Teeja Festival: A Celebration of Marital Bliss in Chhattisgarh

Teeja, a significant festival for married women in Chhattisgarh, will be celebrated on August 26, 2025. The auspicious Tritiya Tithi of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada begins on August 25 at 12:34 PM and ends on August 26 at 1:54 PM. Since the date coinciding with sunrise is given importance, the Teeja festival will be observed on August 26. The auspicious time for worship on August 26 will be from 5:56 AM to 8:31 AM, a window of two hours and 35 minutes. This festival, also known as Hartalika Teej in other parts of the country, is deeply rooted in the devotion of women to Goddess Parvati, who observed a fast to attain Lord Shiva as her husband. Preparations for the festival have already commenced in homes. Married daughters are invited by their parents to their maternal homes with great respect, a tradition observed in every household. Women are arriving at their maternal homes to celebrate Teeja. A day before the festival, a dish called ‘Kadu Bhat’ (bitter rice) is consumed, marking the beginning of a waterless fast that lasts for about 40 hours. During this fast, women pray for the long life and prosperity of their husbands and families. The atmosphere is filled with devotion as families engage in bhajans and kirtans throughout the night. The fast is concluded on Ganesh Chaturthi, after offering prayers to Lord Ganesha and Shiva-Parvati and consuming prasad. After celebrating Teeja, married women return to their marital homes. Women create idols of Shiva and Parvati using sand or clay, perform rituals, and seek blessings for their husbands’ long life. It is believed that observing the Hartalika Teej fast strengthens love in married life and removes any bitterness in relationships. On the day of Hartalika Teej, women wake up early, take a bath, and set up a puja sthal (worship place). They install idols of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and Lord Ganesha. After worshiping Lord Ganesha, they perform puja of Goddess Parvati, offering her 16 adornments, fruits, flowers, and sweets. The Hartalika Teej fast story is narrated. The fast is concluded on the Chaturthi Tithi, on August 27, after offering water and prasad after sunrise.