Hartalika Teej Vrat Katha

Hartalika Teej falls on the Tritiya of the waxing moon in Bhadrapad, a day before Ganesh Chaturthi. Traditionally, women usually keep this fast without water. Images of Shiv, Parvati and Ganesh are made of sand or clay and worshipped with flowers and leaves, the katha is heard, and the night is spent awake singing bhajans. The fast is broken the next morning after puja.

The name itself tells the story: 'harat' means to take away and 'aalika' means a friend. Parvati, daughter of the Himalaya king, had wanted Shiv as her husband since childhood and was doing hard penance. Her father grieved to see her state.

One day Narad Muni came and said that Bhagwan Vishnu wished to marry Parvati. The Himalaya king gladly agreed. When Parvati heard this she was deeply upset, because in her heart she had chosen Shiv alone. She told her friend everything.

Her friends quietly took Parvati to a cave deep in the forest, so that she would not be married against her will. There, on Bhadrapad Shukla Tritiya, Parvati made a Shivling of sand, fasted without water and worshipped Shiv all night long.

Pleased by her devotion, Shiv appeared and promised to accept her as his wife. Meanwhile the Himalaya king, searching for his daughter, reached the place. Parvati told him the truth. Her father respected his daughter's wish, and later Shiv and Parvati were married with full rites.