Hartalika Teej in Nepal

When did the Hartalika Teej in Nepal start?

The first recorded date of Hartalika Teej in Nepal being celebrated on September 18 was in the year 1675.

About Hartalika Teej in Nepal Holiday

Hartalika Teej is one of the most prominent festivals celebrated in the beautiful country of Nepal. This traditional festival is celebrated every year in the month of Shravana (August – September). Essentially, Hartalika Teej is a festival which marks the start of married life for Hindu women in Nepal, especially those who are first-time brides. The word ‘Hartalika’ is a combination of two words, ‘Harta’ and ‘Lika’. ‘Harta’ stands for separation from worldly possessions while ‘Lika’ stands for for union with beloved. This festival is observed to bring peace and unity into the lives of married couples.

On Hartalika Teej, women dress in their traditional wedding attire and observe fasts throughout the day. The whole day is then dedicated to family get-togethers and visiting temples to offer prayers. Special worships are also offered to Hindu goddess Parvati, who is also known as "Gauri". On this day, women are often seen singing devotional songs in her honor, while the elders in the family shower them with love and blessings.

Overall, Hartalika Teej is an exciting festival that celebrates the beautiful customs and traditions of Nepal and the spirit of togetherness among the people. Tourists and locals alike can enjoy and witness this beautiful festival and its culture in all its glory.

Hartalika Teej in Nepal: Celebrating Purity and Commitment

Hartalika Teej is an important Hindu festival celebrated in India and other South Asian countries such as Nepal. It forms part of the Teej Festival trio, which includes Hariyali Teej and Kajari Teej and marks the beginning of the monsoon season. On Hartalika Teej, Hindu married women fast from sunrise to moonrise and pray for a happy married life, the health and wealth of their families.

History and Origin

Hartalika Teej is derived from two separate words, with ‘Hara’ meaning “Shiva” and ‘Teej’ meaning “third day”. It is celebrated on the third day of the Shukla Paksha or the bright fortnight in the Hindu month of Bhadra or Bhadrapada, which typically falls in September or August. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati observed a severe penance for fourty-eight days to get married to Shiva. This festival marks the day of Parvati’s praying to Lord Shiva for Her divine union.

It is also believed that on this day Parvati Mata’s parents, Himavan and Menavati, asked Hara’s blessing for their daughter Parvati’s long married l ife. Hence it is also a festival of forgiving and reunion of couples. This festival is also known as Hartalika, Hariyali Teej or Hartalika Teej.

The main festivities of Hartalika Teej begin on the main day when women get dressed in traditional attire and visit a nearby temple or of Lord Shiva and Parvati Mata seeking their blessing for a prosperous life. In some parts of India, especially in Northern India, Kanya Pujan is also observed on this day. In this ritual, young unmarried girls are worshipped as an avatar of Goddess Parvati.

Significance and Meaning

Hartalika Teej symbolizes the undying bonds of love and commitment between husband and wife. Women observe a fast (nirjala vrat) and pray to Shiva for the good health, wealth, and prosperity of their husbands. They also wish for long life and a happy married life. The festival is viewed as fifth and one of the most important festivals of the Hindu calendar year and a perfect opportunty to strengthen the bonds of love between partners.

The significance of Hartalika Teej is equally important to men. Married women receive gifts from their husbands as a token of love and dedication and as a gesture of taking responsibility for supporting them. The gifts usually include saris, jewelry, and other gifts corresponding to the marital bond.

Traditions and Celebrations

Hartalika Teej is celebrated in numerous ways, with regional variations within the country. In Nepal, an integral part of the celebration is putting up beautifully decorated swings, known as ‘jhoolas’. These swings are placed outside the homes and the women pray, swing, and enjoy to mark the beginning of the festivities.

There is also a ritual called ‘Godh Bharai’, where the women in the family shower blessings on the woman who is expecting a baby. In some parts of Nepal, a puja or prayer ceremony is performed by the women on this day, either in a temple or at home. Women also observe a fast and breaking the fast require a formal ceremony.

Geographical Spread

Hartalika Teej is mainly celebrated in India and South Asian countries such as Nepal. In India, it is celebrated in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Jharkhand. The festivities are also observed in the festival of Teej in these places.

In Nepal, the festival has been celebrated for countless generations. It is celebrated primarily in the Kathmandu valley and nearby towns and villages. The celebration is marked by colorful cultural gatherings and special offerings to the deities at the various temples and spiritual sites around the cities. Despite regional variations, all Nepalese people tend to celebrate Hartalika Teej in a similar manner.

Modern Day Observations

In contemporary time, Hartalika Teej is more a woman-centric event and is mainly observed by married women. To mark the occasion, women fast throughout the day and exchange gifts with their husbands. Married women from the younger generations often celebrate with their mother-in-law who present them with saris, jewelry, and other relevant gifts.

The modern-day celebration also includes lavish dinners as a way for the mother-in-law to thank and honor the daughter-in-law. Furthermore, Hartalika Teej is celebrated with traditional folk dance and music in many parts of India and Nepal.

Interesting Facts or Trivia

• Hartalika Teej is also referred to as Silota Teej in some parts of the Indian subcontinent.
• The fast is traditionally observed for the entire day for married women, from sunrise to moonrise.
• In Maharastra, a special swing known as `Ovi Otha` is made at home and women float in the swing with their husbands at the end of the day.
• The festival of Hartalika Teej is accompanied by many light-hearted theatrical enactments popularly known as Teej Ka Jagran or a Teej celebration.
• In Nepal, to welcome the monsoon season, Hataal (a form of drum) is beaten, which is known as ‘Bisket Jatra’.
• On this day, women worship goddess Parvati or Teej Mata.
• Women perform puja with their husbands and seek blessings in order to have a prosperous married life.

Holiday Wishes

1. Wishing all the married women a blessed and joyous Hartalika Teej!
2. May Lord Shiva and Parvati Mata bestow upon all married women with love and peace.
3. Wishing a wonderful Hartalika Teej to all married women!
4. Great blessings in the form of long life and prosperity for all married women!
5. Faith and devotion will bring lots of love and joy in all married couples’ lives.

Holiday Messages

1. Let’s all come together and celebrate the union of love and commitment this Hartalika Teej.
2. May your struggles be blessed with divine blessings this Hartalika Teej!
3. May goddess Parvati Mata bestow her blessings on you and your family this Hartalika Teej.
4. Wishing you and your family better health and prosperity with luck and love.
5. May the spirit of love and harmony prevail in every married couple.

Holiday Quotes

1. “May the commitment and bond between married couples grow stronger through each passing day.”
2. “Let’s celebrate Hartalika Teej with lots of love and laughter!”
3. “A true marital bond has no bounds or divisions on Hartalika Teej.”
4. “God bless all married couples with lots of joy and harmony.”
5. “Let us all celebrate this festival of love and faith, through all our eternal bonds.”

Other Popular Holiday Info

Hartalika Teej is celebrated by both married and unmarried women. Unmarried girls also observe nirjala fast during this festival and seek divine blessings for a good life partner. Hartalika Teej is celebrated for two days and is popularly known as Akha Tij or Akha Teej in Saurashastra.

In Jaipur, a procession of Goddess Gauri is organized a night before fast. This procession is accompanied by devotional songs and verses in praise of the gods and goddesses. Apart from traditional observances, some modern variations to the festival are also being observed recently. These include taking part in markets and melas to celebrate this festivities.

Overall, Hartalika Teej is a beautiful occasion and an important Hindu festival that celebrates the essence of marriage. It is an expression of faith, commitment and purity that binds two individual’s together into one. This auspicious day is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy in Nepal and other parts of India.