Hartalika Teej Vrat Katha: Every year, the Hartalika Teej fast is observed on the Tritiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month. According to the Panchang, this year this fast will be observed on Friday, 6 September 2024, and on this day married women observe a Nirjala fast with the wish of unbroken good fortune. Mother Parvati and Lord Shiva are worshipped on the day of Hartalika Teej. It is considered mandatory to read or listen to the Vrat Katha during the puja. It is said that no fast is complete without a story.

Hartalika Teej Fast Story

According to mythology, Goddess Parvati wanted to have Lord Shiva as her husband and for this, she also did rigorous penance. One day Maharishi Narad reached the house of Mother Parvati's father Himalaya and said that Lord Vishnu, pleased with the penance of your daughter Parvati, wants to marry her, and I have come to you with his proposal. Himalaya was overjoyed to hear this and he said yes.

Narad Muni gave this message to Lord Vishnu and said that Maharaj Himalaya liked this proposal and he has agreed to get his daughter married to you. Narad Muni also told this news to Mother Parvati. Hearing this, Mother Parvati became very sad and she said that I wanted to marry Lord Shiva and not Vishnu.

She told her friends that she wanted to go away from her home and do penance there. Seeing the faith and love of Goddess Parvati for Lord Shiva, her friends somehow took her out of the palace to a cave in the forest. Staying here, Goddess Parvati started doing rigorous penance to get Lord Shiva as her husband. For which she established a Shivling made of sand. The day Goddess Parvati established the Shivling was the day of Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya in Hasta Nakshatra.

On this day, Goddess Parvati kept a Nirjala fast and also kept a Jagran at night. Lord Shiva was pleased to see the rigorous penance of Goddess Parvati and he blessed Goddess Parvati to get her wishes fulfilled. The next day, Goddess Parvati broke the fast with her friend and immersed all the puja material in the river Ganga.

On the other hand, Maa Parvati's father was upset because his daughter had left home after Lord Vishnu had promised to marry her. He reached the same cave while searching for Parvati. Maa Parvati told the whole reason for doing so and said that Lord Shiva had given her a boon. On this, Maharaja Himalaya apologized to Lord Vishnu and said that my daughter wants to marry Lord Shiva. Only after this, did Lord Shankar and Maa Parvati get married.