Himavat. After the death of his wife Sati, Shiva went into deep meditation. Sati was reborn as Parvati, who was determined to marry Shiva. She performed various austerities and Tapasya to do so. She ran away deep into the forest for that, along with her friend. Her father was furious and started looking for her. Narada Muni told him about Parvati’s whereabouts. In the forest, she made a Shivling of clay, in Hasta Nakshatra, in the month of Bhadrapada, on the 3rd day of Shukla Paksha. On seeing Parvati’s dedication, Bhagwan Shiva was impressed. He blessed her and agreed to marry her. She rushed back home, delighted. In the presence of Gods and Goddesses, their marriage was duly performed.
Significance of Hartalika Teej Vrat
During the Hartalika Teej Vrat, unmarried girls and women pray to Teej Mata, who is a manifestation of Maa Parvati. Those who perform this Vrat, are blessed by Bhagwan Shiva. Women are blessed with happiness and marital bliss. It is of utmost importance for women who are facing delays in marriage. It can help them quickly resolve the delay.
Married women also perform the vrat, for the longevity of their husbands. Widows also observe this vrat.
Hartalika Teej is a symbol of devotion and penance. It reminds devotees of the importance of dedication, sacrifice, and never-ending faith. It is also associated with divine feminine energy. It is a celebration of the resilience, strength, and determination of women.
It is also a symbol of love and dedication between Shiv and Parvati. It is an opportunity for the married couple to strengthen their bond and seek blessings for a prosperous married life.
It is an opportunity for spiritual cleansing as well. Fasting, devotion, chanting and prayers can help devotees in riding their minds of tamasic thoughts, purifying mind, body, and soul. On this day, devotees try to embody the virtues of Goddess Parvati – compassionate, passionate, and loving.
Puja Vidhi For Hartalika Teej
- Get up early in the morning. Take a bath with Amalak powder and Sesame. Dress with clean clothes. Women generally wear sarees and adorn themselves with jewellery.
In Maharashtra, women also apply mehndi on their hands. Without henna or mehndi, the Srinagar is considered incomplete. Maa Parvati had accepted Shiv ji as her husband in her mind. In order to impress him, she observed fast and applied red-coloured heena on her hands. When Shiv ji saw that, he was delighted and accepted Maa Parvati as his wife. They wear green clothes, green bangles and kajal.
The morning time is considered best for Hartalika Puja. However, if for some reason, you are not able to do Hartalika Puja in the morning, Pradosh time is also considered good.
- Take a Sankalp to perform the Hartalika Teej, it appeases Shiv Parvati Ji.
- Worship of Ganesh ji should be done before Hartalika Puja. Offerings of flowers, incense, and bilva leaves.
- The statues of Shiv–Parvati are made with sand. They are worshipped for marital bliss. Followed by the narration of Hartalika Vrat Katha.
In order to get to know about detailed puja Vidhi, you can consult our expert astrologer here.
- Generally, it is considered a puja for females only. But, as per the religious text – Vratraj, which provides information about Hartalika Vrat Katha, nowhere it is mentioned that it is a female-only puja.
- In the night, women do jagran. It is believed that those who sleep at night during Hartalika Teej will be reborn as pythons.
- Apart from these, women also gather in groups and sing and dance to celebrate the occasion.
Rules For Observing Hartalika Teej Vrat
- The women and girls who are performing the Vrat for the first time should keep in mind that they can not break the Vrat or skip it in between.
- If the woman is undergoing the menstrual cycle during the Hartalika Teej, they should not touch the idol. Also, they should listen to the katha from a distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is it referred to as “Hartalika” Teej?
A: Hartalika is made up of “Harat” and “Aalika” which means “abduction” and “female friend”. The name represents the close connection and adoration between Goddess Parvati and her friend, who assisted her in becoming one with Lord Shiva.
Q: Is there a particular specific food that is associated with Hartalika Teej?
A: In order to break their fast, women eat special food items like “ghewar,” “malpua,” “kheer,” and other sweets during Hartalika Teej.
