Hartalika Teej

 Haritalika is a religious vow prescribed for women and virgins in Hinduism. 'Harita' means 'one who took the district' and 'Lika' means 'companion'. Parvati is called 'Haritalika' because her companion took her to penance to attain Shiva. The story of Haritalika is mentioned in the Hargauri Samvad of the Bhavishya Purana. Shiva Bhutva Shiva Yajet | Haritalika should be worshipped with this sentiment.

Haritalika idol-                                                                                                                                    Parvati, the daughter of the ancient Parvata king, became a virgin, and on the advice of Narada, her father planned to marry her to Vishnu. But Parvati had in mind to marry Shankar, so she sent a message to her father through her friend, saying, "If you tie me to Vishnu's lap, I will sacrifice my life." With the help of her friend, she left home and went to a forest to worship the Shivalinga to please Shiva. Parvati worshipped the Shivalinga and fasted for the whole day. Legend has it that Shiva was pleased with her penance and accepted Parvati's request as his wife.

The meaning behind the fast-                                                                                                                Shiva and Parvati or Uma and Maheshwar are known as the parents of the universe. Since the universe was created through the union of the feminine and masculine principles, we worship these principles. We pray for the manifestation of Adi Shakti within us through the worship of Adi Shakti.

Liturgy-                                                                                                                                                        They worship a Shivalinga made of sand or bring idols of Sakhi and Parvati along with the Shivalinga and worship them. The general form of this worship is Sankalpa, sixteen remedies, offering of Saubhagyaleni, offering of offerings, aarti and reading of stories. The book Vrataraj describes this fast. Women stay awake at night, play games and worship the goddess. The next day, they apply ghee to a cotton leaf and lick it, and then the women break their fast.

Haritalika Puja-                                                                                                                                        Haritalika is observed all over India. In order to get a good husband like Parvati, many Brahmin Kumarikas in South India observe this fast. This fast is observed on the third day of Bhadrapada . On this day, clay idols of Gauri and her companions are worshipped by fasting. Haritalika is not observed in Gujarat or Bengal. In Tamil Nadu, the Gauri festival lasts for three days from the second day of Magh Shuddhu. There, Kumarikas, Abhishekavati women also observe this fast. In Maharashtra, many married women and widows also observe this fast. Women also observe this fast in North India, and this fast is also observed in the Kashi region. In Maharashtra, this fast is also observed in the Sindhudurg coast and Goa states. In the Indian states of Bihar , Uttar Pradesh , Jharkhand , and Rajasthan , this fast is also observed by women.

Hartalika is a combination of the Sanskrit words harit and aalika which means "abduction" and "female friend" respectively. According to the legend of Hartalika Teej, Parvati, incarnated as Shailaputri

On the third day of the bright half of Bhadrapada, Parvati made a shiva lingam out of sand and silt of Ganga and prayed. Shiva was so impressed that he gave his word to marry Parvati. Eventually, Parvati was united with Shiva and was married to him with her father's blessing. Since then, the day is referred to as Hartalika Teej as Parvati's female (aalika) friend had to abduct (harit) her in order for the goddess to achieve her goal of marrying Shiva.

Accordingly, Hartalika Teej is seen as a major festival and is celebrated on the third day of the bright half of the Indian/North Nepali Lunar month of Bhadrapada. The festival women feasting during the evening of Hartalika Teej, praying to Parvati and Shiva, remembering their wedding and staying up all night listening to prayers. The fast commences during the evening of Hartalika Teej and is broken the next day after a full day's observance which involves women not even drinking water. The focus is on praying to Parvati whom Shiva desired should be worshipped under the name Hartalika. The main areas of celebration are Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Nepal. In Rajasthan, an idol of Parvati is taken out in procession in the streets accompanied by singing, and music. Hartalika Teej has also spread to parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh.

In Maharashtra Hartalika teej also known as Hartalika tritiya vrat, which is celebrated in similar manner like northern India. It is observed by married women for the welfare, health, and long life of their husbands and for a happy married life and unmarried girls for being blessed with a good husband. It is Nirjala Vrat, they fast for one and half day. Women do Sola shrungar, apply mehndi, wear new red or green sari, observe fast, make idol of Shiva, Gauri, Sakhi and Ganesha with clay or river sand, read katha. They do bhajan sangeet pooja in night as well and open vrat on the second day. It is very auspicious vrat for women in India to worship goddess Parvati in the form of Gauri along with Shiva parivar.

In eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand, married women keep Nirjala Upvas for the whole day of Teej, & deck up with Shringaars like Aalta, Mehndi, e.t.c.. In the evening, the women get decked up in heavy sarees, gold jewellery,their wedding Chunris, & don the traditional orange Sindoor from the tip of their nose. In many homes, it is a tradition to wear their wedding Banarasi Saree, on the eve of Teej. They make & worship small clay idols of Shiva, Gauri, Ganesh & Kartikeya. They offer flowers, garlands, Fruits, sweets & items of 16 Shringaar to Maa parvati. Then they recite & listen to the Hartālikā Teej Katha,& offer reverence to the deities. Very early in the next morning,before sunrise, the women get ready & worship the idols again & finally conclude their fasts. The idols are later immersed in a holy water body. In Bhojpuri region, traditional delicacies such as Thekua, Pidukia, e.t.c. are prepared for offering. Traditional folk songs are sung, & women adorn Sindoor from their wedding Sinhora.