Haritalika Teej 2025: Date, Significance, and Puja Vidhi

Haritalika Teej is a sacred festival dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Women observe this vrat (fast) on the Tritiya tithi of the Shukla Paksha in the Bhadrapada month. Married women observe it for the long life, health, and prosperity of their husbands, while unmarried girls perform it to receive a virtuous husband.

Date of Haritalika Teej 2025:

In 2025, Haritalika Teej will fall on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.

Significance of Haritalika Teej:

The name Haritalika comes from two Sanskrit words—Harat meaning abduction and Alika meaning a female friend. According to the legend, Goddess Parvati’s father decided to marry her off to Lord Vishnu. However, Parvati wished to marry Lord Shiva. Her friend took her into the dense forest to prevent the unwanted marriage. In the forest, Parvati performed intense penance without food or water to please Lord Shiva. Impressed by her devotion, Lord Shiva accepted her as his wife. Since then, women observe this fast to seek long-lasting marital bliss and unmarried girls observe it to get an ideal life partner.

Puja Vidhi:

Haritalika Teej involves a strict nirjala vrat, where women abstain from both food and water for a full day and night. The puja takes place during the evening.

Preparations:

Clean and decorate the puja area with flowers.
Install clay idols of Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva, and Lord Ganesha.
Gather all essential puja items: fruits, flowers, bael leaves, dhatura, shami leaves, betel leaves, areca nut, incense sticks, diya (lamp), kumkum, sandalwood paste, rice grains, coconut, saree, items for shringaar (bindi, bangles, mehendi, sindoor), sweets, and naivedya.

Sankalp (Vow):

Take a bath and wear clean clothes.
Hold water in your hand and take the vow to observe a strict nirjala fast with full devotion.
Beginning the Puja:
Start by worshipping Lord Ganesha.
Then offer prayers to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Perform their ceremonial bath with a mixture of water, milk, curd, ghee, honey, and sugar.
Offer clothes, flowers, bael leaves, and dhatura.
Present the sixteen adornments (solah shringaar) to Goddess Parvati.
Light incense and lamps.
Mantra Chanting and Story Listening:
Chant mantras like “Om Namah Shivaya” and “Om Umamaheshwarabhyam Namah”.
Read or listen to the Haritalika Teej vrat katha attentively. The story reveals the spiritual power of the fast and blesses the listener.

Aarti:

Perform aarti of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and Lord Ganesha to conclude the puja.
Paran (Breaking the Fast):
Break the fast the next morning after sunrise.
Bathe and offer prayers to Shiva-Parvati before eating.
You may consume fruits and sweets for breaking the fast.

Haritalika Teej symbolizes feminine strength, deep devotion, and unwavering faith. The fast not only holds spiritual importance but also brings peace and prosperity into the household.