India is a cultural land where all the rituals, traditions and festivals have some special significance associated with them. Indian commemorate every festival with ultimate faith and devotion. Hartalika Teej is a festival which epitomizes the sacred union of Lord Shiva and Hindu goddess Parvati and is celebrated in the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamilnadu by married and unmarried women to receive the love of their better halves in married life.

Hartalika Teej is also known as Gora Teej falls on Tritiya of Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada and memorized the union of Hindu God and Goddess, Shiva and Parvati. Like Karva Chauth and Vat Savitri, Festival of Hartalika Teej holds a lot more significance for married women. Married women observe a Nirjala fast(without water) on this day and offer prayers for the marital bliss and long lives of their husbands. Unmarried women keep fast to get an ideal husband like Lord Shiva.

This festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati. Clay idols of lord shiva and Mata Parvati s worshipped by married and married women to seek the heavenly blessings for the happy married life and progeny. In India, each festival has some significant rituals and celebrated with great enthusiasm. Women wake up early and take bath.It is the best time to adorn oneself with new traditional clothes and beautiful jewelry. Women dress up in Gorgeous attires (saree or lehenga). It is the charm of the festival that even market dazzles with the outshine of the festival. one another special feature of Hartalika Teej is that women decorate their hands and feet with intricate henna designs. Married Women prefer to wear green bangles as green is the symbol of fertility. All women gather at one place to celebrate Teej festival. They swing together while singing and dancing. All married women visit near by temple and offer solah Shringaar items (Vermillion bangles, toe ring, henna) to Goddess Parvati to solicit the holy blessings for a smooth relationship. Fruits, flowers, sweets and other holy items are also offered to Goddess Parvati. All Women form a semi circle placing the clay idol of Parvati Mata in the middle. Teej Katha is been heard by all married and unmarried women. One should attentively think about their soulmate while listening to the vrat Katha. Another important ritual of Hartalika Teej is women observe Nirjala vrat(without water) and without eating anything and open fast the next day. Newly married women visit their parent’s home to celebrate this occasion. Married women gift Solah Shringaar items to other married women to seek the blessings of elders. Married women receive gifts Shringaar items and sweets from their parents and mother-in-law.

Hartalika Teej is marked as an auspicious festival for females.It is believed that Goddess Parvati blesses the women with a blissful and happy married life who pray and observe fast with purity, faithfulness, and devotion.