हरतालिका तीज · હરતાળિકા-તીજ
Next date
14 September 2026
Monday · Shukla Tritiya
Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya, married women fast for their husband's well-being and worship Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. Sand or clay Shiva-Parvati idols are made and worshipped.
Harat (abduction) and alika (friend). Parvati's friend carried her off into the forest to prevent her marriage to Vishnu, which her father had arranged, so that she could continue her austerities for Shiva. She made a linga of sand and worshipped it without food or water, and Shiva accepted her.
A nirjala fast, without food or water, kept by married women for their husbands and by unmarried women for a good husband. A sand or clay linga is made and worshipped through the night; the fast runs until the next morning.
Nothing for the duration. Broken the next morning with fruit and sweets.
Strongest in UP, Bihar, MP, Rajasthan and Nepal. In Maharashtra and Karnataka it's kept as Hartalika with somewhat lighter rules. Distinct from Hariyali Teej (Shravana Shukla Tritiya) and Kajari Teej (Bhadrapada Krishna Tritiya), three Teejs, all Tritiya, all connected to Gauri.
