Hartalika Tritiya, also popularly known as Hartalika Teej in North India, is one of the most sacred Hindu vrats dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
This auspicious festival is observed with devotion by married women for the long life and health of their husbands and by unmarried girls seeking an ideal life partner.
In 2025, devotees across India and abroad are preparing for the vrat with traditional puja samagri, rituals, and the recitation of the Hartalika Teej Vrat Katha.
This comprehensive guide covers the Hartalika Tritiya 2025 date, tithi, puja muhurat, vrat vidhi, significance, and celebrations in India and abroad.
What is Hartalika Tritiya? Meaning of Hartalika
The word Hartalika comes from two Sanskrit roots – “Harita” (forest) and “Alika” (sakhi or friend).
According to legend, Goddess Parvati’s friend took her into the forest to perform intense penance to win Lord Shiva as her husband.
Goddess Parvati performed this vrat on the Tritiya (third tithi or day) of the bright half of Bhadrapad month – Bhadrapad Shukla or Shudh Tritiya. Hence, the vrat is called Hartalika Tritiya Vrat.
For women, the day represents devotion, sacrifice, and unwavering determination. The vrat is observed either eating only fruits or without food at all (nirjala upvas in many traditions), showcasing purity and self-discipline.
Legend of Shiva and Parvati: The Story Behind Hartalika Vrat
The Hartalika Teej Vrat Katha narrates how Goddess Parvati, in her previous birth as Sati, had immolated herself when her father insulted Lord Shiva. In her rebirth as Parvati, she resolved to marry none but Mahadev.
When her father, King Himavan, insisted on marrying her to Lord Vishnu, Parvati’s friend (sakhi) abducted her to the forest where she performed penance.
Pleased with her devotion, Lord Shiva accepted her as his wife. This divine union is the foundation of the Hartalika Tritiya Vrat, symbolizing marital bliss, loyalty, and divine blessings.
Hartalika Tritiya 2025 Date, Tithi & Shubh Muhurat
- Date: Tuesday, 26 August 2025
- Tithi Starts: 25 August 2025, 12:35 PM
- Tithi Ends: 26 August 2025, 01:54 PM
- Hartalika Tritiya 2025 Puja Muhurat: 5:56 AM to 8:31 AM
This early morning time of approx. 2 hours 35 minutes is considered the most auspicious (shubh muhurat) for performing the puja in 2025.
Things Required for Hartalika Puja (Hartalika Puja Samagri)
To perform the Hartalika Pooja 2025, women prepare a decorated mandap with banana leaves, rangoli, and kalash. The essential items include:
- Idols: Two clay idols of Goddess Parvati and a Shivlinga
- Kalash & Utensils: Copper/brass vessel with water, plate, spoon
- Puja Samagri: Sandalwood paste, akshata, flowers, betel leaves (12), supari (10)
- Panchamrut: Milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar
- Sacred Leaves: Bel patra, tulsi, durva
- Other Essentials: Camphor, diya, cotton wicks, janeu, attar, haldi, kumkum, kajal, shendur
- Shringar Items: Green bangles, comb, mangalsutra, small mirror
- Naivedya: Coconut, bananas, sugarcane (if available), and at least 5 seasonal fruits
- Special Item: Pot filled with sand (vaalu) for placing idols
Preparing for Hartalika Puja – A Scene from Raviwar Karanja Market, Nashik
On the eve of Hartalika Tritiya 2025, I visited the bustling Raviwar Karanja market in Nashik.
The scene was vibrant and colorful — vendors sitting beside heaps of fresh flowers, banana leaves, betel leaves, sugarcane, and fruits essential for the pooja.
Small stalls displayed brightly decorative items, and shringar accessories like green bangles and combs, which women buy for the festival.
The entire marketplace had a festive buzz, with women carefully selecting puja samagri like coconuts, haldi-kumkum, and mangalsutra threads.
It felt like the whole city was preparing for Parvati Maa’s pooja, and the traditional atmosphere reminded me of how festivals still retain their charm in the heart of Nashik.
How to Prepare for Hartalika Tritiya Puja (Pooja Vidhi)
- Preparation: Women wake up early, apply oil, take a holy bath, and wear green or red sarees with bangles.
- Household Worship: Offer prayers in the home temple (gharacha mandir), seek blessings from elders.
- Puja Setup: Place banana leaves, kalash, idols of Parvati and Shivlinga on sand, decorate with flowers.
- Main Ritual: Offer haldi-kumkum, flowers, fruits, and perform abhishek with Panchamrut.
- Listening to Katha: Read or listen to the Hartalika Teej Vrat Katha and perform Aarti.
- Fasting: Women observe nirjala or phalahar vrat (eating only fruits) throughout the day.
- Breaking the Fast: On the next morning after bath and puja, the fast (vrat) is concluded.
Hartalika Teej in North India
In North India, this festival is popularly known as Hartalika Teej. Women observe the vrat with enthusiasm, apply mehendi (henna), wear red or green sarees, and gather in groups to sing Hartalika Aarti and devotional songs.
The ritual is similar but includes community gatherings, swings decorated with flowers, and folk songs dedicated to Shiva-Parvati.
Global Celebrations: USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Europe & Australia
With the growing Indian diaspora, Hartalika Tritiya is now celebrated worldwide.
USA & Canada: Temples in New Jersey, Toronto, and California organize special Hartalika Teej pujas, where women gather for collective vrat and aarti.
UK & Europe: Indian communities in London, Birmingham, Frankfurt, and Paris celebrate by organizing group Hartalika pooja with cultural programs.
Australia: In Melbourne and Sydney, temples host Hartalika Aarti and storytelling sessions for children to understand the significance of the vrat.
This reflects how the festival, once observed traditionally in Indian households, is now a global cultural event connecting communities abroad.
FAQs on Hartalika Tritiya 2025
When is Hartalika Tritiya 2025?
Hartalika Tritiya 2025 falls on Tuesday, 26 August 2025. The puja muhurat is from 5:56 AM to 8:31 AM.
What is the difference between Hartalika Tritiya and Hartalika Teej?
Both refer to the same vrat. In Maharashtra it is called Hartalika Tritiya, while in North India it is popularly called Hartalika Teej.
What items are required for Hartalika Pooja 2025?
Key puja items include clay idols of Parvati and Shiva, Shivlinga, banana leaves, Panchamrut, betel leaves, green bangles, fruits, and haldi-kumkum.
Who observes Hartalika Vrat?
Married women observe it for their husband’s long life and health, while unmarried girls keep the vrat to seek an ideal life partner.
How is Hartalika celebrated abroad?
Hartalika Teej is celebrated in temples and community halls across the USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Europe, and Australia with group pujas, aartis, and cultural events.
What is the Hartalika Teej Vrat Katha?
It narrates the story of Goddess Parvati’s penance to win Lord Shiva as her husband, symbolizing devotion and determination.
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