What if the story behind Hartalika Teej is not really about getting a husband at all? The festival is closely associated with Goddess Parvati’s intense devotion to Shiva. According to the traditional story, Parvati wanted to marry Shiva, while her father had another marriage in mind for her. Her friends took her away to a secluded forest, where she performed severe penance with the single-minded desire to unite with Shiva.
But there is a deeper layer to this story. The question is not simply, “How did Parvati get Shiva?” It is: What did Parvati become through her tapasya? That changes the meaning of Hartalika Teej completely.
