Hartalika Teej 2026 – Vow of Goddess Parvati & Blessings for Marital Harmony

Full Date

14 September 2026 06:05 AM (pratah muhurat approx) – 14 September 2026 Evening/Night (fast continues)

Muhurat Timings in India

• Gauri Kanyadaan & Women’s Puja Gathering

  On 14 September 2026, many communities organise women’s gatherings (sangam) for collective puja of Gauri and Shiva, stories of Parvati’s penance & marriage, and community feasts after fast-breaking.

  14 September 2026 Evening (after sunset) – 14 September 2026 Night / next morning early

Introduction

Hartalika Teej is celebrated on the third day (Tritiya) of the bright half of the lunar month of Bhadrapada. Married women observe a nirjala (without water) fast, worship Goddess Parvati (Gauri) and Lord Shiva, and seek blessings for a happy, long and harmonious married life.

Other Names

Hortalika Teej, Gauri Habba, Gauri Teej

Pooja Vidhi

• Clean the worship area, decorate with flowers and lights; place imagery or icons of Shiva and Parvati.
• Light a lamp, offer sandal, flowers, incense, sweets and fruits to the deities, especially to Parvati (Gauri) in her bridal form.
• Recite the Hartalika Teej vrat katha or listen to it with devotion; tie sacred thread if prescribed by family custom.
• Perform arati in the evening/night, maintain vigil and devotion; assist in collective bhajan or wire gathering if available.
• Next morning break the fast in auspicious muhurat and share the prasadam; thank the deities and renew marital prayers.

Rituals

• Women wake up early, dress in fine clothes (often red or green), apply mehndi and jewellery, and begin the fast.
• Prepare small idols of Shiva, Parvati (Gauri) and Ganesh in clay or sand and decorate them with flowers, vermilion, rice and sweets.
• Perform the puja at home or in temples — offering flowers, fruits, sweets, incense and the idols, and recite the Hartalika Teej vrat katha.
• Women remain awake in the night or perform jagran, sing bhajans and stay in vigil for the well-being of their husbands (or future husbands).
• The fast is broken the following morning after sunrise (or as per regional custom) and prasadam is distributed among family and neighbours.

Regional Highlights

• Hartalika Teej is especially prominent in North India – states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and parts of Nepal observe it with great devotion. ([turn0search13])
• In Gujarat the festival is celebrated as Kevada Teej; in Karnataka/Andhra/Tamil Nadu it's known as Gauri Habba and the rituals may vary slightly. ([turn0search5])
• In Maharashtra the festival is observed by married women for husband’s long life, and unmarried girls for a good spouse; although it is less widespread compared to Hariyali Teej. ([turn0search22])

History

According to legend, Goddess Parvati disguised herself as a friend (Aalika) and was ‘abducted’ (Harita) by her friends to escape a marriage arranged by her father and then performed severe penance to win Lord Shiva as her husband. This day commemorates that vow and union, hence the name Hartalika (harita + aalika). The festival has been observed for centuries in India and Nepal. ([turn0search22])

Additional Information

• The name ‘Hartalika’ is derived from Sanskrit words meaning ‘abducted female-friend’ (Hara + Aalika) referring to the legend of Parvati’s friends who abducted her so she could marry Shiva. ([turn0search22])
• Though primarily a women’s festival, the spiritual symbolism of Hartalika Teej emphasises devotion (bhakti), yoga of married life and the power of vow (vrat).
• If you are publishing region-specific pages, you may include tips on nirjala fast (for example, hydration advice) especially since the fast is strict in many places.