Hartalikha Teej: Celebrated by Married and Unmarried Women
Teej is the generalized name for the Hindu festivals celebrated by women. Hartalika Teej is one of those festivals celebrated by married women and unmarried girls to honor the union of Lord Shiva and Parvati. According to legends, Goddess Parvati’s wanted to marry Lord Shiva but her father wanted Lord Vishnu to be her husband. To escape this forced marriage, Goddess Parvati’s friends helped her fled to a forest on the day of marriage. There, she prayed to Shiva, and eventually, her devotion and austerity was recognized by Lord Shiva who agreed to marry her. It is believed that it was on the day of Hartalika Teej, Lord Shiva had accepted Parvati. Parvati was married to Lord Shiva with her father’s blessing evetually.
So every year Hartalika Teej is celebrated by both married and unmarried Hindu women. Married women pray for their husband’s long life and prosperity while unmarried girls wish for an ideal and loving husband. Women wake up early in the morning to celebrate Hartalika Teej, wear new clothes and bangles, perform puja and keep vrat on this day. Women distribute parsaad, recite the story of Lord Shiva and Parvita, make idols of Lord Shiva and Parvati with sand and sing folk songs. As a part of the celebration, special homemade sweets and other delicacies are made. Halwa, puri, thekwa, gujia, kheer, coconut ladu, khaja, ghewaar, gulab jaman and other sweets are made on this day.
For all the married women celebrating Hartalika Teej, we pray that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati shower their blessings on you and your partner and bless all unmarried girls with a happy married life soon.
Happy Hariyali Teej!
