In the land of festival -India, Hartalika Teej is celebrated by the women for a happy and prosperous marital life. Not to mention, all Indian festivals were dedicated by the women, as they ate considered to be Maa Shakti The day long festival is one of the most auspicious day, and married women wish for a happy married life and their partner's health and prosperity. Here is a glimpse of it from the Rural India
This year it was celebrated on Thursday's Sept. As per the Hindu Calender, it is marked on the Shukla Paksha Tritiya of the Bhadrapada month. The festival falls on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi and is celebrated one month after Hariyali Teej. There is not much difference between Hariyali Teej and Hartalika Teej, Hariyali Teej falls on the month of Savan, and mostly popular in cities. However Hartalika Teej has more Importance and followed by many people around India. This festival is celebrated with full fervour in Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
Indian woman, observe a day long 'nirjala (without water) fasting. During the evening of the fasting day, they worship Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, the symbol of love, devotion and faithfulness, to wish for a happy married life and their partner's health and prosperity. They end the fasting next dsy, after performing puja and distributing prasad. Nowadays, many unmarried girls too observe fasting on Hartalika Teej to wish for an ideal and loving life partner.
As per the age old story going by since ages
Goddess Parvati's father wanted her to marry Lord Vishnu. However, she wanted Lord Shiva to be her husband since childhood days. Goddess Parvati's friends helped her escape to a dense forest to avoid the wedding with Lord Vishnu. There, she prayed to Lord Shiva without food ND water. Eventually, Lord Shiva recognised her devotion and accepted Parvati's plea to marry him. It is believed that Lord Shiva had accepted Goddess Parvati on the day of Hartalika Teej.
Most Interesting part
Now what I have shared through images is a tradional approach to this festival. Painted wall, offering and rituals are very rare to see in cities. Especially those walls, which is drawn during someone wedding. Women prefer to worship under it during Hartalika Teej. So any girl who got married during the year, must have this painting in their home and all women assembled their to worship.
This is glimpse on traditional Indian culture. This approach is slowly getting lost in the midst of glamorous lifestyle. However, finding such thing in rural part make me happy. The tradition being still carried on.
