Hartalika Teej 2026 Date – 14 September

The story behind the name

Parvati had set her heart on marrying Shiva, but her father, King Himavan, agreed to give her hand to Vishnu. To save her from this match, her friends took her away into the forest – the name comes from harat (taken away) and aalika (female friend). There she made a Shivalinga of sand on Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya and worshipped it with a fast, without food or water, staying awake all night. Moved by her devotion, Shiva agreed to marry her.

Who keeps the fast

Married women keep it for a long and happy married life, and unmarried girls for a good husband. It is one of the strictest fasts of the year: traditionally nirjala, with no food or water, from sunrise until the next morning. It is widely observed in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, and in Nepal, where Teej is a major festival.

Hartalika Teej across regions

• Nepal – Haritalika Teej is a three-day festival: a feast called dar on the eve, the fast, and Rishi Panchami. Women dress in red, sing Teej songs and dance at Pashupatinath and other Shiva temples.
• Maharashtra – Hartalika is worshipped with green leaves and flowers, and idols of Parvati and her friend are made from clay.
• Karnataka – Gowri Habba (Swarna Gowri Vrata) on the same day, when married women worship Gowri and exchange baagina, a gift of turmeric, kumkum, bangles and sweets.
• Bihar and Jharkhand – women dress in new clothes, with mehendi, and gather to hear the katha in the evening.

The three Teej festivals

Hartalika is the last of three Teej festivals of the monsoon. Hariyali Teej comes on Shravana Shukla Tritiya, Kajari Teej about two weeks later on Bhadrapada Krishna Tritiya, and Hartalika Teej on Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya, usually the day before Ganesh Chaturthi.

Hartalika Teej puja samagri (what you need)

• Sand, clay or shadu mitti to make the idols
• Banana leaves or a wooden chowki
• Bel leaves, dhatura and seasonal flowers
• Shami and other leaves
• Suhaag items for Parvati – bangles, sindoor, bindi, mehendi, a red chunri
• Chandan, roli and akshat
• Kalash with water and a coconut
• Fruit and homemade sweets
• Diya with ghee and incense

How to do Hartalika Teej puja, step by step

1. Bathe early and take the sankalp to fast.
2. In the evening, make small idols of Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha from sand or clay and place them on banana leaves.
3. Set up a kalash and light a diya.
4. Worship Ganesha first, then Shiva with bel leaves and dhatura, and Parvati with suhaag items.
5. Listen to or read the Hartalika Teej katha.
6. Perform aarti and stay awake through the night with bhajans.
7. Next morning, perform the final puja, immerse the idols and break the fast; give suhaag items to a married woman.