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In Sanatan Hindu religion, Hartalika Teej is considered to be the most difficult, supreme and auspicious of all the fasts for married women and unmarried girls who wish to get the desired groom. According to the Vedic calendar, this great festival is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm every year on the Tritiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month. According to the almanac calculations regarding Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya Tithi in the year 2026, Tritiya Tithi is starting at noon on 13 September 2026 and will remain in effect till the afternoon of 14 September 2026. As per the clear opinion of the scriptures, when it comes to Hartalika Teej fast, the coordination of ‘Udayakalin Tritiya’ and ‘Pradosh Vyapini Tritiya’ is given the highest priority.
According to the rules of most of the Vedic astrologers, scholars of Kashi and Dharmasindhu, on 14 September 2026 (Monday), due to presence of Tritiya in Udaya Tithi and auspicious coincidence of Hasta Nakshatra, the main fast will be observed on 14 September only. However, in view of the availability of Tritiya Tithi in Pradosh period in many traditions, preparations for the puja will begin from the evening of 13th September. In such a situation, devoted women will observe a strict water-free fast for 24 hours on 14th September and jointly worship Lord Ashutosh Shiva, Mother Parvati and the first revered Shri Ganesha. This fast not only ends the discord in married life and instills love and trust, but also bestows the blessing of longevity, health and unbroken good fortune in the family.
The special importance of time and period in the worship of Hartalika Teej is described in the scriptures. The worship of this fast is considered to be most fruitful in two specific moments of the day – first Pratash Kaal (morning time) and second Pradosh Kaal (time after sunset).
Morning Puja Muhurat: There will be Chaughadiya of Amrit and Shubh from 06:05 am to 08:34 am on 14 September 2026. This time is very good for setting up the Kalash in the home temple, decorating the post and worshiping the idols of Gods. For women who want to take puja resolution in the morning, this period of 2 hours 29 minutes will be best.
Mahamuhurta of Pradosh period: According to religious texts, the main and most fruitful worship of Hartalika Teej is done after sunset i.e. during Pradosh period only. There will be stable lagna muhurat of Pradosh Kaal from 06.28 pm to 08.45 pm. During Pradosh period, Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati descend from Mount Kailash and roam around in the earth, hence the worship done at this time is considered to give immediate desired results. Apart from this, women who do night vigil can also perform special rituals with Rudrabhishek and Mahamrityunjaya mantras in all four hours of the night.
The word ‘Hartalika’ is made up of two words – ‘Harat’ which means to abduct and ‘Aalika’ which means friend. According to the story described in Shiva Mahapuran and Bhavishya Purana, Mother Parvati wanted to have Lord Shiva as her husband since her previous birth. Her father Himalaya wanted to get her married to Lord Vishnu, due to which mother Parvati became extremely sad. Then her friends quietly abducted Mother Parvati from her father’s palace and hid her in a dense and rugged forest.
In a cave in the forest, on the banks of river Ganga, Mother Parvati completely sacrificed food and water and built Shivlinga from sand and got absorbed in severe penance. On the day of Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya, in Hasta Nakshatra, pleased with the rigorous penance of Mother Parvati, Devadhidev Mahadev appeared and gave the boon of accepting Mother Parvati as his better half. Since then this holy date came to be known as Hartalika Teej. It is believed that any married woman who observes Nirjala fast on this day with true heart, gets unbroken good fortune and an immortal marriage like Mother Parvati. Whereas unmarried girls get a virtuous, long-lived and capable life partner like Lord Shiva.
To perform the worship of Hartalika Teej with rituals and purity, it is mandatory to follow some special classical rules:
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Morning bath and resolution: On the day of fasting, wake up in Brahma Muhurta and clean the house thoroughly. Take bath with water mixed with Ganga water and wear clean clothes (red, yellow or green traditional clothes). In the puja room, take water, Akshat and flowers in your hand and pledge that ‘O Mother Uma and Devadhidev Mahadev, I am observing this Nirjala Hartalika Teej fast for my unbroken good fortune and family happiness and prosperity.’
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Chowki and pavilion construction: Decorate a small and beautiful pavilion with banana leaves and sugarcane poles in the Ishaan corner (north-east direction) of the house. Spread a new red or yellow cloth on a wooden stool. Make an octagonal lotus on it and install a copper or brass Kalash. Keep water, betel nut, coin, mango leaves and coconut with coir in the Kalash.
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Creation of earthly statue: On Hartalika Teej, instead of metal idols brought from the market, beautiful idols of Lord Shiva, Mata Parvati and Shri Ganesha are made with their own hands from pure river sand, black soil or Ganga soil. The construction of this earthly Shivalinga is considered extremely auspicious.
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Shodashopachar worship: First of all, offer Durva, Roli, Akshat and Modak to the revered Lord Ganesha. After this, bathe Lord Shiva with Ganga water, Panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, Ganga water). Offer white sandalwood, ashes, sacred thread, belpatra, hemp, datura, madar flowers, Shami leaves and seasonal fruits to Bholenath.
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Offering of Suhaag Pitari to Mother Parvati: After taking Panchamrit bath, offer complete 16 makeup items to Goddess Parvati including red chunri, vermilion, bindi, henna, bangles, alta, kajal, anklets, comb, mirror, toe ring and clothes. By doing this, any kind of crisis or marital defect gets eliminated in marital life.
Hartalika Teej is not just a fast, but it is a sacred celebration of women’s self-respect, dedication and beauty. On this day, it is considered mandatory for women to do Solah Shringaar. Henna applied on the hands, alta on the feet and vermilion of kumkum on the forehead symbolize the immortality of the married couple.
After the evening puja, women must gather and listen or read the authentic fast story of Hartalika Teej. The scriptures clearly state that without listening to the story of the fast, the full fruit of this fast is never achieved. While listening to the story, wheat grains or intact flowers and flowers should be kept in hand. After the story is over, perform aarti of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati with camphor.
After Aarti, there is a tradition of doing bhajan-kirtan and jagran throughout the night. Women do not sleep at night, but sing songs glorifying Shiva during the four prahars. By night vigil, the sins of the seeker’s previous births are destroyed and positive energy is transmitted in the house.
Considering the strictness of the rules during the fast of Hartalika Teej, the devotees should avoid some special mistakes:
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Complete renunciation of water and food: This fast is ‘Nirjala’, that is, not even a drop of water or a grain of food is consumed from sunrise to sunrise of the next day. However, if a woman is pregnant, extremely old or suffering from a serious illness, she can consume fruits and water.
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Distance from anger and discord: On the day of fasting, keep your mind completely calm and pure. Do not use jealousy, hatred or harsh words towards anyone. Arguing with husband or any family member makes the fast ineffective.
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Avoiding black and white clothes: Never wear black, blue or dark gray clothes during puja. Married women should wear only red, queen, orange, yellow or green colors.
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Correct time of Parana and immersion method: Hartalika Teej fast is broken on the next day i.e. in the morning of Chaturthi Tithi. Take bath after sunrise on the morning of 15 September 2026 and again worship Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati. Offer vermillion to Goddess Parvati and fulfill your wish with that vermillion. After this, donate suhaag material and food to a married Brahmin or needy woman. After that, immerse the idols made of sand in any holy river, pond or running water with full respect and chanting mantras. After immersion, break the fast by eating prasad of cucumber, lemon water or soaked gram.