Hariyali Teej 2026: The Sacred Festival of the Reunion of Lord Shiv and Goddess Parvati

As the first heavy rains fall and turn the dry ground into a beautiful carpet of lush green grass, women in India get ready to celebrate Hariyali Teej. Hariyali Teej is not just about wearing bright green clothes, applying henna, or eating delicious Ghevar sweets. It is a festival about true love, strong faith, and welcoming the fresh beauty of nature after the hot summer. 

The month of Shravan is very special for Lord Shiv, which is why devotees observe Sawan Somvar and celebrate the sacred Kanwar Yatra during this time. Hariyali Teej adds to the spiritual grace of this season by honouring the divine love of Lord Shiv and Devi Parvati.

Whether you are getting ready to dress up in green and celebrate, or just want to learn about the beautiful story behind the festival, here is a simple guide to everything you need to know about Hariyali Teej.

Highlights of the Blog:

• What is Hariyali Teej?
• Why is Hariyali Teej celebrated?
• What is the Katha behind celebrating Hariyali Teej?
• What is the Muhurat for celebrating Hariyali Teej 2026?
• Why do we gift Sanjara before Hariyali Teej?
• What is the difference between Hariyali Teej, Hartalika Teej and Kajari Teej?

What Is Hariyali Teej?

Hariyali Teej or Sindhara Teej is one of three major Teej festivals celebrated in the months of Shravan and Bhadrapad (between July and September), along with Kajari Teej and Hartalika Teej. The name "Hariyali," meaning greenery, reflects the lush landscape created by monsoon rains in the Hindu month of Shravan. The word "Teej" refers to the Tritiya tithi (third day) of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksh) of the Panchang. It is celebrated in the month of Shravan. This teej is very special as Lord Shiv and Devi Parvati are worshipped on this auspicious day, and women seek blessings for the well-being and longevity of their husbands.

Hariyali Teej is also known as:

• Shravani Teej: named directly after the sacred month of Shravan in which it is celebrated.
• Sawan Ki Teej: A common name across Hindi-speaking regions, referring to the monsoon month of Sawan.
• Chhoti Teej: named to distinguish it from Kajari Teej (also called Badi Teej), which is celebrated fifteen days later in the month of Bhadrapad.

Other teej festivals celebrated in Indian culture include Akha Teej (Akshay Tritiya) and Gangaur Tritiya, celebrated in the months of Chaitra and Vaishakh (between March and May)

Why Is Hariyal Teej Celebrated?

(Devi Parvati is doing tapasya for Lord Shiv)

According to the legends, Devi Parvati performed intense tapasya for 108 births, living in forests without food or water, to get Lord Shiv as her husband. Moved by her unwavering devotion and sacrifice, Lord Shiv accepted her as his ardhangini (wife) on the third day (Tritiya) of the bright fortnight in the month of Shravan. This day is therefore celebrated as Hariyali Teej to honour their divine union. The day symbolises determination, faith, and the power of pure love.

Women observe a day-long fast without even consuming water (Nirjala Vrat), pray for the well-being and long life of their spouses, apply mehendi, and celebrate with folk songs and swings (jhulas). Unmarried females also observe these rituals to get a suitable partner.

What Is the Katha Behind Celebrating Hariyali Teej?

The Hariyali Teej Vrat katha is about the reunion of Lord Shiv and Devi Parvati, which Lord Shiv himself narrated to Devi to remind her of her previous birth. He told Devi Parvati how she performed intense tapasya in the Himalayas to attain him as her husband.

The Shiv Puran and Parvati Khand of the Rudra Samhita say that Devi Parvati is devoted to Lord Shiv and wishes to attain him as her husband. Once Narad Rishi visited King Himavan’s palace and met his daughter Devi Parvati. Rishi Narad understood her deep longing for Lord Shiv and explained that the Adiyogi could be pleased through sincere tapasya. He instructed her to please Lord Shiv through his Panchakshari Mantra.

Strengthened by Narad Rishi’s guidance, Devi Parvati resolved to undertake intense tapasya. She went through extreme hardships season after season. During the hot summer, she sat surrounded by burning fires. When the rainy season came, she sat directly on the bare ground or hard rocks while heavy rain poured down on her. In the freezing winter, she stayed in icy water, refusing to stop her prayers even when freezing winds blew and it snowed.

She gradually reduced food intake. During the first year, she lived on fruits. During the second year, she survived on leaves. In time, she abandoned even leaves and accepted no food at all. Because she gave up parna (leaves), the gods called her ‘aparna’, meaning the one who does not even consume leaves while doing tapasya. The Puranas say that she continued these austerities for three thousand years.

(Worried Devas approach Mahadev)

Devi Parvati’s tapasya began to affect the three worlds. Lord Brahma and Sri Hari, along with the Devas, Rishis and other celestial beings, approached Lord Shiv. They appealed to him to accept Devi Parvati, to which Mahadev agreed.

Since Mahadev wished to test the depth of Devi’s devotion, he sent the seven celestial Rishis to examine her resolve. The Rishis tested her and found that she had unwavering resolve in Lord Shiv. Mahadev then decided to examine her devotion himself. He assumed the form of an ascetic with matted hair named Jatila, and began to criticise and judge the appearance of Lord Shiv in front of Devi. Devi Parvati replied that Mahadev was beyond ordinary judgement and refused to hear any further criticism. At that moment, Lord Shiv revealed his true form before Devi and acknowledged the purity of her devotion. He accepted Devi Parvati as his consort.

