Hariyali Teej Vrat Katha

Hariyali Teej is celebrated on the Tritiya (third day) of the waxing moon in the month of Sawan (Shravan), when the rains have turned everything green. Traditionally, women wear green clothes and bangles, apply mehendi, swing on swings and sing songs of Sawan. Married women fast and worship Shiv and Parvati. Her parents' home sends the daughter a sindhara, a gift of clothes and sweets like ghevar.

In the katha, Bhagwan Shiv reminds Parvati of her past. He says, 'Parvati, you did a very long penance to win me.' In an earlier life Parvati was Sati, who gave up her body at her father Daksha's yagya because she could not bear the insult to Shiv. Then she was born again as the daughter of Himalaya, king of the mountains.

From childhood her heart was set on Shiv. When she grew up she went into the Himalayan forests to do penance. She bore cold, heat and rain. First she ate fruit and flowers, then only leaves, and then gave up even leaves. That is why one of her names became 'Aparna', she who gave up even leaves.

To test her, Shiv sent the Saptarishis, the seven sages, who listed Shiv's faults to change her mind. But Parvati's resolve did not shake. She said she would marry no one but Shiv, however many births it took.

Shiv says, 'Pleased by this unshakeable devotion, I accepted you as my other half.' Tradition holds that this union took place on the Tritiya of Sawan. So on this day women remember Parvati, keep the fast and pray for a happy married life.