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In Sanatan culture and Hindu traditions, Hartalika Teej is considered to have the highest and special place among all the fasts observed throughout the year for married women. This extremely sacred and difficult fast, celebrated on the Tritiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month, has great spiritual significance in the life of married women. On this day, women keep a strict fast by remaining dehydrated and fasting for the long life, successful life and good health of their husbands. According to mythological beliefs, this fast was first observed by Mother Parvati in the harsh forests to get Lord Shiva as her husband. Pleased with her unwavering and true penance, Bholenath accepted her as his wife, since then married women and unmarried girls have been observing this fast with full devotion to get the desired and worthy groom and to wish for the long life of their married life.
According to religious texts and legends, the word Hartalika literally means ‘Harat’ i.e. kidnapping and ‘Aalika’ i.e. by friends. When Mother Parvati’s father Himalaya Raj was arranging her marriage with Lord Vishnu without her wish, her friends took her out of her house and took her to a dense forest and a secret cave. In the same forest, Mother Parvati had performed rigorous penance by making a Shivalinga and the idol of Mother Parvati made of sand. He completed his sadhana on the day of Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya, pleased with which Lord Shiva appeared before him. This is the reason why in this fast there is a special tradition of making Shivlinga of sand or clay and worshiping it. It is believed that any married woman who observes this fast with true heart, gets unbroken good fortune, happiness, peace and prosperity by the grace of Mother Parvati and Lord Shiva, due to which her married life is always full of happiness.
Its right time and Muhurta have a special place in the success of any fast and ritual. Worshiping on the day of Hartalika Teej during Pradosh period is considered most fruitful. The first three Muhurats after sunset are considered best for worshiping Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati. On this day, after taking bath in the morning, women do Solah Shringar and observe waterless fast for the whole day. During the Pradosh period i.e. in the evening, a red or yellow cloth is spread on the platform and the idols of Lord Shiva, Mother Parvati and Ganesh ji or a Shivling made of sand are installed on it. During puja, special care is taken that the puja material is completely pure and traditional. After fasting throughout the day and completing the puja as per the rituals in the evening, it is prescribed in the scriptures that the fast should be broken only after sunrise the next day, due to which the full and positive results of the fast are achieved.
Preparations for the worship of Hartalika Teej start a few days in advance. The materials used in this puja mainly include wet soil or sand, Belpatra, Shami leaves, Madar flowers, Dhatura, Bhang, Janeu, Kalava, Dhoop, Deep, Camphor, Roli, Chandan, Akshat and all the wedding items for Goddess Parvati. Bangles, Mahavar, Sindoor, Bindi, Kajal, Mehndi, Comb and Chunari of Suhaag are mainly kept in the wedding box. At the beginning of the puja, Lord Ganesha is first invoked and then the sand Shivalinga is anointed with rituals. Shivalinga is bathed with milk, curd, ghee, honey and Ganga water and bel leaves and flowers are offered. After this, all the wedding items are dedicated to Goddess Parvati with full devotion and wishes for her long life.
During the puja, it is considered very important to chant various mantras dedicated to Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati. Chanting of Panchakshar and Mahamrityunjay mantras like ‘Om Namah Shivay’ and ‘Shivaai Namah’ fills the entire house with spiritual energy. Apart from this, while offering Suhaag to Goddess Parvati, ‘Om Gauri Sobhay Kihi Barvad’ or traditional Suhaag mantras are chanted. At the end of the puja, it is considered mandatory to listen to the special fast story of Hartalika Teej or read it yourself, because without it the fast is considered incomplete. After the end of the story, Aarti is performed and night vigil also has special significance in which women spend the whole night worshiping God while singing bhajans and kirtans. In this way, this fast observed with discipline and complete purity removes all the troubles of life and brings happiness and prosperity to the family.