5 September 2024
Sikkim Regional holiday | Thursday |
Hartalika Teej Vrat is one of the primary festivals in Hindu religion. It is celebrated on the third day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada. Actually, worshipping Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati holds a lot of thrust in the Hast Nakshatra of the third day of Shukla Paksha in the Bhadrapada month. Hartalika Teej is observed by unmarried girls and married women and even widows. It is the celebration of the reunion of Shiva and Parvati. Hartalika is a combination of the Hindi words harit and aalika which means "abduction" and female friend respectively.
According to the Indian Mythology of Hartalika Teej, Parvati, incarnated as Shailaputri was the daughter of Himavat. Himavat promised her hand in marriage to Vishnu, at the suggestion of Narada. Upon hearing this, Parvati told her friend of her fathers decision and her choice of not wanting to marry Vishnu. The friend took Parvati to the thick forest so that her father would not marry her to Vishnu against her wish. On the third day of the bright half of Bhadrapud, Parvati made a Shiva lingam out of her hair and prayed to impress Shiva. Shiva was so impressed that he gave his word to marry Parvati or Shailaputri. Eventually, Parvati was united with Shiva and was married to him with the blessings of Himavat. Since then, the day is referred to as Hartalika Teej as Parvatis female (aalika) friend had to abduct (harit) her in order for the goddess wish to achieve her goal of marrying Shiva.
Women on this day fast all day without consuming any grain or water. They pray for ultimate marital bliss and happiness. On the night of this day, women get together and sing religious songs and break their fast under the moonlight.