Hartalika Teej
Haritalika Teej is celebrated on 3rd day of Bhado month. Bhado Shukla Paksha 3rd day is called Haritalika Teej. This festival comes before one day of Ganesh Chaturthi. Haritalika Teej has different names in different states. In Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh, this Teej festival is called Gouri Habba. In Gujarat this Teej is called Kevada Trij. The Teej festival is celebrated in different parts of India.
According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati found Lord Shiva as her husband on the fortunate day of Hartalika Teej. This is the day that celebrates her exceptional devotion and penance for 108 consecutive births following which Lord Shiva became her partner.
For the same reason, the day is considered auspicious for women and girls alike. On the eve of Hartalika Teej, women worship Goddess Parvati to seek her blessings for a successful married life. The statues of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva are made with sand and are worshipped for wellbeing of spouses and blessing for healthy children.
It refers to the event that took place before Mata Parvati got married to Lord Shiva. According to a legend associated with this Teej, Mata Parvati's father had chosen Lord Vishnu for her, but since she wanted to get married to Lord Shiva, she sought help from one of her friends. Hartalika is a combination of two Sanskrit words Harat (kidnap) + Aalika (female friend). It refers to the event that took place before Mata Parvati got married to Lord Shiva.
According to a legend associated with this Teej, Mata Parvati's father had chosen Lord Vishnu for her, but since she wanted to get married to Lord Shiva, she sought help from one of her friends. Mata Parvati's friend "abducted" her and took her to a thick forest where she could hide. The word 'abduction' shouldn't be misinterpreted here because it is not actually abduction. In this context, it is a gesture of lending help to a friend who wished to marry the man of her choice.
On the day of Hartalika Teej, women prepare clay idols of Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati and worship them for a blissful married life. This ritual is similar to the Hariyali Teej festivities. Haritalika Teej which is also called Kewda Trij, is a Hindu ritual observed mainly in Gujarat on the third day of the Shukla Paksha of Bhadarvo in Gujarat. Married and unmarried women observe a fast on the day and offer Kewda flower to Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva.
Married women observe the Kevada Trij Vrat for a prosperous and happy married life and for the well-being of their husbands. Unmarried women observe it for getting a good husband. Flowers of Kevada are offered to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati on the day.
Women also offer special prayers in Lord Shiva Temples. Some women keept for complete fast others observe a partial fast on the day. Some part of India, women celebrate this festival without water in a day. Some part of India, women celebrate this festival with only bananas. Some part of India, Women celebrate this festival with falahar. On haritalika Teej or Kevada Trij, grains should not be taken at all. Kevada plant is popularly known as fragrant screw pine.
The flower is known Kevada ( Gujarati and Hindi), Thazhampoo (Tamil), Ketaki / Dhuli Pushpam (Sanskrit).
It must be noted here that Kevada flower was cursed by Lord Shiva and is only used in Shiva puja on very special occasion of Kevada Trij. There is the reason behind it. Goddess Parvati has stopped taking food, fruits and water etc. and started tough fasting VRATAM till so many days. Goddess Parvati had started offerings flowers from jungle. So many thorny flowers, bilvapatra, Kevada flower and Kevada patra on Shivlinga. This was a very tough Vratam of Goddess Parvati so Lord Shiva was pleased and became ready to marry her afterwards.
But that was the day of Bhado Shukla Paksha Teej and Nakshatra was Hasta. By mistake Goddess Parvati had offered Kevado also. So only on this day Kevado is offered to Lord Shiva. Women in Gujarat who keeps fasting on Trij, can take water or banana after smelling Kevada patra. In some parts of India, Haritalika Vrat puja is done for four prahars means four times in a day. Morning, Noon, Evening and Night. On Ganesh Chaturthi the Visarjan is done with Puja.
