Parvati & Shiva
Hartalika Teej
The sternest Teej — Parvati's own nirjala vrat, kept beside a shivling of sand.
Tithi: Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya
In the simplest words
The strictest teej — remembering how Parvati's friends hid her away so she could keep her vow to marry only Shiva. Determination, celebrated.
The story & purpose
Harta-alika — 'abducted by her friend': when Parvati's father promised her to Vishnu, her sakhi spirited her into deep forest, where she made a shivling of river sand and worshipped through day and night without food or water. Shiva came, and gave his word. The vrat re-lives that night of absolute resolve.
It is the strictest of the three Teejs — nirjala where health allows — kept by women for the companion of their heart's choosing and his long life. The sand or clay shivling with Gauri beside it, the night jagran with katha and songs, and the morning visarjan complete the circle.
What is done
Sand shivling
Shiva and Gauri shaped from sand or clay, adorned and worshipped at pradosh.
Nirjala vrat
Per capacity — the shastra places health before severity.
Ratri jagran
The katha in the night watches, with bhajan through to dawn.
Visarjan & parana
Morning puja, immersion of the images, then the fast is opened.
Best timings
Pradosh kala begins the puja; the vrat runs to the next morning.
Exact muhurat varies by city and tradition — for the precise hour, consult a local panchang for your location.
Worth knowing
In 2026 the tritiya compresses against Ganesh Chaturthi — Teej and Ganapati arrive together on 14 Sep.
In Nepal and Mithila this is the year's great women's festival, red saris filling Pashupatinath.
Karnataka keeps the same tithi as Gowri Habba, welcoming Gauri home before her son arrives next day.
Mantras of this festival
Note: Some 2026 panchangs (and US-timezone calendars) observe 13 Sep; India's widely-published date is 14 Sep.