Hartalika Teej
A Rigorous Fast for Marital Bliss
The Story of Unwavering Devotion
Hartalika Teej is the third and most significant of the three Teej festivals, celebrated with immense devotion by women in North India. It falls on the third day of the bright half of the lunar month of Bhadrapada. This festival is dedicated to the divine union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The name 'Hartalika' is a combination of 'Harat' (abduction) and 'Aalika' (female friend), referring to the legend where Parvati's friends 'abducted' her and took her to a dense forest to prevent her father from marrying her to Lord Vishnu against her will.
In the forest, Parvati undertook a severe and rigorous penance, fashioning a Shiva Lingam out of sand and praying with unwavering devotion to be united with Lord Shiva. Moved by her determination, Shiva appeared before her and accepted her as his wife. Hartalika Teej celebrates this powerful story of a woman's resolve and her ultimate triumph in winning her desired husband through pure devotion.