What Hartalika Teej is
The monsoon months bring three ‘Teej’ days: Hariyali Teej on Shravana Shukla Tritiya, Kajari Teej on Bhadrapada Krishna Tritiya, and Hartalika Teej on Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya. The third falls the day before Ganesh Chaturthi.
On this day women keep a fast, worship Shiva and Parvati shaped in clay or sand, hear the story, and in many places sing bhajans through the night. It is especially kept in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Nepal. Both married and unmarried women keep it, by their own choice. Tradition sees it as a day of devotion and of Shiva and Parvati's unbroken bond.
How the day is decided
Shastra (Dharmasindhu): the Haritalika vrat is on Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya. For this vrat the Tritiya joined to Chaturthi is taken, so:
| Situation | Day |
|---|---|
| On the next day the Tritiya lasts a muhurta or even less | The next day |
| No Tritiya at all on the next day (kshaya) | The first, Dvitiya-joined day |
| A full (sixty-ghati) Tritiya on day 1, a little on day 2 | Day 2, joined to Chaturthi |
The text gives the reason as praise of the gana-yoga: the meeting of Tritiya (Gauri's tithi) and Chaturthi (Ganesha's tithi) is held best for this vrat. A muhurta is about 48 minutes.
The story: tradition / Purana story
Tradition reads the name as ‘harita’ (taken away) and ‘alika’ (friend). The story says Parvati had set her heart on Shiva, but her father Himalaya wanted to arrange her marriage elsewhere. So her friends took Parvati into a deep forest, where on Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya she shaped a linga of sand, worshipped it and kept vigil all night. Her devotion and resolve pleased Shiva, and later they were married.
We did not find this story in the texts in our library; we keep it as tradition. Its heart is holding to what one's heart knows, the support of friends, and devotion.
How families celebrate
Shastra (Dharmasindhu): the text speaks of worship of Bhavani (Parvati) and Shiva and a fast in this vrat.
In tradition, women bathe in the morning and wear new or green and red clothes, mehendi and ornaments. In the evening a canopy (phulera) of banana leaves and flowers is made, with Shiva, Parvati and in many places Ganesha in clay or sand. Bel leaves, datura, shami, flowers and items of married life are offered; women sit together for the story and sing bhajans through the night. Next morning, puja, immersion of the images and breaking the fast.
In Nepal, Teej brings red saris, dancing and temple visits; in Maharashtra ‘Haritalika’ is worshipped at home. Some homes keep it very simply, some as a big celebration.
A simple puja
- A morning bath, remembrance of Shiva and Parvati, and a fast as your health allows (see below).
- In the evening, on a clean low stool, shape a small Shiva-linga and Parvati in clay or sand, or place a picture.
- Light a lamp; offer bel leaves, flowers, rice, roli and seasonal fruit.
- ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ and remembrance of Parvati, the story, aarti.
- Keep vigil with bhajans as far as you can, then rest; next morning puja, immersion (at home in a bucket or plant pot) and breaking the fast.
No paid puja is needed.
Health and safety
Fasting and health: keep the fast as your health allows. People who are unwell, pregnant, diabetic or on regular medicine can take a lighter form (fruit, milk, or one simple meal), or ask a doctor first. Don't change medicine timings. For health, the doctor comes first; no vrat replaces that.
A waterless fast (no water, nearly a full day and night) is the custom in many places, but it is not for everyone. With diabetes blood sugar can drop, in pregnancy and breastfeeding dehydration can do harm, and in the hot, humid Bhadrapada season the body loses water quickly. A form with water, fruit or milk is also in the tradition; puja, the story and devotion make the vrat complete. If you feel dizzy, anxious or weak, drink water, eat something and talk to a doctor.
If the night vigil leaves you short of sleep, don't drive the next day. Keep lamps away from clothes and flowers. This vrat is one of choice, never of pressure or fear.
In ePandit
In ePandit: our calendar shows the festival day with your city's sunrise and sunset. The day is decided once, for Ujjain; your city's times are shown separately. We don't compute muhurta yet, and we never call a festival good or bad for anyone.