14/09/2026
Hartalika Teej is a sacred Hindu festival celebrated by women with immense devotion on the third day of the bright fortnight in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada. On this auspicious day, women observe a strict fast—often without food or water—to honor Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, the festival gets its name from 'Harit' (abducted) and 'Alika' (friends), recalling how Goddess Parvati's friends hid her in a dense forest so she could perform penance and marry Lord Shiva instead of Lord Vishnu. While married women fast for the longevity, health, and prosperity of their husbands, unmarried women pray to blissfully attain a compatible life partner.