Monsoon brings with it a wave of festivity and it’s time to celebrate the festival of Hartalika Teej with exuberance. This year Hartalika Teej will be celebrated on Thursday, September 9, 2021, and the festive fervour can be felt everywhere.
Popularly celebrated in Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand. Here’s all you need to know about this auspicious festival, tithi, rituals and foods prepared on this day.
Why is Hartalika Teej celebrated?
There are three types of Teej celebrated in India, Shravan Teej, Kajaria Teej and Hartalika Teej. According to the Hindu mythology, it is believed that Hartalika Teej is one of the most important Teej, and worshiping Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati on this day brings marital bliss and a prosperous life.
The word Teej comes from the Sanskrit word Tritya which means third. This year Hartalika Teej will fall on September 9, 2021, which is the Tritiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha in Bhadrapada month.
Hartalika Teej shubh muhurat
According to the Hindu calendar, Hartalika Teej will fall on September 9, Thursday. The shubh muhurat for Teej will begin around 2:33 am and will continue till 12:18 am on September 10.
On this day devotees get up early in the morning a few hours before sunrise, take bath, clean and decorate the place of worship. This year the pratah kaal muhurat for puja will begin from 6:03 am to 8:33 am. However, the puja can also be performed at the pradosh kaal muhurat 6:33 pm to 8:51 pm.
It is believed that married women must observe fasts for their blissful married life. This is the reason why women dress up in beautiful attire, jewellery, apply mehendi and worship Lord Shiva and Parvati.
The festival begins after taking a sankalp in the name of Lord Shiva and Parvati to observe nirjala vrat. Idols from clay are made and worshipped on this day.
On this day ladies gather, sing and dance on folk songs, sing hymns, chant mantras and celebrate the day with zeal.
Foods prepared on Hartalika Teej
It is impossible to imagine Indian festivals without a lavish feast. So even if you are observing phalahari fast, delicious satvik food is prepared on this day and offered to the deity as a prasad, which is later distributed among family and friends.
Some of the quintessential foods prepared on this day are Panchamrit, Kheer, Halwa, Gujiya, Ghevar, Dal Bati Churma, Ladoos, Kachoris and Mirchi pakoras to name a few.
Kheer
This Teej prepare a delicious Kheer and add sweetness to your celebrations. Just take a vessel and add full fat milk, add sugar along with some cardamom powder and let it boil. Once the milk is reduced to half, add the rice and allow the kheer to cook, add condensed milk and dry fruits. Serve as bhog and enjoy!
Panchamrit
To make this easy Panchamrit recipe, just mix milk, curd, honey, sugar and ghee.
Coconut Ladoo
Make these quick Ladoos by toss grated coconut in some ghee, add crumbled jaggery/sugar, dry fruits and sesame seeds. Make small Ladoos, roll over some desiccated coconuts and serve as prasad.
