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Mandi, September 6 (HS). The collective festival of married women and girls, Haritalika or Chidtri festival was celebrated in every village of Mandi district. Hartalika Teej-Chidtri fast was observed in the historical city of Pangna-Suket-Mandi district on the third day of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapad month. On this occasion, married women and girls collectively worshipped Mata Gauri and Lord Shankar in their homes and temples.
To get a desired groom, girls and women put neem and tulsi leaves in water in the morning and after bathing, did all the adornments, made a banana pavilion for long life of themselves and their husbands and for the happiness and prosperity of the family, installed clay idols of Shiva, Parvati and birds and worshipped them as per the Sanatan rituals. Chidtri festival, celebrated in the name of birds, was very vibrant in Shiva temples.
Whereas in Pangna, the women and unmarried girls observing fast, after worshipping clay birds and idols of Shiva-Parvati with seasonal fruits, bilva leaves, dhatura and other flowers at Deshraj Gupta's house and in the temples, returned home and broke their day's Pradosh fast at night by eating light food like fruits which included bharsa daadi, sweet sago, sour potatoes prepared with curd, khawani prepared by cooking peanuts, dates and dry fruits in milk, etc. Whereas the women and girls observing fast by fasting and staying up all night vigil to fulfil their wishes, completed this fast by fasting by consuming only fruits and milk.
Ramesh Shastri, a Sanskrit scholar from Pajyanu village, says that the preparation of Haritalika Teej Chidtri begins a week in advance. In the auspicious time, clay is brought and cotton is mixed in it and kneaded with water. Birds, peacocks, ducks, etc. and wild animals and idols of Shiva-Parvati are made and after drying, they are decorated with various colours. For this, a week in advance, Satnaja and Hariyali seeds are sown in a pot for worship and its new shoots are presented as remains after the worship of Chidtri. On Friday morning, the festival of Chidtri will be concluded by distributing birds made of clay among the girls. While women observe this fast for unbroken good fortune, unmarried girls observe the fast of Chidtri to get a groom of their choice.
Dr. Himanshu Bali Him, President of Suket Sanskriti Sahitya and Jan Kalyan Manch Pangna says that Goddess Parvati had observed this fast to get Shiva as her husband. Goddess Parvati had performed severe penance by turning upside down for twelve years to get Shiva as her husband. Goddess Parvati had performed severe penance by not eating food, chewing leaves of trees and entering water in extreme cold. At many places, women seeking marital bliss make idols of Parvati and Shiva-Shankar and worship them even today. Women observing the fast live a happy life like Goddess Parvati and depart for Shiva Ram at the end of their lives.
Subhash Palekar Natural Farming District Mandi Advisor Leena Sharma and Dr. Jagdish Sharma say that the festival of Haritalika Chidtri is the adornment of various animals, trees, plants, flowers, fruits and various colours of nature and our rich culture. The efforts of the family members of Deshraj, Ravindra Gupta and Pawan Gupta and the Shiv Mandir committees to preserve its original form by adorning it in the same form and making clay idols to be worshipped on the occasion of Haritalika today are very praiseworthy.