Devotees believe that Devi Parvati’s unwavering tapasya and Lord Shiv’s acceptance of her symbolise the victory of sincere devotion, patience and spiritual determination. Therefore, married women observe the Hariyali Teej vrat for marital harmony, while unmarried women observe it for a devoted life partner.

What Is the Muhurat For Celebrating Hariyali Teej 2026?

Hariyali Teej 2026 is celebrated on Saturday, August 15, 2026 (based on Udaya Tithi)

Tritiya Tithi Begins: 06:46 PM on Aug 14, 2026

Tritiya Tithi Ends: 05:28 PM on Aug 15, 2026

Auspicious Puja Muhurat:

• Brahma Muhurat: 04:50 AM to 05:35 AM
• Abhijit Muhurat: 12:17 PM to 01:08 PM
• Vijay Muhurat: 02:51 PM to 03:42 PM
• Amrit Kaal: 08:34 AM to 10:13 AM
• Pradosh Kaal (Evening Puja): 07:06 PM to 09:18 PM
• Choghadiya Muhurat: 07:29 AM to 09:08 AM, 02:04 PM to 03:43 PM, and 03:43 PM to 05:22 PM

What Is the Hariyali Teej Puja Vidhi?

(Women celebrating Hariyali Teej)

Hariyali Teej Puja vidhi usually includes:

• Setting up the Mandap: Clean the puja area. Place a wooden platform (chowki) and cover it with a red or yellow cloth. Place idols or images of Lord Shiv and Devi Parvati.
• Kalash Sthapana and Invocation: Place a Kalash filled with water, a coin, and supari (betel nut) next to the setup. Place mango leaves on its mouth and top it with a coconut wrapped in a red cloth. Begin the puja by offering prayers to Lord Ganesha (Pratham Pujya) to remove all obstacles.
• Shringar and Offerings to the Deities: Offer the red chunri and the entire Solah Shringar basket, along with kumkum, flowers, and sweets to Devi Parvati. Perform abhishekam with water/milk, apply chandan paste, and offer belpatram, datura, and flowers to Lord Shiv. Offer homemade sweets (like Ghevar, kheer, or halwa) and seasonal fruits as prasad.
• Reciting the Hariyali Teej Vrat Katha: Light a ghee deepam (lamp) and incense sticks. Keep a few grains of rice and flower petals in your hands and listen to or read the Hariyali Teej Vrat Katha. Upon completion, offer the flower petals and rice to the idols.
• Chant mantra: You can also chant the highly revered Shiv Panchakshari mantra in the Sadhana App.
• Aarti and Prasadam Distribution: Perform the Aarti for Lord Shiv and Devi Parvati. Seek forgiveness for any mistakes during the puja. Distribute Prasadam. Offer elders in the family respect by touching their feet to receive blessings (Aashirvaad).

The exact rituals may vary according to regional and family traditions.

Why Do We Gift Sanjara Before Hariyali Teej?

Sanjara, also known as Sindhara, is a traditional pre-Teej custom observed in many communities on the day before Hariyali Teej or on the morning of the festival. The name is commonly associated with shringar. On this occasion, a married daughter’s maternal family sends her a lovingly prepared hamper of gifts as a gesture of affection, blessings and emotional support. The custom symbolises the parental family’s love and blessings for the woman’s happiness, prosperity and marital well-being. A traditional Sinjara hamper may contain green or red clothes, glass bangles, bindi, vermilion, mehendi, cosmetics, jewellery, fruits, dry fruits and festive sweets such as ghevar.

In some families, the in-laws also give similar gifts to their daughter-in-law. Women commonly apply mehendi, wear new clothes and adornments, and prepare for the Hariyali Teej celebrations and vrat.

What Is the Difference Between Hariyali Teej, Hartalika Teej and Kajari Teej?

Although all three festivals honour Devi Parvati and Lord Shiv for marital bliss and family prosperity, Hariyali Teej, Kajari Teej, and Hartalika Teej fall on different dates and feature different regional customs.

Hariyali Teej, also known as Chhoti Teej, is the first to be celebrated. It marks the lush green transformation of nature following the arrival of monsoon rains, symbolising growth, fertility, and marital renewal. The festival celebrates the divine union of Devi Parvati with Lord Shiv.

Kajari Teej, also called Badi Teej or Satudi Teej, is observed fifteen days later on the third day of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksh) in the month of Bhadrapad. The name comes from Kajra, the dark, rain-bearing monsoon clouds. The festival reflects themes of deep devotion and romantic longing, historically tied to husbands travelling for trade during the rainy season. Observed mainly in states like Rajasthan (especially Bundi), Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. The core rituals involve worshipping the sacred Neem tree and breaking the fast only after sighting the moon by consuming specially prepared Sattu (roasted grain flour delicacy).

Hartalika Teej is celebrated fifteen days after Kajari Teej on the third day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksh) in Bhadrapad and a day before Ganesh Chaturthi. Its name comes from Harit (abduction) and Alika (female friend), honouring the legend where Devi Parvati’s friends secretly took her away into a dense forest to prevent an unwanted marriage to Lord Vishnu, allowing her to complete her intense tapasya for Lord Shiv. Legends say that it is celebrated because Goddess Parvati made the sacred Shiv Lingam from sand. It impressed Lord Shiv, and he decided to marry her. It is widely celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Nepal. 

As the monsoon rains breathe fresh life into the earth, Hariyali Teej honours nature’s vibrant bloom and the timeless union of Lord Shiv and Devi Parvati. As you tie on your green bangles, apply mehendi, and gather with loved ones this monsoon, may your home be filled with love, laughter, and lasting prosperity.

Happy Hariyali Teej!