Hartalika Teej

Culture of origin: Hindu · Cultural

Holiday sources: Hinduism

Hartalika Teej (from harat, "abduction", and aalika, "female friend") recalls how Parvati had her friends carry her off to escape the marriage to Vishnu that her father had arranged, and won Shiva by making a lingam of sand and praying to it. Married women keep a fast without water, often staying up all night listening to prayers, and worship Parvati and Shiva for their husbands' well-being. It is kept above all in Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Nepal.