Ujjain : Hartalika Teej special day for married women and unmarried girls is here. Hartalika Teej is a fasting festival observed by Hindu women.
It is dedicated to Goddess Parvati. Hartalika Teej falls on the third day of the first fortnight of the month of Bhadra. While women from the city were readying for celebrating the festival. The religious shops and stall in the city were seen selling special Puja items that are necessary in the act. Hartalika Teej is also the time to adorn oneself with new clothes and jewelry. Applying mehndi on hands and feet is one of the unique features of Hartalika Teej celebrations. A heavy rush of women’s was also seen at many mehndi shops and bangle stores around the city.
Patni Bazaar located Saubhagyeshwar Mahadev temple was also readied up for the rush of women devotees who were queuing up for worship of the deity after the midnight of Wednesday. According to Hindu mythology Parvati was affectionate for Shiva. Being an ascetic Lord Shiva was not aware of her. Parvati performed penance on the Himalayas for many years and finally Shiva took notice of her. Then Lord Shiva came to know about her love and devotion towards him and agreed to marry her. Since then Parvati has been worshipped as Haritalika.
Unmarried girls keep the fast and pray to Goddesses Parvati in hope to get good husbands. Hartalika Teej Vrat (fast) is observed by both married and unmarried women. Married women keep the Vrat in order to achieve happy and peaceful married life. Married ladies come back to their parent’s home to celebrate the festival. Some even maintain Nirjala vrat (fasting without water) on the day and refrain from sleep for the next 24 hours. This is symbolic of the penance which Goddesses Parvati undertook to get Shiva as her husband.
